Fiveminuteslater，VicBurleighwalkedacrossthegridironwithfullcredentialsforhisplaceontheteam。
Thelastmantoenterthegroundswasevidentlyatramp，whoseslouchedhathalf-concealedadarkbeardedface。
AsVicBurleigh，withBugclingingtohisfinger，hurriedbytheticketwindow，thecrippledstudentwhosoldticketsinsidethelittleroofedboxcalledout:
\"Come，staywithme，Bug，tillIcangoin，too，andI\'llbuyyoupeanuts。”
Bugstudiedamoment。Thenwithacomfortablelittle\"Umph-humph，\"
puffingouthispudgycheekswithtightlytucked-inlips，heletgoofVic\'sfingerandtrottedovertotheticketbox。
Theboylethiminsideandturnedtothewindowtoseethefaceofthetrampclosetoit。Themanpaidforaticket，then，leaningforward，staredeagerlyattheopenmoneybox。
Atthesametime，thecripplecaughtsightofarevolverhandleinabeltundertheshabbycoat。Trustacollegeboyforheadwork。
InstantlyheseizedlittleBugbytheshouldersandsethimupontheshelfbetweenthewindowandthemoneybox。
Bug\'shairwasamopofsoftringlets，andhisbrowneyesandinnocentbabyfacewereappealing。Thestrangerstaredhardatthechild，andwithasortoffrightenedexpression，shotthroughthegateandmingledwiththecrowd。
\"Greatprotectionforacripple，\"thestudentthought，ashelockedthemoneybox。\"Howstrongababy\'shandmaybesometimes!
VicBurleigh\'sbeefcanwinthegameoutthere，butBughassavedthedayatthisendoftheline。Thattrampseemedscaredatthesightofhim。”
\"Funnyfolksturnstodames，\"Bugobserved。
\"Yes，Buggie，thelastoneinbeforeyoucamewasayoungwomanwithgrayhair，andshehadabigdogwithher。
Theydon\'tletindogs，sohe\'swaitingoutsidesomewhere。”
ThelastmanwhodidnotgoinwasBondSaxon，whocamelateandfoundthegatesdeserted。Butlyingwatchfulintheopenway，wasaGreatDanedog。OldBondhesitated。
Itwashislifetimefaulttohesitate。Thenhetrottedbackhome。
And，behold，abottleofwhiskywasbesidehisdoorstep。
Buttohiscreditforonce，heresistedandsmashedthebottletobitsonthestonestep。
Thedaywasmadeforsuchagame。Therewasnowind。
Theglareofthesunwastemperedbyagraymistcreepinguptheafternoonskies。Theairwascrispenoughtopreventlanguor。
Thecrowdedbleacherswereinspiring；theseasonwasroundingoutinablazeofgloryforSunrise。Thetwoteamswereevenlymatched，AndthesternjoythatwarriorsfeelInfoemenworthyoftheirsteel，spurredeachtoitsbestefforts。Itwasabattleroyal，withalltheturnsofstrategy，andquickness，andstraightphysicalweight，andsuddenshiftingofsignals，fakeplays，forwardpasses，linebucks，andsplendidinterference，flyingtackles，speedyendruns，andmagnificentdefenseofgoalswithlinesofinvinciblestrengthandspirit。
Withthekick-offtheenemy\'sgoalwasendangeredbyafumbledball，andwithinthreeminutesTrenchhadtornaholeinthedefense，throughwhichtheSunriseteamweresendingVicBurleighforatouchdown。
Thebleacherswentwildandthegrandstandwasalmostshipwreckedinthenoise。
\"Burleigh!Burly!Burlee!\"shriekedtheyell-leaderasVicleapedoverthegoallineandtherootersroared:
TheSunrisehope!
Andthat\'sthedope!
Neverquails!
Neverfails!
Burleigh!Burly!Burlee!
Adifficultkickfromasharpanglesenttheballthroughtheaironeinchwideofthegoalpost，andthebleacherscountedfive。
Andthen，cametheforwardswingagain，thestrugglefordowns，thegainandlossofterritory，untilTrench，tooheavyforspeed，failedtobreakthroughtheinterferencequicklyenoughtoholdaswiftlittlequarterback，whoslippedaroundtheendoftheline，and，shakingoffthetackles，swoopedtowardtheSunrisegoal。
Thelastdefensewasthrownheadlong，andthefieldwaswideopenfortherun；andthequarterbackwasrunningforthehonorofhisteam，hisschool，hisundyingfameinthecollegeworld。
Threeyardstothegoalline，andvictorywouldbehis。
AllLagondaLedgehelditsbreathasVicBurleightorethroughatangleoftacklesandsprangforwardwithlong，space-eatingbounds。
Heseemedtoleapthroughtenfeetofair，straightoverthequarterback\'sheadandlandfourfeetfromthegoalwiththequarterbackinhisgrip，whileaSunrisehalfbackoutbeyondhimwaslyingonthelostball。
Thebleachersnowwententirelymad，forfromtheveryedgeofdisaster，thetideofbattlewasturnedintotheenemy\'sterritory。
BeforetheSunriserootershadtimetoceaserejoicing，however，theinvinciblequarterbackwasawayagain，andwithtwoguardsandacenterontopofBurleigh，nowthepluckyrunnerbrokeacrosstheSunriseline，andaminutelatermissedaprettygoal。
Andtheopposingbleacherscountedfive。
Thesecondhalfofthegamewasfilledwithatense，fruitlessstrife。
Fivepointstofivepoints，andfourminutesoftimetoplay。Thestrugglehadceasedtobeaturningoftricksandtestofspeed。Henceforth，itwasmanagainstman，poundforpound。Suddenly，theopposingteambraceditselfandbeganasteadydrivedownthegridiron。Withdesperateenergy，theSunriseelevenfoughtforground，givingwayslowly，defendingtheirgoalliketrueSpartans，dyingbyinches，untilonlythreeyardsofspacewereleftonwhichtodie。Therootersshrieked，andthegirlssangofcourage。
Thenasilencefell。Threeyards，andtheSunriseteamturnedtoarockledgeasinvincibleasthelimestonefoundationoftheirbelovedcollegehalls。
ThecenterfromwhichallstrengthradiatedwasVictorBurleigh。Againsthimtheweightoftheline-buckingplunged。Ifhewaveredthelinemustcrumble。
Thecrowdhardlybreathed，sotensewasthestrain。Buthedidnotwaver。
Theballwaslostandthelaststruggleofthedaybegan。Twominutesmore，thescoretied，andonlyonechancewasleft。
Sincethenightofthestorm，Vichadknownlittlerest。
Hisdayshadbeenspentinhardstudy，orcontinuouspracticeonthefield；hisnightsinthesickroom。
Andwhatwasmoredestructivetostrengththanallofthiswasthenewnessandgriefofablind，overmasteringadorationfortheonegirlofalltheschoolimpossibletohim。
Thestrainofthisday\'sgame，asthestrainofallthepreparationforit，hadfallenuponhim，andthehalfhourintherotundahadsappedhisenergybeyondeveryotherforce。
Love，loss，areputationattacked，possibleexpulsionforassaultingaprofessor，injustice，anger——oh，itwasmorethanaburdenofweariedmusclesandwrackednervesthathehadtoliftinthesetwominutes!
Inasecond\'spausebeforetheoffensebegan，Vic，whoneversawthebleachers，norheardasoundwhenhewasinthethickofthegame，caughtsightnowofagreatsplashofglowingredcolorinthegrandstand。
Inadimway，likeadreamofadream，hethoughtofAmericanBeautyrosesofwhichsomethinghadbeensaidonce——solongago，itseemednow。
Andinthatmoment，ElinorWream\'ssweetface，withdampdarkhairwhichthelamplightfromDr。Fenneben\'sdoorwasillumining，andthesoftlyspokenwords，\"IshallalwaysrememberyouasonewithwhomIcouldneverbeafraidagain\"——allthiscameswiftlyinaninstant\'svision，astheteamcaughtitsbreathforthelastonslaught。
\"Victor，forvictory。LeadoutBurleigh，\"Trenchcriedtohismates，andthesweepofthefieldwason；andLagondaLedgeandthewholeWalnutValleyremembersthatfinalchargeyet。Steady，swift，invincible，itdroveitsstrongfoedownthewhite-crossedsod——
solikeawhirlwind，thatthewatchingcrowdsgazedinbewilderment。
Almostbeforetheycouldcomprehendthetruth，theenemy\'sgoalwasjustbeforetheSunrisewarriors，andhalfaminuteoftimeremainedinwhichtoplay。OnemorelineplungewithBurleighholdingtheball!
Afilmcamebeforehiseyes。Asuddenblanknessoffailureanddespairseizedhim。Inthegrandstand，ElinorWreamstoodclutchingapennantinbothhands，herdarkeyesluminouswithproudhope。
Amidalltheyellsandcheers，hersweetvoicerangout:
\"Victor，Victor!Don\'tforgetthenameyourmothergaveyou!\"
Vicneithersawnorheard。Yetinthatmoment，strengthandprideandindomitablewillpowercamesweepingbacktohim。
Onelastplungeagainstthiswallofdefenseuprearedbeforehim，andBurleigh，withhalftheenemy\'selevenclinchedtodraghimback，hadhurledhimselfacrossthegoallineandlayhalf-consciousunderaperfectshoweroffragrantcrimsonroses，whilethesongofvictoryinswellingchoruspealedoutontheNovemberair。Halfaminutelater，Trenchhadkickedgoal。
Thebleacherschantedelevencounts，thereferee\'swhistleblew，andthegamewasdone!
SACRIFICE
_Theairforthewingofthesparrow，Thebushfortherobinandwren，ButalwaysthepaththatisnarrowAndstraightforthechildrenofmen_——
ALICECARY
CHAPTERVII
THEDAYOFRECKONING
_Oh，itisexcellentTohaveagiant\'sstrength，buttyrannousTouseitlikeagiant_——
SHAKESPEARE
OFcourse，therecameadayofreckoningforVictorBurleigh，nowtheidoloftheWalnutValleyfootballfans，theprideofLagondaLedge，theheroofSunrise。Butthereckoningwasnotbroughttohim；
hebroughthimselfdeliberatelytoit。
Thejollificationfollowingthegamethreatenedtowreckthechapelandcrackthelimestoneledgebeneathit。
\"Dustoffyourhaloandwrapitupincottontillnextfall，Vic，\"Trenchwhisperedintheclosingminutes。\"We\'vegottofacetherealthingnow。
We\'reciviliansincitizens\'clothes，amenabletolawhenceforth；notalotofathleticbrigands，privilegedoutlaws，whoseglorydazzlesallcommonsense。
QuitbumpingyourheadagainsttheKansasmottoupinthedome，getyourhob-nailersdownonthesod，andtrotoffandtackleyourGreekverbsawhile。
Andsay，Vic，tackleyourselffirstandforgettheprettygirlwhocoveredyouwithrosesdownyonderfivedaysago。Itwasn\'tyou，itwasjusttheday\'shero。She\'dhavedecoratedoldBondSaxonjustthesameifhehadwaddledacrossthelastgoallinethen。You\'reaplugandshe\'saladyborn，andasgoodasengagedtoBurgessbesides。
IhadthatstraightfromDennieSaxon，andyouknowDennie\'snogossip。
TheywerefargonebeforetheycameWest——theWream-Burgessfolkwere——
stiffenup，Burleigh。Youlooklikeadeadman。”
\"Iwasnevermorealiveinmylife。”Vic\'svoiceandeyeswerealiveenough。
\"Byheck!Ibelieveit，\"Trenchexclaimed。\"Say，yougotawaywithBurgessaboutthegame。Ifyouwantthegirl，goafterher，too。Butgently，SweetAfton，gogently。
Mostgirlswanttodothepursuingthemselves，Ibelieve。
I\'llblocktheinterference，ifnecessary，andyou\'llbethesought-afteryet，nottheseeking，dearchild。”
AcircularstairwaywindsfromtheSunrisechapeldownthesouthturrettoDeanFenneben\'sstudy，intendedoriginallyasasortoffireescape。
Someenterprisingjanitorlaterfixedaspringlockontheupperdoortothisstairway(surpriseshadbeensprungthroughthisdooruponthechapelstagebyprankishstudentsatinopportunemoments)，sothatnowitwasonlyanexit，andwascalledbythestudents\"theroadtoperdition，\"
easytodescendbutbarredfromretreat。
IntheconfusionfollowingthechapelexercisesVicslippedintothesouthturret，andthelockclickedbehindhimashehurrieddown\"theroadtoperdition。”
ThedoortoDeanFenneben\'sstudywasslightlyopenandVicheardhisownnamespokenashereachedit。Hehesitated，foragroupofgirlswassurroundingElinorWream，discussinghim。Therewasnoescape。
Theupperdoorwaslocked，andhewouldratherhavemetthatunknownvillainousfaceinthedarkcavethantofacethisgroupofprettygirls。
Sohewaited。
\"Oh，Elinor，youmercenarycreature!\"
\"Whatifheisabitcrude？\"
\"Idon\'tblameyou。I\'mdaffyaboutProfessorBurgessmyself。”
\"He\'sgotthegrandestvoice，Vichas!\"
\"IjustadoreGreek!\"
\"IthinkVicissplendid!\"
Sotheexclamationsran。
\"Now，NorrieWream，crossyourheart，hopeyoumaydie，ifbig，handsomeVictorBurleighhadhiscornersknockedoff，andhewassandpapereddownalittle，andhadmoney，wouldn\'tyoufeelawholelotdifferentabouthim，Norrie？\"
\"Icertainlywould。Icouldn\'thelpit。”
Norrie\'seyeswereshiningandhercheekswerepinkaspeachblossoms。
ToVicsheseemedexquisitelybeautiful。
\"Butnow？\"somebodyqueried。
\"Oh，now，she\'llbesensible，andtheProfessorwilltakeadvantageof`now。\'Hewon\'twaittillit\'stoolate。
Greathat!theregoesthebell。”
Andthegirlsscuttledaway。
Viccameinandsatdownbythewindowthroughwhichonemayfindanempireforthelooking。
\"Burgesswasright，\"hesaidtohimself。
I\'mnotonlyill-bredontheoutside，I\'mthatwayclearthrough。
Adisreputableeavesdropper!That\'smysize。ButIdidn\'tmeanit。
Fineexcuse!\"Hefrownedindisgust，andturnedtothewindow。
TheThanksgivingweatherwasstillblessingtheWalnutValley。WideawaybeyondLagondaLedgerolledthefreeopenprairies，sweptbythefreeairofheavenunderabeneficentsky。
AsVicgazedhissternfacesoftened，andthebulldoglook，thathehadwornsincethenightofthestorm，relaxedbeforesomegentlermood。
Thebrowneyesheldastrangeglowunderthelongblacklashes，asifanewpurposeweregrowingupinthesoulbehindthem。
\"Nolimitoutthere。It\'saFREELAND，\"hemurmured。\"Thereshallbenolimitinhere。”Unconsciouslyhestruckhisbreastwithhisfist。
\"There\'sfreedomforsuchasIamsomewhere。”
\"Hello，Burleigh，whatcanIdoforyou？\"AsDr。Fennebencameintothestudyherecalledhowawkwardlythesameboyhadfilledthesamechaironlyafewmonthsbefore。
\"I\'vecomeintobesentenced，\"Vicreplied。
\"Well，pleadyourcasefirst。”
Ifeverafather-heartbeatinabachelor\'sbreast，LloydFennebenhadsuchaheart。
\"IwanttosettleaboutThanksgivingDay，\"Vicsaid。\"Ihadamoralrighttoplayontheteaminthatgame，butIhadtogetthelegalrightbyforce。
ProfessorBurgessrefusedtopermitmetoplayuntilIMADEhimdoit。”
Fenneben\'seyesweresmiling。\"Whydidn\'tyouknockhimdownandfightitoutwithhim？\"
\"Becausehe\'snotinmyclass。WhenIfightIfightmen。
And，besides，Iwasinahurry。IfI\'mexpectedtoapologizetoProfessorBurgessorbeexpelled，Iwanttoknowit，\"
Vicadded，hotly。
Heknewhewouldnotapologize，andhewantedthesentenceofexpulsiontocomequicklyifitmustcome。
\"WeneverexpelboysfromSunrise。Theyhavedoneitthemselvessometimes。
Nordoweeverexactanapology。Theyofferitthemselvessometimes。
Ineithercase，thechoicelieswiththeboy。”
\"Whatdoyoudowithafellowlikeme？\"ViclookedcuriouslyattheDean。
\"Ifaboyofyourbuildwantstomeetonlymenwhenhefights，wetakeitheissomethingofamanhimself，andthereforeworthtoomuchforSunrisetolose。”
Oh!blessedpowerofthecollegemantoleadthehalf-tamedboyintothestrongerplacesoflife；norshovehimtothedangerousgroundwherehisfeetmustsinkinthequicksandorthemire!
Vicsatlookingthoughtfullyatthemanbeforehim。
\"Yourconfessionhereisallright。YourclaimtoaplaceontheteaminThursday\'sgamewasjust。”ThesimplefairnessofFenneben\'swordsmadetheirappeal，yet，itwassounlikewhatVichadcountedonhecouldhardlyacceptitasgenuine。
\"Youhavemadeagreatnameforyourselfasanathlete。Ipaidfortheroses。Iknowsomethingofthedegreeofthatgreatness。”
Dr。Fennebensmiledgenially。\"YouplayedamarvelousgameandI
amproudofyou。”
Vicdidnotlookproudofhimselfjustthen，andLloydFennebenknewitwasoneoflife\'scrucialmomentsfortheboy。
\"ThebigletterScutoverthedoorwayouttherestandsformorethanSunrise，yourememberItoldyou。”Fennebenspokeearnestly。
\"Itmeansalsothestrifewhichyouhavealreadymetandmustexpecttomeetallalongtheway。But，Burleigh\"——LloydFennebenstooduptohisfullheight，anidealofgraceandpower——
\"ifyouexpecttomakeyourwaythroughcollegewithyourfists，cometome。”
\"You？\"Vic\'seyeswidened。
\"Yes，I\'llmeetyouonanygrounds。Andifyouevertrytocoerceaprofessorhereagain，I\'llmeetyouanyhow，andwe\'llhaveitout。”
Fennebenwassternnow。
\"Iwouldn\'twanttoscrapwithyou，Dr。Fenneben，\"Vicstammered。
\"Whynot？\"
\"Iamtoomuchofagentlemanforthat。”
\"WhenIfight，Ifightmen。Youareinmyclass，\"Fennebenquotedwithasmileinhiseyes，whichfadedawaywiththenextwords。
\"Youareright，Burleigh。Agentlemandoesn\'twanttousehisstrengthlikeabeasttodestroy。Theonlylegitimatebattleiswhenamanmustfightwithamanashewouldfightwithabeast，tosavehimself，orsomethingdearertohimthanhimself，frombeastlydestruction。Getintothebiggergame，myboy，wherethestrifeisforlargerscores，andaddtoaproudathleticrecord，theprouderrecordofself-control。Theprairieshavegivenyouanobleheritage，butculturecomesmostfromcontactwithcul-turedmen。Don\'ttakeonairsbecauseyouhavemoreredbloodthanourHarvardman。
Theinfluenceofthegreatuniversities，directlyorindirectly，onalifelikeyoursisessentialtoyourusefulnessandpower。
Youmayeducateyourconsciencetochoosetherightbeforethewrong，but，remember，aneducatedconsciencedoesnotalwayssaveamanfrombeingafoolnowandthen。
Heneedsaneducatedbrainsometimesbywhichtosavehissoul。
Meantime，settlewithyourconscience，ifyouoweitanything。
Itisatroublesomecreditor。I\'llleaveyounowtosquareyourselfwiththatfellowyoumustlivewitheveryday——
VictorBurleigh。We\'lldropeverythingelsehenceforthandfacetowardtomorrow，notyesterday。”
LloydFennebengraspedtheboy\'shandinafirm，assuringgripandlefthim。
\"IfSunrisemeansStrife，I\'llfaceit，\"Vicsaidtohimself。
\"Astomoney，IhaveonlymytwohandsandthatoldmortgagedquadrangleofprairiesodoutWest。ButifculturelikeFenneben\'smightwinElinorWream，Godhelpmetowinit。”
UpinthelibraryaweeklaterProfessorBurgesscameinwhileDennieSaxonwasputtingthebooksinorder。BurgesswasoftentobefoundwhereDenniewas，butBurgesshimselfhadnotnotedit，andnobodyelseknewit，exceptTrench。Trenchwasalazyfellow，whoalwayslivedinthemiddleofhispasture，wherethefeedingwasgood。
Thatgavehimtimetostudymankindasitworriedabouttheouteredges。
\"Don\'tyougettiredsometimes，MissDennie？\"theProfessorasked。
Hewasnothappyhimselfformanyreasons，andtwoofthemwereElinorandVic，whoseparately，anddifferently，seemedtowearouthisenergy。
DennieSaxonneverworeonanybody\'snerves。
\"Yes，Ido，often，\"Dennieanswered。
\"Whydoyoudothis？\"hequeried。
\"Togetmycollegeeducation。”Denniesmiled，hopefully。
\"Ilikethenicethingsandnicewaysoflife。
SoI\'mworkingforthem。”
\"Elinorhasallthesewithoutworkingforthem，\"Vincentthought。
ThenfornoreasonatallhismindleapedtoDennie\'sfatherandhisownvowonthestormynightinOctober。
\"Whatwouldyoudoifyourfatherweretakenfromyou，MissDennie？\"heasked。
\"I\'vealwayshadtodependonmyselfsomewhat。Iwouldkeepon，Isuppose。”
Dennielookedupbravely。Herfatherwasherjoyandhershame。
Well，whathadBurgessexpected？Thatshewoulddependonhim？
HewasinlovewithElinorWream。Whyshouldhefeeldisappointed？
Andwhyshouldhiseyefollowthesoftlittleripplesofhersunnyhair，givingaprettyoutlinetoherfaceandneck。
\"Couldyoureallytakecareofyourself？Hewastalkingatrandom。
\"ImightdolikethatwomanoutatPigeonPlace。”Burgessdidn\'tcatchthepathosinDennie\'stone。Hewasonlyaman。
\"How\'sthat？\"heasked。
\"Oh，livealoneandkeepabigdog，andsellchickens。
That\'swhatMrs。Mariandoes。Bytheway，shelooksjustalittlebitlikeyou。”
\"Thankyou!\"
\"ShewasatthegameonThanksgivingDay，strangetosay，forsheseldomleaveshome。Didyouseeaprettywhite-hairedwoman，rightsouthofwherewewere？\"
\"IsthathowIlook？No，Ididn\'tseeher。Iwasn\'tatthegame。”
\"Youweren\'t？Whynot？Youmissedawonderfulthing。”
AndBurgesstoldherthewholestoryfromhisviewpoint，ofcourse。
WhathewastooproudtomentiontoDr。FennebenorElinorhespokeoffreelytoDennie，andhefeltasiftheweightofthelimestoneledgewasliftedfromhimwiththetelling。
\"Don\'tyouthinktheyoungruffianwasprettyhardonme？\"heasked。
\"No，Idon\'t，\"Denniesaid，frankly。\"Ithinkyouwereprettyhardonhim。”
AsuddenresolveseizedBurgess。HecamearoundtoDennie\'ssideofthetable。
\"MissDennie，Iwanttotellyousomething，unimportantinitself，butbettersharedthankept。OnthenightofourpicnicinOctoberyourfather，whowasnotquitehimself——\"
\"Yes，Iunderstand，\"Denniesaid，withdowncasteyes。
\"Pardonme，Dennie，Iwouldnothurtyourfeelings。”
Hisvoicewasverygentle，andDennielookedupgratefully。
\"Onthatnightyourfathermademepromise——mademeholdupmyhandandswear——I\'measilyforced，youwillthink——
tolookafteryouifheweretakenaway。Ididittopacifyhim，nottoeverembarrassyou。HealsotoldmeenoughaboutyoungBurleightomakemewish，intheofficeofprotector，towarnyou。”
\"Wasmyfatherquitehimselfthen？\"Dennieasked。
\"Notquite，\"Burgessreplied。
\"Listentohimsomedaywhenheis。Heisanothermanthen。But，\"sheadded，\"Iknowyoumeanwell。”
Inspiteofhercouragehereyeswerefulloftears，andforthefirsttimeinhisshelteredpleasantlifetherealspiritofsympathywokeinthesoulofVincentBurgess。
\"Youareabrave，goodgirl，Dennie。IfIcaneverserveyouinanyway，itwillbeaprivilegetometodoit。”
TenminutesaftertheyhadleftthelibraryTrench，whohadbeenstationaryinthenorthalcove，slowlycametolife。
Hehadbeenposingasastatue，WingedVictorywithaheadon，hedeclaredafterwardtoVicBurleigh，towhomhetoldthewholestory。
\"Letmesingmyswansong，\"hedeclared。\"ThenmeforLagonda\'swhirlpool。
I\'mnotfittoliveinadecentcommunity，ablitheringidiotandrascallyvillain，wholiesinwaittohearandseelikeafool。
IthoughtDennieknewIwasthereandwouldbeintodustmeoutinaminute。
AndwhenitwastoolateIturnedtoapillarofsaltandwaited。
ButIbelieveI\'llchangemymind，afterall。I\'lllive；
andifProfessorBurgess，A。B。ofCambridge-by-the-bean-patch，darestomakelovetoDennieSaxon——ontheside——he\'llgoheadforemostintothewhirlpooltofeedLagonda\'srapaciousspirit。
I\'vesaidit。”
CHAPTERVIII
LOSS，ORGAIN？
_Wecannotmakebargainsforblisses，Norcatchthemlikefishesinnets，AndsometimesthethingourlifemissesHelpsmorethanthethingwhichitgets_——
CARY
ELINORWREAMspenttheholidaysintheEastandwastwoweekslateinenteringschoolagain。ThenherUncleLloydtightenedtherules，exactingfullmeasureforlosttime，untilshebewailedtohergirlfriendsthatshehadnoopportunityeventomakefudgeorwashherhair。
\"Wereyousorrytocomeback，then，Norrie？\"heruncleaskedoneeveningwhentheywerealoneintheirlibrary，andElinorwaslamentingherhardlot。
\"No，Iwanttobewithyou，UncleLloyd。”
Shewassittingonthearmofhismorrischair，softlystrokinghisheavyhairawayfromhisforehead。
\"Lookslikeit，thewayyouhurriedback，\"Dr。Fennebensaid，smiling。
\"ButUncleJoshuaisn\'twell，although，tobehonest，hedidn\'tseemabitanxioustohavemestay。He\'ssowrappedupinSanscrithehasnotimetoliveinthepresent。
Whydidn\'theevermarry？\"
\"Youhavejustsaidwhy，\"heruncleansweredher。
\"Whydidn\'tyouevermarry。Wereyoueverinlove？\"
ThelibrarylampcastonlyashadedlightoverLloydFennebenloungingcomfortablyinhischair。Toawoman\'seyehewouldhaveseemedthepictureofanidealhusband。
\"Yes，Iwasinloveonce。Ididn\'tmarrybecause——because——Ididn\'t。”
\"Howromantic!Wasitunrequited，ormoney，orwhat？\"
Norrieasked，eagerly。
\"Orwhat，\"heanswered，andherfinersensemadeherchangethesubject。
\"Say，UncleLloyd，UncleJoshuasayshewantsmetomarry。”
\"What\'sheuptonow？Tellmeaboutit。”
Norriewascharmingtonightinadaintyredeveninggownthatsetoffherprettyface，crownedwithbeautifuldarkhair。