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from a doer of outrages to a mere threatener of them。 The young girls；
of whom there were half a dozen； showed many attentions to Tracy；
particularly that boarding house pet Hattie； the landlady's daughter。
She said to him； very sweetly；
〃I think you're ever so nice。〃
And when he said； 〃I'm glad you think' so； Miss Hattie；〃 she said； still
more sweetly；
〃Don't call me Miss Hattie…call me Puss。〃
Ah； here was promotion！ He had struck the summit。 There were no higher
heights to climb in that boarding house。 His popularity was complete。
In the presence of people； Tracy showed a tranquil outside； but his heart
was being eaten out of him by distress and despair。
In a little while he should be out of money； and then what should he do？
He wished； now； that he had borrowed a little more liberally from that
stranger's store。 He found it impossible to sleep。 A single torturing；
terrifying thought went racking round and round in his head； wearing a
groove in his brain： What should he doWhat was to become of him？ And
along with it began to intrude a something presently which was very like
a wish that he had not joined the great and noble ranks of martyrdom； but
had stayed at home and been content to be merely an earl and nothing
better； with nothing more to do in this world of a useful sort than an
earl finds to do。 But he smothered that part of his thought as well as
he could； he made every effort to drive it away； and with fair keep it
from intruding a little success； but he couldn't now and then； and when
it intruded it came suddenly and nipped him like a bite； a sting； a burn。
He recognized that thought by the peculiar sharpness of its pang。 The
others were painful enough； but that one cut to the quick when it calm。
Night after night he lay tossing to the music of the hideous snoring of
the honest bread…winners until two and three o'clock in the morning；
then got up and took refuge on the roof； where he sometimes got a nap and
sometimes failed entirely。 His appetite was leaving him and the zest of
life was going along with it。 Finally； owe day； being near the imminent
verge of total discouragement； he said to himselfand took occasion to
blush privately when he said it； 〃If my father knew what my American name
is；hewell； my duty to my father rather requires that I furnish him my
name。 I have no right to make his days and nights unhappy； I can do
enough unhappiness for the family all by myself。 Really he ought to know
what my American name is。〃 He thought over it a while and framed a
cablegram in his mind to this effect：
〃My American name is Howard Tracy。〃
That wouldn't be suggesting anything。 His father could understand that
as he chose； and doubtless he would understand it as it was meant； as a
dutiful and affectionate desire on the part of a son to make his old
father happy for a moment。 Continuing his train of thought； Tracy said
to himself； 〃Ah； but if he should cable me to come home！ IIcouldn't
do thatI mustn't do that。 I've started out on a mission； and I mustn't
turn my back on it in cowardice。 No； no； I couldn't go home； atat
least I shouldn't want to go home。〃 After a reflective pause： 〃Well；
maybeperhapsit would be my duty to go in the circumstances； he's very
old and he does need me by him to stay his footsteps down the long hill
that inclines westward toward the sunset of his life。 Well； I'll think
about that。 Yes； of course it wouldn't be right to stay here。 If I
well； perhaps I could just drop him a line and put it off a little while
and satisfy him in that way。 It would bewell； it would mar everything
to have him require me to come instantly。〃 Another reflective pause
then： 〃And yet if he should do that I don't know butoh； dear mehome！
how good it sounds！ and a body is excusable for wanting to see his home
again； now and then； anyway。〃
He went to one of the telegraph offices in the avenue and got the first
end of what Barrow called the 〃usual Washington courtesy；〃 where 〃they
treat you as a tramp until they find out you're a congressman； and then
they slobber all over you。〃 There was a boy of seventeen on duty there；
tying his shoe。 He had his foot on a chair and his back turned towards
the wicket。 He glanced over his shoulder； took Tracy's measure； turned
back； and went on tying his shoe。 Tracy finished writing his telegram
and waited； still waited； and still waited； for that performance to
finish； but there didn't seem to be any finish to it； so finally Tracy
said：
〃Can't you take my telegram？〃
The youth looked over his shoulder and said； by his manner； not his
words：
〃Don't you think you could wait a minute； if you tried？〃
However； he got the shoe tied at last； and came and took the telegram；
glanced over it； then looked up surprised； at Tracy。 There was something
in his look that bordered upon respect； almost reverence； it seemed to
Tracy； although he had been so long without anything of this kind he was
not sure that he knew the signs of it。
The boy read the address aloud； with pleased expression in face and
voice。
〃The Earl of Rossmore！ Cracky！ Do you know him？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Is that so！ Does he know you？〃
〃Wellyes。〃
〃Well； I swear！ Will he answer you？〃
〃I think he will。〃
〃Will he though？ Where'll you have it sent？〃
〃Oh； nowhere。 I'll call here and get it。 When shall I call？〃
〃Oh； I don't knowI'll send it to you。 Where shall I send it？ Give me
your address； I'll send it to you soon's it comes。〃
But Tracy didn't propose to do this。 He had acquired the boy's
admiration and deferential respect； and he wasn't willing to throw these
precious things away； a result sure to follow if he should give the
address of that boarding house。 So he said again that he would call and
get the telegram； and went his way。
He idled along； reflecting。 He said to himself； 〃There is something
pleasant about being respected。 I have acquired the respect of Mr。
Allen and some of those others； and almost the deference of some of them
on pure merit； for having thrashed Allen。 While their respect and their
deferenceif it is deferenceis pleasant； a deference based upon a
sham； a shadow； does really seem pleasanter still。 It's no real merit to
be in correspondence with an earl； and yet after all； that boy makes me
feel as if there was。〃
The cablegram was actually gone home！ the thought of it gave him an
immense uplift。 He walked with a lighter tread。 His heart was full of
happiness。 He threw aside all hesitances and confessed to himself that
he was glad through and through that he was going to give up this
experiment and go back to his home again。 His eagerness to get his
father's answer began to grow； now； and it grew with marvelous celerity；
after it began。 He waited an hour； walking about； putting in his time as
well as he could； but interested in nothing that came under his eye； and
at last he presented himself at the office again and asked if any answer
had come yet。 The boy said；
〃No； no answer yet；〃 then glanced at the clock and added； 〃I don't think
it's likely you'll get one to…day。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Well； you see it's getting pretty