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tears of genuine distress； Maria colored over her cheek…bones； and Dick
stared at the ground in sullen disquiet。
〃You had better get up；〃 said the Man on the Beach； after a moment's
thought； 〃and come up to the cabin。 I cannot offer you a change of
garments； but you can dry them by the fire。〃
They all rose together； and again said in chorus； 〃James！〃 but this time
with an evident effort to recall some speech or action previously resolved
upon and committed to memory。 The elder lady got so far as to clasp her
hands and add； 〃You have not forgotten usJames； oh； James！〃； the
younger gentleman to attempt a brusque 〃Why； Jim； old boy；〃 that ended
in querulous incoherence； the young lady to cast a half…searching； half…
coquettish look at him； and the old gentleman to begin； 〃Our desire； Mr。
North〃but the effort was futile。 Mr。 James North； standing before them
with folded arms； looked from the one to the other。
〃I have not thought much of you for a twelvemonth；〃 he said； quietly；
〃but I have not forgotten you。 Come！〃
He led the way a few steps in advance； they following silently。 In
this brief interview they felt he had resumed the old dominance and
independence； against which they had rebelled； more than that； in this half
failure of their first concerted action they had changed their querulous
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bickerings to a sullen distrust of each other； and walked moodily apart as
they followed James North into his house。 A fire blazed brightly on the
hearth； a few extra seats were quickly extemporized from boxes and chests；
and the elder lady； with the skirt of her dress folded over her knees；
looking not unlike an exceedingly overdressed jointed doll；dried her
flounces and her tears together。 Miss Maria took in the scant
appointments of the house in one single glance； and then fixed her eyes
upon James North； who； the least concerned of the party； stood before
them； grave and patiently expectant。
〃Well；〃 began the elder lady in a high key； 〃after all this worry and
trouble you have given us； James； haven't you anything to say？ Do you
knowhave you the least idea what you are doing？ what egregious folly
you are committing？ what everybody is saying？ Eh？ Heavens and
earth！do you know who I am？〃
〃You are my father's brother's widow； Aunt Mary；〃 returned James；
quietly。 〃If I am committing any folly it only concerns myself； if I cared
for what people said I should not be here； if I loved society enough to
appreciate its good report I should stay with it。〃
〃But they say you have run away from society to pine alone for a
worthless creaturea woman who has used you； as she has used and
thrown away othersa〃
〃A woman；〃 chimed in Dick； who had thrown himself on James's bed
while his patent leathers were drying； 〃a woman that all the fellers know
never intended〃here； however； he met James North's eye； and muttering
something about 〃whole thing being too idiotic to talk about；〃 relapsed
into silence。
〃You know；〃 continued Mrs。 North； 〃that while we and all our set shut
our eyes to your very obvious relations with that woman； and while I
myself often spoke of it to others as a simple flirtation； and averted a
scandal for your sake； and when the climax was reached； and she herself
gave you an opportunity to sever your relations； and nobody need have
been wiserand she'd have had all the blameand it's only what she's
accustomed toyouyou！ you； James North！you must nonsensically go；
and； by this extravagant piece of idiocy and sentimental tomfoolery； let
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everybody see how serious the whole affair was； and how deep it hurt you！
and here in this awful place； alonewhere you're half drowned to get to it
and are willing to be wholly drowned to get away！ Oh； don't talk to me！
I won't hear itit's just too idiotic for anything！〃
The subject of this outburst neither spoke nor moved a single muscle。
〃Your aunt； Mr。 North； speaks excitedly；〃 said the elder gentleman；
〃yet I think she does not overestimate the unfortunate position in which
your odd fancy places you。 I know nothing of the reasons that have
impelled you to this step； I only know that the popular opinion is that the
cause is utterly inadequate。 You are still young； with a future before you。
I need not say how your present conduct may imperil that。 If you
expected to achieve any good even to your own satisfactionbut this
conduct〃
〃Yesif there was anything to be gained by it！〃 broke in Mrs。 North。
〃If you ever thought she'd come back！but that kind of woman don't。
They must have change。 Why〃began Dick suddenly； and as suddenly
lying down again。
〃Is this all you have come to say？〃 asked James North； after a
moment's patient silence； looking from one to the other。
〃All？〃 screamed Mrs。 North； 〃is it not enough？〃
〃Not to change my mind nor my residence at present；〃 replied North；
coolly。
〃Do you mean to continue this folly all your life？〃
〃And have a coroner's inquest； and advertisements and all the facts in
the papers？〃
〃And have HER read the melancholy details； and know that you were
faithful and she was not？〃
This last shot was from the gentle Maria； who bit her lips as it glanced
from the immovable man。
〃I believe there is nothing more to say；〃 continued North； quietly。 〃I
am willing to believe your intentions are as worthy as your zeal。 Let us
say no more；〃 he added； with grave weariness； 〃the tide is rising； and your
coachman is signaling you from the bank。〃
There was no mistaking the unshaken positiveness of the man； which
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was all the more noticeable from its gentle but utter indifference to the
wishes of the part