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case。 The letter was short and much blotted。 It read：
Dear Albert：
I have thought and thought； as you told me to； and I have concluded
that you were right。 It IS best to know it now。 Forgive me；
please； PLEASE。 I feel wicked and horrid and I HATE myself； but I
think this is best。 Oh； do forgive me。 Good…by。
MADELINE。
His reply was longer。 At its end he wrote：
Of course I forgive you。 In the first place there is nothing to
forgive。 The unforgivable thing would have been the sacrifice of
your happiness and your future to a dream and a memory。 I hope you
will be very happy。 I am sure you will be； for Blanchard is； I
know； a fine fellow。 The best of fortune to you both。
The next forenoon he sat once more in the car of the morning train
for Cape Cod； looking out of the window。 He had made the journey
from New York by the night boat and had boarded the Cape train at
Middleboro。 All the previous day； and in the evening as he tramped
the cold wind…swept deck of the steamer； he had been trying to
collect his thoughts； to readjust them to the new situation； to
comprehend in its entirety the great change that had come in his
life。 The vague plans； the happy indefinite dreams； all the
rainbows and roses had gone； shivered to bits like the reflection
in a broken mirror。 Madeline； his Madeline； was his no longer。
Nor was he hers。 In a way it seemed impossible。
He tried to analyze his feelings。 It seemed as if he should have
been crushed； grief…stricken； broken。 He was inclined to reproach
himself because he was not。 Of course there was a sadness about
it； a regret that the wonder of those days of love and youth had
passed。 But the sorrow was not bitter； the regret was but a
wistful longing； the sweet； lingering fragrance of a memory； that
was all。 Toward her； Madeline； he feltand it surprised him； too；
to find that he feltnot the slightest trace of resentment。 And
more surprising still he felt none toward Blanchard。 He had meant
what he said in his letter； he wished for them both the greatest
happiness。
Andthere was no use attempting to shun the facthis chief
feeling； as he sat there by the car window looking out at the
familiar landscape； was a great relief； a consciousness of escape
from what might have been a miserable； crushing mistake for him and
for her。 And with this a growing sense of freedom； of buoyancy。
It seemed wicked to feel like that。 Then it came to him； the
thought that Madeline； doubtless； was experiencing the same
feeling。 And he did not mind a bit； he hoped she was； bless her！
A youthful cigar 〃drummer；〃 on his first Down…East trip； sat down
beside him。
〃Kind of a flat； bare country； ain't it？〃 observed the drummer；
with a jerk of his head toward the window。 〃Looks bleak enough to
me。 Know anything about this neck of the woods； do you？〃
Albert turned to look at him。
〃Meaning the Cape？〃 he asked。
〃Sure。〃
〃Indeed I do。 I know all about it。〃
〃That so！ Say； you sound as if you liked it。〃
Albert turned back to the window again。
〃Like it！〃 he repeated。 〃I love it。〃 Then he sighed； a sigh of
satisfaction； and added： 〃You see； I BELONG here。〃
His grandparents and Rachel were surprised when he walked into the
house that noon and announced that he hoped dinner was ready；
because he was hungry。 But their surprise was more than balanced
by their joy。 Captain Zelotes demanded to know how long he was
going to stay。
〃As long as you'll have me； Grandfather；〃 was the answer。
〃Eh？ Well； that would be a consider'ble spell； if you left it to
us； but I cal'late that girl in New York will have somethin' to say
as to time limit； won't she？〃
Albert smiled。 〃I'll tell you about that by and by；〃 he said。
He did not tell them until that evening after supper。 It was
Friday evening and Olive was going to prayer…meeting； but she
delayed 〃putting on her things〃 to hear the tale。 The news that
the engagement was off and that her grandson was not； after all； to
wed the daughter of the Honorable Fletcher Fosdick； shocked and
grieved her not a little。
〃Oh； dear！〃 she sighed。 〃I suppose you know what's best； Albert；
and maybe； as you say； you wouldn't have been happy； but I DID feel
sort of proud to think my boy was goin' to marry a millionaire's
daughter。〃
Captain Zelotes made no commentthen。 He asked to be told more
particulars。 Albert described the life at the Fosdick home； the
receptions； his enforced exhibitions and readings。 At length the
recital reached the point of the interview in Fosdick's office。
〃So he offered you to take you into the firmeh； son？〃 he
observed。
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Humph！ Fosdick； Williamson and Hendricks are one of the biggest
brokerage houses goin'； so a good many New Yorkers have told me。〃
〃No doubt。 But； Grandfather； you've had some experience with me
as a business man； how do you think I would fit into a firm of
stockbrokers？〃
Captain Lote's eye twinkled； but he did not answer the question。
Instead he asked：
〃Just what did you give Fosdick as your reason for not sayin' yes？〃
Albert laughed。 〃Well； Grandfather；〃 he said； 〃I'll tell you。 I
said that I appreciated his kindness and all that； but that I would
not draw a big salary for doing nothing except to be a little；
damned tame house…poet led around in leash and shown off at his
wife's club meetings。〃
Mrs。 Snow uttered a faint scream。 〃Oh； Albert！〃 she exclaimed。
She might have said more； but a shout from her husband prevented
her doing so。
Captain Zelotes had risen and his mighty hand descended with a
stinging slap upon his grandson's shoulder。
〃Bully for you； boy！〃 he cried。 Then； turning to Olive； he added；
〃Mother； I've always kind of cal'lated that you had one man around
this house。 Now； by the Lord A'Mighty； I know you've got TWO！〃
Olive rose。 〃Well；〃 she declared emphatically； 〃that may be； but
if both those men are goin' to start in swearin' right here in the
sittin' room； I think it's high time SOMEBODY in that family went
to church。〃
So to prayer meeting she went； with Mrs。 Ellis as escort； and her
husband and grandson； seated in armchairs before the sitting room
stove； both smoking； talked and talked； of the past and of the
futurenot as man to boy； nor as grandparent to grandson； but for
the first time as equals； without reservations； as man to man。
CHAPTER XVIII
The next morning Albert met old Mr。 Kendall。 After breakfast
Captain Zelotes had gone； as usual； directly to the office。 His
grandson； however； had not accompanied him。
〃What are you cal'latin' to do this mornin'； Al？〃 inquired the
captain。
〃Oh； I don't know exactly； Grandfather。 I'm going to look about
the place a bit； write a letter to my publishers； and take a walk；
I think。 You will probably see me at the office pretty soon。 I'll
look in there by and by。〃
〃Ain't goin' to write one or two of those five hundred dollar
stories before dinner time； are you？〃
〃I guess not； sir。 I'm afraid they won't be written as quickly as
all that。〃
Captain Lote shook his head。 〃Godfreys！〃 he exclaimed； 〃it ain't
the writin' of 'em I'd worry about s