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She raised her eyes triumphantly to Barbox Brothers as she said：
〃Indeed； sir； that is true。 If I could have got up and gone to church； I
don't know how often I should have been a bridesmaid。 But； if I could
have done that； some girls in love might have been jealous of me； and； as
it is； no girl is jealous of me。 And my pillow would not have been half as
ready to put the piece of cake under； as I always find it；〃 she added；
turning her face on it with a light sigh； and a smile at her father。
The arrival of a little girl； the biggest of the scholars； now led to an
understanding on the part of Barbox Brothers； that she was the domestic of
the cottage； and had come to take active measures in it； attended by a pail
that might have extinguished her； and a broom three times her height。 He
therefore rose to take his leave； and took it； saying that； if Phoebe had no
objection； he would come again。
He had muttered that he would come 〃in the course of his walks。〃 The
course of his walks must have been highly favourable to his return； for he
returned after an interval of a single day。
〃You thought you would never see me any more； I suppose？〃 he said
to Phoebe as he touched her hand； and sat down by her couch。
〃Why should I think so？〃 was her surprised rejoinder。
〃I took it for granted you would mistrust me。〃
〃For granted； sir？ Have you been so much mistrusted？〃
〃I think I am justified in answering yes。 But I may have mistrusted；
too； on my part。 No matter just now。 We were speaking of the Junction
last time。 I have passed hours there since the day before yesterday。〃
〃Are you now the gentleman for Somewhere？〃 she asked with a smile。
〃Certainly for Somewhere； but I don't yet know Where。 You would
never guess what I am travelling from。 Shall I tell you？ I am travelling
from my birthday。〃
Her hands stopped in her work； and she looked at him with
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incredulous astonishment。
〃Yes；〃 said Barbox Brothers； not quite easy in his chair； 〃from my
birthday。 I am； to myself； an unintelligible book with the earlier chapters
all torn out； and thrown away。 My childhood had no grace of childhood；
my youth had no charm of youth； and what can be expected from such a
lost beginning？〃 His eyes meeting hers as they were addressed intently
to him； something seemed to stir within his breast； whispering： 〃Was this
bed a place for the graces of childhood and the charms of youth to take to
kindly？ Oh； shame； shame！〃
〃It is a disease with me；〃 said Barbox Brothers； checking himself； and
making as though he had a difficulty in swallowing something； 〃to go
wrong about that。 I don't know how I came to speak of that。 I hope it is
because of an old misplaced confidence in one of your sex involving an
old bitter treachery。 I don't know。 I am all wrong together。〃
Her hands quietly and slowly resumed their work。 Glancing at her；
he saw that her eyes were thoughtfully following them。
〃I am travelling from my birthday；〃 he resumed； 〃because it has
always been a dreary day to me。 My first free birthday coming round
some five or six weeks hence； I am travelling to put its predecessors far
behind me； and to try to crush the dayor； at all events； put it out of my
sightby heaping new objects on it。〃
As he paused； she looked at him； but only shook her head as being
quite at a loss。
〃This is unintelligible to your happy disposition；〃 he pursued； abiding
by his former phrase as if there were some lingering virtue of self…defence
in it。 〃I knew it would be； and am glad it is。 However； on this travel of
mine （in which I mean to pass the rest of my days； having abandoned all
thought of a fixed home）； I stopped； as you have heard from your father； at
the Junction here。 The extent of its ramifications quite confused me as to
whither I should go； FROM here。 I have not yet settled； being still
perplexed among so many roads。 What do you think I mean to do？
How many of the branching roads can you see from your window？〃
Looking out； full of interest； she answered； 〃Seven。〃
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〃Seven；〃 said Barbox Brothers； watching her with a grave smile。 〃Well！
I propose to myself at once to reduce the gross number to those very seven；
and gradually to fine them down to onethe most promising for meand
to take that。〃
〃But how will you know； sir； which IS the most promising？〃 she asked；
with her brightened eyes roving over the view。
〃Ah！〃 said Barbox Brothers with another grave smile； and
considerably improving in his ease of speech。 〃To be sure。 In this way。
Where your father can pick up so much every day for a good purpose； I
may once and again pick up a little for an indifferent purpose。 The
gentleman for Nowhere must become still better known at the Junction。
He shall continue to explore it； until he attaches something that he has
seen； heard； or found out； at the head of each of the seven roads； to the
road itself。 And so his choice of a road shall be determined by his choice
among his discoveries。〃
Her hands still busy； she again glanced at the prospect； as if it
comprehended something that had not been in it before； and laughed as if
it yielded her new pleasure。
〃But I must not forget；〃 said Barbox Brothers； 〃（having got so far） to
ask a favour。 I want your help in this expedient of mine。 I want to
bring you what I pick up at the heads of the seven roads that you lie here
looking out at； and to compare notes with you about it。 May I？ They
say two heads are better than one。 I should say myself that probably
depends upon the heads concerned。 But I am quite sure； though we are
so newly acquainted； that your head and your father's have found out
better things； Phoebe； than ever mine of itself discovered。〃
She gave him her sympathetic right hand； in perfect rapture with his
proposal； and eagerly and gratefully thanked him。
〃That's well！〃 said Barbox Brothers。 〃Again I must not