Within the week I was at home in my new position.The strangeness of regular hours and regular employment wore away with surprising rapidity.There were, of course, mornings when sea and sky and the freshness of outdoors tempted me and I wondered whether or not Ihad been foolish to give up my fine and easy life.But these periods of temptation were shorter and less frequent as I became more and more familiar with my duties and with the routine of the bank.I found myself taking a greater interest in the institution and, to my astonishment, I was actually sorry when Saturday came.
It seemed odd enough to once more have money in my pocket which Ihad earned.It was not a great amount, of course, but I felt it to be mine.Yes, there was no doubt about it, I had done the right thing, and was glad.I was grateful to Taylor for having given me the opportunity.Perhaps I should have been grateful to the person whose brutal and impertinent frankness had piqued me into grasping that opportunity, but I was not.
She made her second call upon Mother two days after our impromptu picnic at Seabury's Pond.I heard all about it when I came home that afternoon.It appeared that she had brought more flowers and a fresh supply of books.She had remained even longer than on her first visit and she and Mother had talked about almost everything under the sun.One topic, however, had not been discussed, a fact which my guarded questions made certain.She, like myself, had said nothing concerning the day in the woods.
"I told her of your consenting to help Mr.Taylor in his dilemma,"said Mother.
"Did you?" said I."It was kind of you to put it in that way.""That was the truthful way of putting it, wasn't it? She seemed very much interested.""Indeed.And surprised, I presume."
"Why, yes, I think so.She seemed surprised at first; then she laughed; I could not understand why.She has a very pleasant laugh, hasn't she?""I have never noticed." This was untrue.
"She has.She is a charming girl.I am sorry you were not here when she called.I told her you would be home soon and asked her to wait, but she would not.""I am glad she didn't."
"Roscoe!"
"I am, Mother.That young lady comes here to see you merely because she has nothing else to do just now.I shouldn't accept too many favors from her."Mother said I was unreasonable and prejudiced and I did not argue the point.Lute and Dorinda discussed the caller at the supper table until I was constrained to leave the room.Mabel Colton might amuse herself with Mother and the two members of our household whom she had described as "characters," she might delude them into believing her thoughtful and sympathetic and without false pride, but I knew better.She had insulted me.She had, in so many words, told me that I was lazy and worthless, just as she might have told her chauffeur or one of the servants.That it was true made no difference.Would she have spoken in that way to--to Victor Carver, for instance? Hardly.She was just what I had thought her at first, a feminine edition of Victor, with more brains than he possessed.
Captain Jed Dean came into the bank the third day after my installation as bookkeeper and teller.I was alone in the director's room, going over some papers, and he entered and shook hands with me.The old fellow professed delight at my presence there.
"George tells me you're takin' hold fust-rate," he said."That's good.I'm glad to hear it.""Why?" I asked.There was a trace of his old pomposity in the speech--or I imagined there was--and I chose to resent it.These were the days when I was in the mood to resent almost anything.
"Why?" he repeated, in surprise."What do you mean?""Why are you glad?" I said."I can't see what difference it makes to you whether I succeed or not."He regarded me with a puzzled expression, but, instead of taking offense, he laughed.
"You've got a chip on your shoulder, ain't you, Ros?" he observed.
"Workin' you too hard at the start, are we?""No," I answered, curtly.
"Then what is the matter?"
"Why, nothing, unless it is that everyone I meet seems to take such a great interest in my being here.I believe all of Denboro talks of nothing else.""Not much else, I shouldn't wonder.But that's to be expected, ain't it? Everybody's glad you're makin' good.""Humph! They all seem to regard that as the eighth wonder of the world.The position doesn't require a marvel of intelligence;almost any one with a teaspoonful of brains could fill it.""Why no, they couldn't.But that's nothin' to do with it.I see what's the matter with you, Ros.You think all hands are knocked on their beam ends because you've gone to work.Some of 'em are, that's a fact, and you can't blame 'em much, considerin' how long you've lived here without doin' anything.But all of 'em that amount to a three-cent piece are glad, and the rest don't count anyway.You've made a good many friends in this town lately, son."I smiled bitterly."Friends," I said.
"Why, yes, friends.And friends are worth havin', especially if you make 'em without beggin' for their friendship.I give in that you've surprised some of us.We didn't know that you had it in you.But your standin' up to old Colton was a fine thing, and we appreciated it.""That is because you were against his grabbing the Lane.""What of it? And 'twan't that altogether.I, for one, ain't complainin' because you stood up to me and wouldn't sell to the town.By the way, Tim Hallet's gang haven't bothered you lately, have they?""No.And I advise them not to."
He chuckled."I heard you advised 'em to that effect," he said.
"I ain't complainin' at that, either, even though I knew what they was up to and thought 'twas more or less of a joke.But I liked the way you fired 'em out of there, not carin' a tinker's darn who was behind 'em.So long as a man stands square in his boots and don't knuckle to anybody he won't lose anything with Jed Dean.
That's me!"
