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He stopped； breathless； looking into the distance； and his eyes slowly grew wet with passion and longing。
He left the house and struck across the country through the woodland and farms。 He did not know why he wenthe had to go。 When he reached the Dunbar woods； he stood in the thicket for hours； watching the house。 She came out at last and sat down on the steps to play with the dog。 Last night in her white； delicate beauty she had not seemed realshe was far off； like an angel coming down into his depths of misery。
But to…day she sat on the steps in her pretty blue gown； and laughed and rolled Tramp over； and sung snatches of songs； and was nothing but a foolish girl。 For so many years he had been thinking of work and money…making and bosses。 All of that mean drudgery fell out of sight now。 He was a man； young； alone； on fire with hope and passion。 His share of life had been mean and pinched； yonder was youth and gladness and tranquillity。 The world was empty； save for themselves。 He was here； and there was the one woman in itthe one woman。
He looked at his tanned； rough fingers。 Last night she had folded them in her two soft little hands； and drawn him onon into home！
He would go up to her now and tell her
George pushed aside the bushes； but at that moment Lucy rose and went into the house。 After a moment he crossed the lawn and sat down on the piazza； calling the dog to him。 She would come back soon。 Tramp's head rested on his knee as he stroked it。 It was here her hand had touched itand here
The scent of roses was heavy in the sunshine； the bees hummed； he sat there in a hazy dream； waiting for the door to open and the joy of his life to begin。
He was dragged roughly enough out of his dream。
Miss Dunbar's landau drove to the door to take her to church。 George looked up； carelessly noting how quiet and perfectly appointed it was； from the brown liveries of the negro coachman and footman to the trappings on the black ponies。 There were no horses of such high breed in Delaware。 He stood up suddenly； his jaws pale as if he had been struck。 What money there was in it！ He had forgotten。 She was a great heiress。
She came out at the moment。 He scanned her fiercely； the plain； costly gown； the ruby blazing on her ungloved hand。 Then he glanced down at his own shabby Sunday suit。 She was the richest woman in Delaware； and he had not a dollar in his pocket； and no way to earn one。
He went up to her； courteously took her hand when she held it out； blushing and dimpling； bowed to her aunt； saying that he had merely walked over to put her into her carriage； and； having shut the door； looked after them； hat in hand； smiling when she glanced shyly back at him。
Then he laughed loudly。 If he had the salary that she paid her negro driver he would be lucky！ And he had meant to marry her。 He laughed again and took his way homeward。
CHAPTER XIX
His mother was waiting to give George his breakfast。 Whether he chose to lie in bed until noon or to walk twenty miles at dawn； she smiled a joyful approval。 But neither the crisp toast； nor the fried chicken； nor any of her funny stories； would penetrate the blackness of his gloom。
〃Oh； by the way！〃 she said； 〃here is a letter that came by last night's mail。 I forgot to give it to you。〃
He glanced at the envelope。 〃Great Heavens！ It is life and death to me； and you forget it to tell Jack's pert sayings！〃 He read the letter and threw it down。
〃What is it； George？〃 she asked humbly。
〃Burnett & Hoyle offer me a place in their house。〃
〃Mr。 Hoyle is an old friend of mine。 I wrote to him。 What is the salary； George？〃
〃Forty dollars a week。 I could earn more as a coachmanfor some rich heiress。〃
〃But George dear It would be a beginning。 They are brokers； and there are so many short cuts to fortune in that business！ Do try it； my son。〃
〃Of course I'll try it。 Do you think I'm a fool？ It will keep me from starving。 But I want something else in life than to be kept from starving； mother。〃
He stretched out his arms with a groan； and walked to the window。 She followed him with wretched； comprehending eyes。 Why did not Lucy give him her fortune？ Any woman would be honored who could give George her fortune。
〃I always have heard that brokers know the short cuts to wealth；〃 she said calmly。 〃You go on the Street some day； and come back a millionaire。〃
〃That is a woman's idea of business。 Instead； I will sit on a high stool and drudge all day； and on Saturday get my wages； and after three or four years I'll make a fight for ten dollars more a week； and thank God if I get it。 ‘A short cut to fortune！'〃
Mrs。 Waldeaux carefully averted her eyes from him。 〃You may marry；〃 she said； 〃and it may happen that your wife also will have some little income〃
〃Mother！ Look at me！〃 he interrupted her sternly。 〃I will never be dependent on my wife； so help me God！ 〃
〃No； George； no！ Of course not。 Don't speak so loud。 Only； I thought if she had a small sum of her own； she would feel more comfortable； that's all。〃
In spite of his ill temper George threw himself into his work with zeal。 After a couple of months he came home for a day。 He was dressed with the quiet elegance which once had been so important in his eyes。
His mother noted it shrewdly。 〃A man has more courage to face life； decently clothed；〃 she said to herself。
He did not come again until winter。 Lucy happened to be spending the day with Mrs。 Waldeaux。 There were no liveried servants； no priceless rings； no Worth gown in sight。 She was just the shy； foolish girl whom he had once for an hour looked upon as his wife。 George talked about Wall Street to her； being now wise as to stocks； took her out sleighing； and when in the evening she took Jack in her arms and sang him to sleep； sat listening with his head buried in his hands。 Mrs。 Waldeaux carried the boy up to bed； and Lucy and George were left alone。 They talked long and earnestly。
〃She consulted me about her affairs；〃 he said； after she was gone； his eyes shining。
〃I am afraid she does not understand business！〃 Mrs。 Waldeaux replied anxiously。
〃Oh； like a woman！ That is； not at all。 Her whole property is in the hands of The Consolidated Good Faith Companies。 I reminded her of the old adage； ‘Never put all of your eggs into one basket。'〃
〃But that is so sound a basket； George！〃 〃Yes。 It is thought so；〃 with a shrug。
〃Poor child！ She needs a guardian to advise her。〃
Waldeaux's countenance grew black。 〃She should employ an attorney。 It certainly will never be my duty to advise Miss Dunbar；〃 he retorted irritably。
George showed himself shrewd and able in his work。 Mr。 Hoyle was a powerful backer。 Before spring his salary was doubled。 But what was that？ The gulf between him and the great heiress gaped； impassable。
Lucy spent much time with her old friend； and Frances at last broke the silence concerning him。
〃The boy never before knew what love was。 And it is you that he loves； child。〃
〃He has not told me so；〃 said Lucy coldly。
〃No。 And never will。 It is your wealth that makes him dumb。 I wish it was gone；〃 said Frances earnestly。