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〃Speak out；〃 said Tracy。 〃What is it you want？〃
〃Well； haven't youerforgot something？〃
〃I？ I'm not aware of it。〃
〃Oh； you're not？ Now you stop and think； a minute。〃
〃I refuse to stop and think。 It doesn't interest me。 If it interests
you； speak out。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Marsh； raising his voice to a slightly angry pitch；〃
You forgot to pay your board yesterdayif you're bound to have it
public。〃
Oh； yes； this heir to an annual million or so had been dreaming and
soaring； and had forgotten that pitiful three or four dollars。 For
penalty he must have it coarsely flung in his face in the presence of
these peoplepeople in whose countenances was already beginning to dawn
an uncharitable enjoyment of the situation。
〃Is that all！ Take your money and give your terrors a rest。〃
Tracy's hand went down into his pocket with angry decision。 But…it
didn't come out。 The color began to ebb out of his face。 The
countenances about him showed a growing interest； and some of them a
heightened satisfaction。 There was an uncomfortable pausethen he
forced out； with difficulty； the words：
〃I'vebeen robbed！〃
Old Marsh's eyes flamed up with Spanish fire； and he exclaimed：
〃Robbed； is it？ That's your tune？ It's too oldbeen played in this
house too often； everybody plays it that can't get work when he wants it；
and won't work when he can get it。 Trot out Mr。 Allen； somebody； and let
him take a toot at it。 It's his turn next； he forgot； too； last night。
I'm laying for him。〃
One of the negro women came scrambling down stairs as pale as a sorrel
horse with consternation and excitement：
〃Misto Marsh； Misto Allen's skipped out！〃
〃What！〃
〃Yes…sah； and cleaned out his room clean； tuck bofe towels en de soap！〃
〃You lie； you hussy！〃
〃It's jes' so； jes' as I tells youen Misto Summer's socks is gone； en
Misto Naylor's yuther shirt。〃
Mr。 Marsh was at boiling point by this time。 He turned upon Tracy：
〃Answer up now…when are you going to settle？〃
〃To…day…since you seem to be in a hurry。〃
〃To…day is it？ Sundayand you out of work？ I like that。 Comewhere
are you going to get the money？〃
Tracy's spirit was rising again。 He proposed to impress these people：
〃I am expecting a cablegram from home。〃
Old Marsh was caught out； with the surprise of it。 The idea was so
immense； so extravagant； that he couldn't get his breath at first。 When
he did get it； it came rancid with sarcasm。
〃A cablegramthink of it； ladies and gents； he's expecting a cablegram！
He's expecting a cablegramthis duffer； this scrub； this bilk！ From his
fathereh？ Yeswithout a doubt。 A dollar or two a wordoh； that's
nothingthey don't mind a little thing like thatthis kind's fathers
don't。 Now his father iserwell； I reckon his father〃
〃My father is an English earl！〃
The crowd fell back aghast…aghast at the sublimity of the young loafer's
〃cheek。〃 Then they burst into a laugh that made the windows rattle。
Tracy was too angry to realize that he had done a foolish thing。 He
said：
〃Stand aside； please。 I〃
〃Wait a minute； your lordship；〃 said Marsh； bowing low； 〃where is your
lordship going？〃
〃For the cablegram。 Let me pass。〃
〃Excuse me； your lordship； you'll stay right where you are。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃I mean that I didn't begin to keep boarding…house yesterday。 It means
that I am not the kind that can be taken in by every hack…driver's son
that comes loafing over here because he can't bum a living at home。 It
means that you can't skip out on any such〃
Tracy made a step toward the old man； but Mrs。 Marsh sprang between； and
said：
〃Don't； Mr。 Tracy； please。〃 She turned to her husband and said； 〃Do
bridle your tongue。 What has he done to be treated so？ Can't you see he
has lost his mind； with trouble and distress？ He's not responsible。〃
〃Thank your kind heart； madam； but I've not lost my mind； and if I can
have the mere privilege of stepping to the telegraph office〃
〃Well； you can't；〃 cried Marsh。
〃or sending〃
〃Sending！ That beats everything。 If there's anybody that's fool enough
to go on such a chuckle…headed errand〃
〃Here comes Mr。 Barrowhe will go for me。 Barrow〃
A brisk fire of exclamations broke out
〃Say； Barrow； he's expecting a cablegram！〃
〃Cablegram from his father； you know！〃
〃Yescablegram from the wax…figger！〃
〃And say； Barrow； this fellow's an earltake off your hat； pull down
your vest！〃
〃Yes； he's come off and forgot his crown； that he wears Sundays。 He's
cabled over to his pappy to send it。〃
〃You step out and get that cablegram； Barrow； his majesty's a little lame
to…day。〃
〃Oh stop；〃 cried Barrow； 〃give the man a chance。〃 He turned； and said
with some severity； 〃Tracy； what's the matter with you？ What kind of
foolishness is this you've been talking。 You ought to have more sense。〃
〃I've not been talking foolishness； and if you'll go to the telegraph
office〃
〃Oh； don't talk so。 I'm your friend in trouble and out of it； before
your face and behind your back； for anything in reason； but you've lost
your head； you see； and this moonshine about a cablegram〃
〃I'll go there and ask for it！〃
〃Thank you from the bottom of my heart； Brady。 Here； I'll give you a
Written order for it。 Fly； now； and fetch it。 We'll soon see！〃
Brady flew。 Immediately the sort of quiet began to steal over the crowd
which means dawning doubt； misgiving； and might be translated into the
words； 〃Maybe he is expecting a cablegrammaybe he has got a father
somewheremaybe we've been just a little too fresh； just a shade too
'previous'！〃
Loud talk ceased； then the mutterings and low murmurings and whisperings
died out。 The crowd began to crumble apart。 By ones and twos the
fragments drifted to the breakfast table。 Barrow tried to bring Tracy
in； but he said：
〃Not yet； Barrow…presently。〃
Mrs。 Marsh and Hattie tried； offering gentle and kindly persuasions； but
he said；
〃I would rather wait…till he comes。〃
Even old Marsh began to have suspicions that maybe he had been a trifle
too 〃brash；〃 as he called it in the privacy of his soul； and he pulled
himself together and started toward Tracy with invitation in his eyes；
but Tracy warned him off with a gesture which was quite positive and
eloquent。 Then followed the stillest quarter of an hour which had ever
been known in that house at that time of day。 It was so still； and so
solemn withal； that when somebody's cup slipped from his fingers and
landed in his plate the shock made people start； and the sharp sound
seemed as indecorous there and as out of place as if a coffin and
mourners were imminent and being waited for。 And at last when Brady's
feet came clattering down the stairs the sacrilege seemed unbearable。
Everybody rose softly and turned toward the door； where stood Tracy；
then with a common impulse； moved a step or two in that direction； and
stopped。 While they gazed； young Brady arrived； panting； and put into
Tracy's hand；sure enoughan envelope。 Tracy fastened a bland
victorious eye upon the gazers； and kept it there till one by one they
dropped their eyes； vanquished and embarrassed。 Then h