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"Andmeantime？"hesaid，lookingupatElinor。
"Yes，meantime，it\'sJunetime，"Elinorreplied。
"Well，andwhatofSunrise？Didwe——"
"Oh，yes，wedid。Thecollegefirst。Therulingpassion，stronginthehospital。WhenaWreamgetstokingdom-come，healwaysasksSaintPeterfirstforamortarboardandgowninsteadofacrownandwings。”Norrie\'seyeswereshining。
"Andhe\'salittleparticularabouttheliningofthewings，too——Purple，forLaw；White，forLetters；Blue，forPhilosophy；Red，forDivinity。Takethisquietingpowder。
Collegepresidentsshouldbeseenandnotheard。”
Shesmilinglysilencedhim。
Underhergentleministrations，Dr。FennebencouldpicturewhatcomfortmightbeinstoreforVincentBurgessinaday，doubtlessonlytwoyearsaway。
HeresentedJoshuaWream\'sestimateofElinor。SurelyJoshuahadneverseenherintheplaceofnurse。
"Now，meantime，UncleLloyd，"Elinorwassaying，"commencementpassedoffbeautifullyunderActing-DeanBurgess，consideringhowsadandheavy-heartedeverybodywas。
ThetrusteeswanttoraiseProfessorBurgess\'ssalarynextyear——
he\'ssocompetent。
LloydFenneben\'seyeswerenotbandaged，andashelookedatElinorhewonderedatherutterlackofreserveandsentiment，whenshespokeofBurgessinsuchafrank，matter-of-factway。
Whenhewasinloveyearsago——buttimesmusthavechanged。
"Thearrangementsfornextyeararealllookedafter。
Everythingwillbedoneexactlyasyouwouldhaveitdone。
There\'snotonethingtoputaworryintothatcottonroundyourhead。”
"Good!Now，tellmeof`beforehand。\'"Hissmilewasascharmingasever。
"Inyourfeveryou\'vebeentellingusaboutaone-armedmanwhohadtwoarmstopushpeopleintotheriver，ofhiswantingyoutosavesomechild\'slife，andofyourstumblingoverthestone。
That\'sallweknowaboutthat。BondSaxonandProfessorBurgessfoundyouinthewateratthenorthbendintheWalnutclosetothathermitwoman\'shouse。Eitheryoufellin，orsomebodypushedyoudownthebank，headforemost，andyoustruckaledgeofrock。”
Elinor\'seyeswerefulloftearsnow。"Youwouldhavebeendrowned，ifthatwhite-hairedwomanhadn\'tjumpedinandheldyourheadabovewaterwhilesheclungtothebusheswithonehand。
Herdoghelped，too，likearealhero。Itstoodonthebankandheldtohershawlthatshehadfastenedroundyoutoholdyou。
Andtheriverwasrisingsofast，too。Itwasawful。
Idon\'tknowjusthowitwasallmanaged，UncleLloyd，butitwasmanagedbetweenthewomanandherdogatfirst，andProfessorBurgessandBondSaxonatlast，andyouaresafenow，andonthehighroad，theveryelevatedtracks，torecovery。
Whenyourfeverwasthehighest，thedoctorskepttellingmeaboutyoursplendidconstitutionandyourtemperatelife。
Youmustgetwellnow。”
Shebentoverhimandsoftlycaressedhishand。
"Whereisthatwomannow？DennieSaxonaskedmeoncetodosomethingforherinherloneliness。Shegotaheadofmynegligenceanddidsomethingforme，itseems。”
"SheleftLagondaLedgetheverydaytheyrushedusupheretothehospital。
Isn\'tshestrange？Andsheissogentleandsweet，butsosad。
Ineversawsuchapatheticfaceashers，UncleLloyd。”
"Whendidyouseeher？"Fennebenasked。
"Shecametoaskafteryou。Nobodythoughtyouwouldgetoverit。”
Elinor\'svoicetrembled。"Thefeverwasburningyouupandittookthreedoctorstoholdyou。IsawherfacewhenDennieSaxonsaidtheythoughtyouwouldn\'tpullthrough。
Yourownsistercouldn\'thaveturnedwhiter，UncleLloyd。”
"Andtheone-armedmanIseemedtoremember？"
"Idon\'tknow。I\'vebeentoobusytoaskmanyquestions。
LagondaLedgeisinmourningforyou。Itwillrunuptheflagabovehalf-mastwhenIwritehowmuchbetteryouare。
BondSaxonhasatheorythatsomethiefwantedtorobyouanddecoyedyouawayonpretenseofhelpingsomebodyoutoftheriver。
Youareaneasymark，Uncle。”
"WhyshouldBondSaxonhaveatheory？Andhowdidheknowwheretofindme？
Andhowdidthatgray-hairedwomanandherdoghappeninonthescenejustthen？Thisisagrimsortofdimenovelbusiness，Norrie。Thingsdon\'tfalloutthiswayinreallifeunlessthereissomereasonbackofthem。
IthinkI\'llbearinvestigating。”
"Ithinksomyself——youoryourromanticrescuingsquad。
Youmightcallthedogtothewitnessstandfirst，forhewasthefirstonthescene。Iforgotthoughthatthedogisdead。
Theyfoundhimdowntheriverwithhisthroatcut。
Theplotthickens。”Elinor\'sfrivolousspiritwasreturningwiththelesseningofcare。
"Tellmeabouttheballgame，"Fennebensaidnext。
"Oh，itrainedforhoursandhours，andtherewasn\'tanytrainserviceforLagondaLedgeforaweek，andalltheInter-CollegiateAthleticeventsfortheseasonwerecalledoffforSunrise-by-the-Walnut。”
"Andthestudents，generally？"Dr。Fennebenquestioned。
"Mr。Trenchwillbeback，"Elinorexclaimed，"andfolkshavejustfoundoutthatit\'soldTrenchwho\'skeepingthatcrippledboyinschool，theonetheycall`Limpy。\'Trenchrustlesjobsforhimanddivideshisownincomeforcollegeexpenseswiththeboyfortherestofthecost。Idon\'tknowhowthestorygotout，butIaskedhimaboutitwhenhewasupheretoseeyou。
Hejustgrinnedanddrawledlazily，`Icansavealittleonshoeleather，thatsomefellowswearouthurryingso，andI
don\'tburstupsomanyhatswithaswelledheadassomedo。
SoIkeepalittleextrachangeontheseaccounts。
We\'regoingdowntoOklahomawhenwegraduate。Limpy\'sgoingtobeaMethodistpreacherandIastockman。I\'llkeephiminrawmaterialforconvertsoutofthecowboysI\'llhavetohandle。\'
Isn\'toldTrenchyahero？HesaysDeanFunnyboneshowedhimhowtothinkaboutsomebodyelsebesideTrenchalittlebit。”
"Oh，yes；TrenchisaheroandI\'veknownaboutthatwholethingforalongwhile，"theDeanasserted。"AndVictorBurleigh？"
Ashadowinthebeautifuldarkeyes，ahalf-toneloweringofthevoice，andageneralindifferenceofmanner，asElinoranswered:
"I\'msureIdon\'tknowanythingabouthim，exceptthathe\'scomingbacknextyear。”
Dr。Fennebenreadthewholestoryinthewordsandmanneroftheanswer，andhesmiledgrimlyashethoughtofBurgessandoftheconflictofWreamagainstWreamifElinorandhisbrotherJoshuaevercametotheclashofarms。Buthewastooweaknowtodirectmatters。
Andmeantime，whileLagondaLedgewasholdingitsbreathinanxietyanddread，andallthechurcheswerejoininginunionprayerserviceforthelifeoftheirbelovedDeanFenneben，andthecollegeyearwasendinginahaltingbetweenhopeanddread——meantime，thesamequeriesofDr。FennebenastomotiveswerealsoqueriesinProfessorBurgess\'mind。
TotheschoolandthetownDr。Fenneben\'srecoverywastheonlythingaskedfor。Therewasasyetnoclewregardingthecauseoftheassault。
BondSaxonhadavoidedBurgesssincetheevent，sotheyoungmanhimselfmadeoccasiontogetBondupintoDr。Fenneben\'sstudyoneJunedayjustbeforecommencement。
"Saxon，"hesaidgravely，"youareamanofsense，andyouknowthatthere\'ssomethingwrongaboutthisFennebenassault。
You\'veputupsomesmoothstoriesaboutourhappeningtobeoutatthebendoftheriverthatnight，soIguesssuspicionwillbeturnedfromusallrightwhenLagondaLedgegetstimetothinkaboutcauses；butImustbeletintothetruthnow。”
Burgesswasadamantnow。
Foralittlewhiletheoldmanlookedawaythroughthestudywindowattheprairieempiretobefoundforthelooking。
"Doyouseethatlittletwistofbluesmokeoverwest？"
hequeriedpresently。
"Whatofit？"Burgessasked。
"Nothing，onlythemanhuddlin\'downroundthefiremakin\'thatsmokewaydownwhereit\'scoldanddark，that\'sthemanwho——say，Professor!"
OldBondlookedupappealingly，andthepitifulfacetouchedBurgess\'heart。
"Whatisit，Saxon？Befranknow，butbefair，too。Soonerorlater，thisthingmustberundown。Fennebenwilldoithimself，anyhow，assoonashe\'swellenough。”
"Professor，Ihaveaskedyoutwiceifyou\'dbegoodtoDennie——"
"Yes，yes；youalwayscomebacktothat。Anybodywouldbegoodtoher，andshe\'sacapablegirlwhodoesn\'tneedanybody\'scare，anyhow。
Now，goon。”
"Iwill"——itseemedanheroicresolve——"IaskedthisforDennie，becausemyownlifeisneversafe。”
"Soyouhavesaid。Whynot？"Burgessinsisted。
Therewasnowaytoevadethequestionnow。
"That\'smyownbusiness——justalittlelonger，"Bondansweredslowly。
"Onethingmore；IwantyourpromisenottotellwhatIsay——yetawhile。
Itcan\'thurtanyonetokeepstill，anditwillhelpsomefolks。”
"Oh，I\'llhelpyouallIcan。”Burgess\'skindlypatiencenowwasstrangelyunlikethearistocratic，resentfulmantowhomoldBondSaxonhadappealedonestormyOctobernight。
"I\'mafailure，Professor。I\'vespoiledmylifebymyinfernalweakwillandappetiteforwhisky。Iknowitaswellasyoudo。
ButI\'mnotmeantforabadman。”TherewasunspeakablepathosinSaxon\'sfaceandwords。
"Nobodywouldcallyoubad。Youarealovablemanwhenyou——
keepstraight，"Burgessdeclaredcordially。
"Igraduatedfromtheuniversitybackinthesixties，"
Bondwenton。
"You!"Burgessexclaimed。
"Yes，I\'moneofyouralumnibrothersfromHarvard。Ittakesmore\'nacollegediplomatomakeamansometimes，althoughthiswouldmightysoongettobeacheap，destructiblenation，ifweshouldpullthecollegesoutofit。TheboysI\'veseenSunrisemakeintomendoesanoldman\'sheartgoodtothinkabout!
Butthere\'smorethanbook-learninginaMaster\'sDegree。TheremustbeMASTERYinit。Inevergotfarther\'nanA。B。，partlybecauseNaturemademeeasygoing，butmostlybecausewhiskyruinedme。
IfinallycametoKansas。I\'dhavehadtremenslongagobutforthat。
Butevenhereaman\'sgottokeepthelawinside，ornohumanlawcanpreventhismakingabeastofhimself。”
Saxonpaused，andtheprofessorwaited。
"Themanthatsetsthecussedtrapformeisalawbreaker，anescapedconvict，andamurderer。That\'swhatdrinkingdidforhim；
drinkingandinjusticeinmoneymatterstogether。”
Burgessstartedandhisfacegrewpale。
"Oh，it\'safact，Professor。Thereareseveralroadstoruin。
OnebytherouteI\'vetaken。Onemaybetoomuchloveofmoney，ofwomen，orofhavingyourownway。Youcanruinyoursoulbygettingitsetononethingaboveeverythingelse。Education，forinstance，liketheWreamsbackthereinCambridge。”
"TheWreams!"Burgessexclaimed。
"Yes，oldJoshuaWreamsoldhimselftoanappetiteformustyoldSanscrittillhe\'dsacrificeanybody\'scomfortandjoyforit，sameasIsoldouttoafool\'scravingfordrink。
You\'llknowtheWreamssometimeasIknow\'emnow。
Fenneben\'sonlyastepbrotherandtheWestmadeamanofhim。
Hewasalwaysagentleman。”
"Goon!"Vincent\'svoicewashardlyaudible。
"Thisoutlaw，boot-legger，thief，andmurdererwasarespectablefellowonce，theadoptedsonofawealthyfamilybackEast，whobeganbyspoilinghim，lavishedmoneyonhim，andlethimhavehisownwayineverything。
Hewasagayyoungsterontheside，giventodrinkingandfastcompany。
Hefellinlovewithaprettygirl，butwhenshefoundhimout，shecuthim。Thenhewenttothedogs，blamingherbecauseshehadsenseenoughtothrowhimoverwherehebelonged。
Shefellinlove——therightkindoflove——withanotherman。
Andthisyoungfoolwhohadnoclaimonheratall，sworevengeance。
Herfamilywantedhertomarrytheyoungsportbecausehehadmoney。
Theywerelongonmoney——herfatherwas，anyhow。Butshewouldn\'tdoit。”
"Didshemarrytheoneshereallycaredfor？"Burgessaskedeagerly。
"No；butthat\'sanotherstory。Meantimethisfellow\'sfatherdied，leavingtheboyhe，himself，hadstartedonthewrongroad，entirelyoutofhiswill。Theboywenttothedevil——
andhe\'sstillthere。”
Saxonpausedandlookedoncemoreatthetinywaveringsmokecolumn，hardlyvisiblenow。
"He\'soveryonderhidingawayfromthelightofdayunderthebluffsbythefirethatsendsthatcurlofsmokeupthroughthecrevicesintherock，anoutlawthief。”
SaxongazedlongatthelandscapebeyondtheWalnut。Whenhespokeagain，itwaswithaneffort。
"Professor，thisoutlawgotaholdonmeoncewhenIwasdrunk，drunkbyhismaking。Itwoulddonogoodtotellyouaboutthat。
Youcouldn\'thelpme，norharmhim。You\'lltrustmeinthis？"
ApictureofDenniedownintheKickapooCorral，withtheflickeringfirelightonherripplinghair，theweird，shadowywoodland，andtheoldIndianlegendallcamebacktotheyoungmannow，thoughwhyhecouldnotsay。
"Icertainlywouldneverbringharmtoyounoryours，"
hesaidkindly。
"Ican\'tinformonthescoundrel。Icanonlywatchhim。Thewomanhewasinlovewithyearsago，whowouldn\'tstandforhiswildways——
that\'sthegray-hairedwomanatPigeonPlace。Herlife\'sbeenonelongtragedy，thoughsheisnotfortyyet。”
Theanguishontheoldman\'sfacewaspitifulashespoke。
"Shehasareasonofherownforlivinghere，andsheisthesoulofcourage。
OnthenightoftheFennebenaccident，Iwasoutherway——yes，runningawayfromBondSaxon。IknewifIstayedintown，I\'dgetdrunkonabottleleftatmydoor。SoItoreoutintherainandthedarktofightitoutwiththedevilinsideofme。AndoutatPigeonPlaceIrunontothisfiend。
WhenIorderedhimbacktohishidingplace，hevowedhe\'dgetFennebenandputhimintheriver。There\'soneortwohumanthingsabouthimstill。
Oneishisfearoflittlechildren，andoneishisloveforthatwoman。
Hereallydidadoreheryearsago。Itrackedhomeafterhim，andyouknowtherest。HeputupsomestorytotheDeantoenticehimoutthere。”
Hehesitated，thenceasedtospeak。
"WhytheDean？"Burgessasked。
"BecauseLloydFenneben\'sthemanshelovedyearsago，andherfolkswouldn\'tlethermarry，"BondSaxonsaidsadly。
Burgessfeltasifthelimestoneridgewasgivingwaybeneathhim。
"Whereisshenow？"
She\'sgone，nobodyknowswhere。Ihopetoheavenshewillnevercomeback，"
theoldmanreplied。
"AnditwasshewhosavedDr。Fenneben\'slife？Doesheknowwhosheis？"
"No，no。She\'sneverlethimknow，andifshedoesn\'twanthimtoknow，whosebusinessisittotellhim？"Saxonurged。
"IhavehungaboutandprotectedherwhensheneverknewIwasnear。
ButwhenI\'mdrunk，I\'manidiotandmymindisbentagainsther。
I\'ddietosaveher，andyetImaykillhersomedaywhenIdon\'tknowit。”
BondSaxon\'sheadwasdroopingpitifullylow。
"Butwhyliveinsuchslavery？Whynottellallyouknowaboutthismanandletthelawprotectahelplesswoman？"Burgessurged。
OldBondSaxonlookedupandutteredonlyoneword——"Dennie!"
VincentBurgessturnedawayamoment。Dennie!Yes，therewasDennie。
"Thiswomanhadahusband，yousay？"heaskedpresently。
BondSaxonstaredstraightathimandslowlynoddedhishead。
"Whatbecameofhim？Doyouknow？Vincentquestioned。
Saxonleanedforward，and，clutchingVincentBurgessbythearm，whisperedhoarsely，"He\'sdead。Ikilledhim。ButIwasdrunkwhenIdidit。Andthismanknowsitandholdsmebound，"
SERVICE
_Ifyouwereborntohonor，showitnow；
ifputuponyou，makethejudgmentgoodthatthoughtyouworthyofit_——
SHAKESPEARE
CHAPTERXI
THESINSOFTHEFATHERS
_Theyenslavetheirchildren\'schildrenwhomakecompromisewithsin_——
LOWELL
ITwasmid-DecemberbeforeLloydFennebensawLagondaLedgeagain。
Inthemurderousattemptuponhislife，hehadbeenhurled，head-downward，uponthehiddenrock-ledgewithsuchforcethatevenhisstrongnervoussystemcouldbarelyovercometheshock。
Hoursofunconsciousnesswerefollowedbyaragingbrainfever，andparalysis，insanity，anddeathstrovetogetheragainsthim。
Hisfinalcompleterecoverywasslow，andhewaswiseenoughtoletnaturehaveampletimeforrebuildingwhathadbeensocruellywrenchedoutofline。Itwasthisverypatienceandwillingnesstotakelifecalmly，whenmostmenwouldhavebeeninafeverofanxietyaboutneglectedbusiness，thatbroughtLloydFennebenbacktoLagondaLedgeinDecember，aperfectlywellman；andasidefromtheholidaygiveninhonoroftheevent，asidefromthedisplayofflagsandthebig"Welcome"
doneinelectriclightsawaitinghimattherailroadstation，wherealltheportablepopulationofLagondaLedgeandmostoftheWalnutValley，headedbytheSunrisecontingent，enmasse，seemedtobewaitingalso——asidefromthedemonstrationandgeneralhilarityandthanksgivingandrejoicing，thereseemednodifferencebetweentheDeanofthedaysthatfollowedandtheDeanoftheyearsbefore。Hisblackhairwasaslongandheavyasever。
Hisblackeyeshadlostnothingoftheirkeenness。
Hissmilewasjustthesameold，genialoutbreakofgoodwill，asheheardthewildlyenthusiasticrefrain:
RahforFunnybone!
RahforFunnybone!
RahforFunnybone!
_Rah!_RAH!!RAH!!!
Itwastwilightwhenthetrainpulleduptothestation。
TheDecembereveningwasclearandcrispassouthernKansasDecembersusuallyare。Thelightsofthetownweretwinklinginthedusk。
Outbeyondtheriveragorgeouspurpleandscarletafter-sunsetglowwasfillingthewestwiththatmagnificenceofcoloringonlythehandofNaturedarestopaint。
Severalpassengersleftthetrain，butthecompanyhadeyesonlyforthePullmancarwhereFennebenwasriding。Nobody，exceptBondSaxon，andacabdriverontheedgeofthecrowd，noticedagray-hairedwomanwhoalightedsoquietlyandslippedtothecabsoquicklythatshewasalmostouttoPigeonPlacebeforeFennebenhadbeenabletocleartheplatform。
BehindtheDeanwashisniece，whohaltedonthecarstepswhileherunclewentintotheoutstretchedarmsofLagondaLedge。Atsightofher，thehatswenthighinair，asshestoodtheresmilingabovethecrowd。ItwasMaytimewhenshewentaway。
TheyhadrememberedherindaintyMaytimegowns。
Theywerenotpreparedforherinherhandsometravelingcostumeofgoldenbrown，herbrownbeaverhat，andprettyfurs。
Abeautifulgirlcanbesocharminginherwinterfeathers。
ShehadexpectedthatBurgesswouldbefirsttomeether，andshewasready，shethought，togreethim，becomingly。
Butastheporterhelpedhertotheplatform，thecrowdclosedin，shuttinghimawaymomentarily，andahandcaughthers，abig，stronghandwhoseclasp，socloseandwarm，seemedtoholdherhandbyrightofeternalpossession。AndVictorBurleigh\'sbrowneyesfullofajoyouslightwerelookingdownather。
Itwasallsuchasweet，shadowytimethatnobodycrowdingaboutthemcouldseeclearlyhowElinor，withshiningface，nestledinvoluntarilyclosetohisarmforjustoneinstant，andherlowmurmuredwords，"Iamgladyouwerefirst，"
werelosttoallbutthebigfellowbeforeher，andabigger，vastlylazyfellow，Trench，justbehindher。ItwasTrench\'sbulkthathadblockedthewayfortheprofessoramomentbefore。
Thenshewasswallowedinthejollygreetingsofgoodfellowship，andVincentBurgesscarriedherawaytothecarriagewhereherunclewaited。
"Thethingissettlednow，"theyoungfolksthought。
ButDennieSaxonandTrench，whowalkedhometogether，knewthatmanythingswerehopelesslyunsettled。Bythelawofnaturalfitness，DennieandTrenchshouldhavefalleninlovewitheachother。Theyweresoalikeingoodnessofheart。
Butsuchmatingoflikewithlike，israre，andunderitsrulingtheworldwouldgrowsomonotonouslygood，ontheonehand，andbad，ontheother，thatlifewouldbeuninteresting。
DuringDr。Fenneben\'sabsence，ProfessorBurgesswasacting-dean。
Foramanwho，twoyearsbefore，hadneverheardofaJayhawker，whohopedthebarrenprairieswouldfurnishseclusionforprofoundresearchinhislibrary，andwhoseinterestinthestudentbodylayinitsmaterialtofurnish"types，"DeanBurgess，ontheoutside，certainlymeasuredupwelltowardthestatureoftherealDean——
broad-minded，beloved"Funnybone。”
AndasVincentBurgessgrewinbreadthofviewandhumaninterest，hispopularityincreasedandhisopportunitiesmultiplied。
SunriseforgotthatithadeverregardedhimasawalkingGreektextbookinpaperbinding。NexttoDr。LloydFenneben，hisplaceatSunrisewouldbethehardesttofillnow；andwithal，sometimeinthenearfuture，therewaswaitingforhimtheprettiestgirlthateverclimbedthestepsfromthelowercampustotheSunrisedoor。
BurgesshadneverdreamedthatlifeinKansascouldbesofullofpleasureforhim。
Andallthewhile，ontheinside，anotherBurgesswasgrowingupwhoquarreleddailywiththishappyouterBurgess。ThisinnermanitwaswhoheldthesecretofBondSaxon\'sawfulcrime；
themanwhoknewthelifestoryofthewould-beassassinofLloydFenneben，andwhoknewthetragedythathadturnedafair-facedgirltoagray-hairedwoman，yetyounginyears。
Heknewthetragedy，butthewomanherselfhehadneverseen，saveinthedarknessandrainofthatawfulnightwhenshehadheldLloydFenneben\'sheadabovethefastrisingwatersoftheWalnut。Hehadneverevenheardhervoice，forhehadsustainedthelimpbodyofDr。FennebenwhileSaxonhelpedthewomanfromtheriverandasfarastoherowngate。
Buttheseweresecretthingsoutsideofhisownconscience。
Insideofhisconsciencetherealbattlewasfoughtandwon，andlost，onlytobewonandlostoverandover。SolongasElinorWreamwasaway，hecouldstayexecutiononhimself。
ThesametrainthatbroughtherhometoLagondaLedge，broughtalettertoProfessorVincentBurgess，A。B。TheletterheadingboreasmanyofDr。JoshuaWream\'stitlesasspacewouldpermit，butthecramped，old-fashionedhandwritingbelongedtoamanofmorethanfourscoreyears，anditwassignedjust"J。R。”
BurgessreadthislettermanytimesthatnightafterhereturnedfromdinnerattheFennebenhome。Andsometimeshisfistswereclinchedandsometimeshisblueeyeswerefulloftears。
ThenherememberedlittleBug，whohaddeclaredoncethat"DonFonnybonewasdoodfortwoubleness。”
"Ican\'ttakethistoFenneben，"hemused，ashereadJoshuaWream\'sletterforthetenthtime。"NorcanIgotoSaxon。He\'sneversureofhimselfandwhenhe\'sdrunk，hereverseshimselfandturnsagainsthisbestfriends。
AndwhoamItoturntoamanlikeBondSaxonformyconfidences？"
"WhataboutElinor？"cameavoicefromsomewhere。
"Thewomanyouwouldmakeyourwifeshouldbetheonetowhoselovingsympathyyoucouldturnatanyoflife\'sangles，elsethatwerenorealmarriage。”
"Elinor，ofallpeopleintheworld，theverylast。
Sheshallneverknow，never!"Soheansweredtheinwardquestioner。
DimlythenroseupbeforehimthepictureofVictorBurleighontherainyMaynightwhenhestoodbesidelittleBugBuler\'sbed——
VictorBurleigh，withhiswhite，sorrowfulface，andburningbrowneyes，tellinginavoicelikemusicthereasonwhyhemustrenounceathletichonorsinSunrise。
Burgesshadbeenunconsciouslyexultantovertheboy\'sconfession。
ItwouldputtheconfessoroutofreachofanyclaimtoElinor\'sfriendshipwhenthetruthwasknownabouthispovertyandhisprofessionalplaying。
AndyethehadfollowedBondSaxon\'sleadthemorewillinglythatnightthathewashatinghimselfforrejoicingwithhimself。
OnthisDecembernight，withElinoroncemoreinLagondaLedge，VictorBurleighmustcomeagaintotroublehim。
Whatapricethatboymusthavepaidforhishonesty!
Buthepaidit，aye，hepaidit!AndthentherainsputoutthegameandnobodyknewexceptBurleighandhimself。
BurgessalmostresentedthekindnessofFatetotheheroicboy。
ButallthissolvednoproblemsforVincentBurgess，excepttherealizationthatherewasonefellowwhohadasoulofcourage。
CouldheconfideinBurleigh？Notinathousandyears!
Inutterloneliness，VincentBurgessputouthislightandstaredatthewindow。Thestreetlampsglowedinlonelyfashion，foritwasverylate，andnobodywasabroad。Uponthelimestoneridge，theSunrisebeaconshonebravely。Downintownbesidethecampusgate——hecouldjustcatchaglimpseofonesteadybeam。
ItwasthefaithfuloldlampinthehallwayoftheSaxonHouse，andbeyondthatunwaveringlightwasDennie。
"Dennie!WhyhaveInotthoughtofher？TheonlyoneintheworldwhomIcanfullytrust。Thatoughttobeaman\'ssweetheart，Isuppose，butsheisnotmine。SheisjustDennie。Heavenblessher!
I\'vesworntocareforher。Shemusthelpmenow。”
Andwiththecomfortingthought，hefellasleepbesidethewindow。
TheDecembersunsetwassuperbinagloryofendlesspurplemistsandrose-tintedsplendoroffar-reachingskies。
Theeveningdropsdownearlyatthisseasonandthelightsweregleaminghereandthereinthetownwheretheshadowsfallsoonestbeforetheday\'sworkisfinishedupinSunrise。
VictorBurleigh，whohadbeencalledtoDr。Fenneben\'sstudy，foundonlyElinorthere，lookingoutattheradiantbeautyofthesunsetskybeyondthehomeyshadowsstuddedwiththetwinklinglightsofLagondaLedgeatthefootoftheslope。
Theyoungmanhesitatedalittlebeforeentering。AlldaytheschoolhadbeenbusysettlingaffairsforProfessorBurgessand"Norrie，thebeloved。”Gossiphasswiftfeetandfromsurmisetofactisashortcourse。Twenty-fourhourshadquitecompletely"fixedthings"forElinorWreamandVincentBurgess，sofarasSunriseandLagondaLedgewereabletofixthem。
SoBurleigh，whosestrongfacecarriednohintofgrief，heldbackaminutenow，beforeenteringthestudy。
"Ibegyourpardon，Elinor。Dr。Fennebensentforme。”
Somehowthedeepmusicalvoiceandhernamepronouncedasnobodyelseevercouldpronounceit，andthebigmanlyformandbraveface，allseemedtocompletethespellofthesunsethour。
Elinordidnotspeak，butwithasmilemaderoomforhimbesideheratthewindow，andthetwolookedlongatthedeepeninggrandeuroftheheavensandthemistyshadowsofheliotropeandsilverdarkeningsoftlytothetwilightbelowthem。
"AndGodsawthatitwasgood。Andtheeveningandthemorningwerethefourthday，"Victorsaidatlast。
"Yourvoicegrowsricherwiththepassingyears，Victor，"Elinorsaidsoftly。
"IwantedtohearitagainthefirsttimeIheardyouspeakoutthereoneSeptemberday。”
"Itiswelltogrowrichinsomething，"Victorsaid，half-earnestly，half-carelessly。
BeforeElinorcouldsaymore，theycaughtsightofProfessorBurgessandDennieSaxon，leavingthefrontporticoastheyhaddoneontheMayeveningbeforetheassaultonDr。Fenneben。BurgessandDennieusuallyleftthebuildingtogetherthisyear。
"Isn\'tDennieadarling？Elinorsaidcalmly。
