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As it turned out； the old gentleman didn't turn over or show any signs of
life worth speaking of for twenty…four hours。 Then he asked after the
procession； and learned what had happened about it。 He was sorry； said
he had been 〃fixed〃 for it。 He remained abed several days； and his wife
and daughter took turns in sitting with him and ministering to his wants。
Often he patted Sally's head and tried to comfort her。
〃Don't cry； my child； don't cry so； you know your old father did it by
mistake and didn't mean a bit of harm； you know he wouldn't intentionally
do anything to make you ashamed for the world； you know he was trying to
do good and only made the mistake through ignorance； not knowing the
right doses and Washington not there to help。 Don't cry so； dear； it
breaks my old heart to see you； and think I've brought this humiliation
on you and you so dear to me and so good。 I won't ever do it again；
indeed I won't； now be comforted； honey； that's a good child。〃
But when she wasn't on duty at the bedside the crying went on just the
same； then the mother would try to comfort her； and say：
〃Don't cry； dear； he never meant any harm； it was all one of those
happens that you can't guard against when you are trying experiments；
that way。 You see I don't cry。 It's because I know him so well。
I could never look anybody in the face again if he had got into such an
amazing condition as that a…purpose； but bless you his intention was；
pure and high； and that makes the act pure； though it was higher than was
necessary。 We're not humiliated； dear； he did it under a noble impulse
and we don't need to be ashamed。 There； don't cry any more； honey。〃
Thus； the old gentleman was useful to Sally； during several days； as an
explanation of her tearfulness。 She felt thankful to him for the shelter
he was affording her； but often said to herself； 〃It's a shame to let him
see in my cryings a reproachas if he could ever do anything that could
make me reproach him！ But I can't confess； I've got to go on using him
for a pretext； he's the only one I've got in the world； and I do need one
so much。〃
As soon as Sellers was out again； and found that stacks of money had been
placed in bank for him and Hawkins by the Yankee； he said； 〃Now we'll
soon see who's the Claimant and who's the Authentic。 I'll just go over
there and warm up that House of Lords。〃 During the next few days he and
his wife were so busy with preparations for the voyage that Sally had all
the privacy she needed； and all the chance to cry that was good for her。
Then the old pair left for New Yorkand England。
Sally had also had a chance to do another thing。 That was； to make up
her mind that life was not worth living upon the present terms。 If she
must give up her impostor and die； doubtless she must submit； but might
she not lay her whole case before some disinterested person； first； and
see if there wasn't perhaps some saving way out of the matter？ She
turned this idea over in her mind a good deal。 In her first visit with
Hawkins after her parents were gone； the talk fell upon Tracy； and she
was impelled to set her case before the statesman and take his counsel。
So she poured out her heart； and he listened with painful solicitude。
She concluded； pleadingly； with
〃Don't tell me he is an impostor。 I suppose he is； but doesn't it look
to you as if he isn't？ You are cool； you know； and outside； and so；
maybe it can look to you as if he isn't one； when it can't to me。
Doesn't it look to you as if he isn't？ Couldn't youcan't it look to
you that wayforfor my sake？〃
The poor man was troubled； but he felt obliged to keep in the
neighborhood of the truth。 He fought around the present detail a little
while； then gave it up and said he couldn't really see his way to
clearing Tracy。
〃No；〃 he said； 〃the truth is； he's an impostor。〃
〃That is； youyou feel a little certain； but not entirelyoh； not
entirely； Mr。 Hawkins！〃
〃It's a pity to have to say itI do hate to say it； but I don't think
anything about it； I know he's an impostor。〃
〃Oh； now； Mr。 Hawkins； you can't go that far。 A body can't really know
it； you know。 It isn't proved that he's not what he says he is。〃
Should he come out and make a clean breast of the whole wretched
business？ Yesat least the most of itit ought to be done。 So he set
his teeth and went at the matter with determination； but purposing to
spare the girl one pain…that of knowing that Tracy was a criminal。
〃Now I am going to tell you a plain tale； one not pleasant for me to tell
or for you to hear； but we've got to stand it。 I know all about that
fellow； and I know he is no earl's son。〃
The girl's eyes flashed； and she said：
〃I don't care a snap for that…go on！〃
This was so wholly unexpected that it at once obstructed the narrative；
Hawkins was not even sure that he had heard aright。 He said：
〃I don't know that I quite understand。 Do you mean to say that if he was
all right and proper otherwise you'd be indifferent about the earl part
of the business？〃
〃Absolutely。〃
〃You'd be entirely satisfied with him and wouldn't care for his not being
an earl's son；that being an earl's son wouldn't add any value to him？〃
〃Not the least value that I would care for。 Why； Mr。 Hawkins； I've
gotten over all that day…dreaming about earldoms and aristocracies and
all such nonsense and am become just a plain ordinary nobody and content
with it； and it is to him I owe my cure。 And as to anything being able
to add a value to him； nothing can do that。 He is the whole world to me；
just as he is； he comprehends all the values there arethen how can you
add one？〃
〃She's pretty far gone。〃 He said that to himself。 He continued； still
to himself； 〃I must change my plan again； I can't seem to strike one that
will stand the requirements of this most variegated emergency five
minutes on a stretch。 Without making this fellow a criminal； I believe
I will invent a name and a character for him calculated to disenchant
her。 If it fails to do it； then I'll know that the next rightest thing
to do will be to help her to her fate； poor thing； not hinder her。〃
Then he said aloud：
〃Well； Gwendolen〃
〃I want to be called Sally。〃
〃I'm glad of it； I like it better； myself。 Well； then； I'll tell you
about this man Snodgrass。〃
〃Snodgrass！ Is that his name？〃
〃YesSnodgrass。 The other's his nom de plume。〃
〃It's hideous！〃
〃I know it is； but we can't help our names。〃
〃And that is truly his real nameand not Howard Tracy？〃
Hawkins answered； regretfully：
〃Yes； it seems a pity。〃
The girl sampled the name musingly； once or twice
〃Snodgrass。 Snodgrass。 No； I could not endure that。 I could not get
used to it。 No； I should call him by his first name。 What is his first
name？〃
〃Hiserhis initials are S。 M。〃
〃His initials？ I don't care anything about his initials。 I can't call
him by his initials。 What do they stand for？〃
〃Well； you see； his father was a physician； and hehewell he was an
idolater of his profession； and hewell； he was a very eccentric man；
and〃
〃What do they stand for！ What are you shuffling about？〃