own as much about women then, as now, I should have had it out, with
short delay, to some understanding between us. But in that subject one
loves and learns. And one thing I have learned is this, that jealousy
throws its illusions on every word and look and act. I went to my room
and sat down for a bit of reckoning. Hope had ceased to love me, I felt
sure, and how was I to win her back?

After all my castle building what was I come to?

I heard my door open presently, and then I lifted my head. Uncle Eb
stood near me in his stocking feet and shirt-sleeves.

'In trouble,' he whispered.

'In trouble,' I said.

''Bout Hope?'

'It's about Hope.'

'Don't be hasty. Hope'll never go back on you,' he whispered. 'She
doesn't love me,' I said impulsively. 'She doesn't care the snap of her
finger for me.

'Don't believe it,' he answered calmly. 'Not a single word of it.
Thet woman--she's tryin' t' keep her away from ye--but 'twon't make no
differ'nce. Not a bit.

'I must try to win her back--someway--somehow,' I whispered.

'Gi n ye the mitten?' he asked.

'That's about it,' I answered, going possibly too far in the depth of my
feeling.

'Whew w!' he softly whistled. 'Wall, it takes two mittens t'make a
pair--ye'll hev t'ask her ag in.

'Yes I cannot give her up,' I said decisively, 'I must try to win her
back. It isn't fair. I have no claim upon her. But I must do it.

'Consarn it! women like t'be chased,' he said. 'It's their natur'. What
do they fix up so fer--di'mon's an' silks an' satins--if 'tain't t'set
men a chasm 'uv 'em? You'd otter enjoy it. Stick to her--jes' like a
puppy to a root. Thet's my advice.'

'Hope has got too far ahead of me,' I said. 'She can marry a rich man if
she wishes to, and I don't see why she shouldn't. What am I, anyhow,
but a poor devil just out of college and everything to win? It makes me
miserable to think here in this great house how small I am.'

'There's things goin' if happen,' Uncle Eb whispered. 'I can't tell ye
what er when but they're goin' if happen an' they're goin' if change
everything.

We sat thinking a while then. I knew what he meant--that I was to
conquer the world, somehow, and the idea seemed to me so absurd I could
hardly help laughing as melancholy as I felt.

'Now you go if bed,' he said, rising and gently touching my head with
his hand. 'There's things goin' t'happen, boy--take my word fer it.

I got in bed late at night but there was no sleep for