of　an　aspect　so　striking　that　to　this　day　his　face　and　figure
  are　as　vivid　in　my　memory　as　if　it　were　but　yesterday　that　I
  had　met　him。
  He　was　dressed　in　black；　the　coat　of　a　somewhat　formal
  cut；　a　long　cravat　loosely　knotted　in　his　rolling　collar。　　His
  head　was　bare；　and　the　coal…black　hair；　thick　and　waving；　was
  in　some　disorder。　　His　face；　smooth　and　pale；　with　high
  forehead；　straight　nose；　and　thin；　sensitive　lipswas　it　old
  or　young？　　Handsome　it　certainly　was；　the　face　of　a　man　of
  mark；　a　man　of　power。　　Yet　there　was　something　strange　and
  wild　about　it。　　His　dark　eyes；　with　the　fine　wrinkles　about
  them；　had　a　look　of　unspeakable　remoteness；　and　at　the　same
  time　an　intensity　that　seemed　to　pierce　me　through　and
  through。　　It　was　as　if　he　saw　me　in　a　dream；　yet　measured　me；
  weighed　me　with　a　scrutiny　as　exact　as　it　was　at　bottom
  indifferent。
  But　his　lips　were　smiling；　and　there　was　no　fault　to　be
  found；　at　least；　with　his　manner。　　He　had　risen　from　the　broad
  stone　where　he　had　evidently　been　sitting　with　his　back　against
  the　chimney；　and　came　forward　to　greet　me。
  〃You　will　pardon　the　abruptness　of　my　greeting？　　I　thought
  you　might　not　care　to　make　acquaintance　with　the　present
  tenant　of　this　old　houseat　least　not　without　an
  introduction。〃
  〃Certainly　not；〃　I　answered；　〃you　have　done　me　a　real
  kindness；　which　is　better　than　the　outward　form　of　courtesy。
  But　how　is　it　that　you　stay　at　such　close　quarters　with　this
  unpleasant　tenant？　　Have　you　no　fear　of　him？〃
  〃Not　the　least　in　the　world；〃　he　answered；　laughing。　　〃I
  know　the　snakes　too　well；　better　than　they　know　themselves。
  It　is　not　likely　that　even　an　old　serpent　with　thirteen
  rattles；　like　this　one；　could　harm　me。　　I　know　his　ways。
  Before　he　could　strike　I　should　be　out　of　reach。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　a　grim　thought；　at　all　events；　that
  this　house；　once　a　cheerful　home；　no　doubt；　should　have　fallen
  at　last　to　be　the　dwelling　of　such　a　vile　creature。〃
  〃Fallen！〃　he　exclaimed。　　Then　he　repeated　the　word　with　a
  questioning　accent〃fallen？　　Are　you　sure　of　that？　　The　snake；
  in　his　way；　may　be　quite　as　honest　as　the　people　who　lived　here
  before　him；　and　not　much　more　harmful。　　The　farmer　was　a　miser
  who　robbed　his　mother；　quarrelled　with　his　brother；　and　starved
  his　wife。　　What　she　lacked　in　food；　she　made　up　in　drink；　when
  she　could。　　One　of　the　children；　a　girl；　was　a　cripple；　lamed　by
  her　mother　in　a　fit　of　rage。　　The　two　boys　were　ne'er…do…weels
  who　ran　away　from　home　as　soon　as　they　were　old　enough。　　One　of
  them　is　serving　a　life…sentence　in　the　State　prison　for
  manslaughter。　　When　the　house　burned　down　some　thirty　years　ago；
  the　woman　escaped。　　The　man's　body　was　found　with　the　head
  crushed　inperhaps　by　a　falling　timber。　　The　family　of　our
  friend　the　rattlesnake　could　hardly　surpass　that　record；　I　think。
  But　why　should　we　blame　themany　of　them？　　They　were　only　acting
  out　their　natures。　　To　one　who　can　see　and　understand；　it　is　all
  perfectly　simple；　and　interestingimmensely　interesting。〃
  It　is　impossible　to　describe　the　quiet　eagerness；　the　cool
  glow　of　fervour　with　which　he　narrated　this　little　history。　　It
  was　the　manner　of　the　triumphant　pathologist　who　lays　bare　some
  hidden　seat　of　disease。　　It　surprised　and　repelled　me　a　little；
  yet　it　attracted　me；　too；　for　I　could　see　how　evidently　he
  counted　on　my　comprehension　and　sympathy。
  〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　a　pitiful　history。　　Rural　life　is
  not　all　peace　and　innocence。　　But　how　came　you　to　know　the
  story？〃
  〃I？　　Oh；　I　make　it　my　business　to　know　a　little　of
  everything；　and　as　much　as　possible　of　human　life；　not
  excepting　the　petty　chronicles　of　the　rustics　around　me。　　It
  is　my　chief　pleasure。　　I　earn　my　living　by　teaching　boys。　　I
  find　my　satisfaction　in　studying　men。　　But　you　are　on　a
  journey；　sir；　and　night　is　falling。　　I　must　not　detain　you。
  Or　perhaps　you　will　allow　me　to　forward　you　a　little　by
  serving　as　a　guide。　　Which　way　were　you　going　when　you　turned
  aside　to　look　at　this　dismantled　shrine？〃
  〃To　Canterbury；〃　I　answered；　〃to　find　a　night's；　or　a
  month's；　lodging　at　the　inn。　　My　journey　is　a　ramble；　it　has
  neither　terminus　nor　time…table。〃
  〃Then　let　me　commend　to　you　something　vastly　better　than
  the　tender　mercies　of　the　Canterbury　Inn。　　Come　with　me　to　the
  school　on　Hilltop；　where　I　am　a　teacher。　　It　is　a　thousand
  feet　above　the　villagepurer　air；　finer　view；　and　pleasanter
  company。　　There　is　plenty　of　room　in　the　house；　for　it　is
  vacation…time。　　Master　Isaac　Ward　is　always　glad　to　entertain
  guests。〃
  There　was　something　so　sudden　and　unconventional　about　the
  invitation　that　I　was　reluctant　to　accept　it；　but　he　gave　it
  naturally　and　pressed　it　with　earnest　courtesy；　assuring　me
  that　it　was　in　accordance　with　Master　Ward's　custom；　that　he
  would　be　much　disappointed　to　lose　the　chance　of　talking　with
  an　interesting　traveller；　that　he　would　far　rather　let　me　pay
  him　for　my　lodging　than　have　me　go　by；　and　so　onso　that　at
  last　I　consented。
  Three　minutes'　walking　from　the　deserted　clearing　brought
  us　into　a　travelled　road。　　It　circled　the　breast　of　the
  mountain；　and　as　we　stepped　along　it　in　the　dusk　I　learned
  something　of　my　companion。　　His　name　was　Edward　Keene；　he
  taught　Latin　and　Greek　in　the　Hilltop　School；　he　had　studied　for
  the　ministry；　but　had　given　it　up；　I　gathered；　on　account　of　a
  certain　loss　of　interest；　or　rather　a　diversion　of　interest　in
  another　direction。　　He　spoke　of　himself　with　an　impersonal
  candour。
  〃Preachers　must　be　always　trying　to　persuade　men；〃　he
  said。　　〃But　what　I　care　about　is　to　know　men。　　I　don't　care
  what　they　do。　　Certainly　I　have　no　wish　to　interfere　with　them
  in　their　doings；　for　I　doubt　whether　anyone　can　really　change
  them。　　Each　tree　bears　its　own　fruit；　you　see；　and　by　their
  fruits　you　know　them。〃
  〃What　do　you　say　to　grafting？　　That　changes　the　fruit；
  surely？〃
  〃Yes；　but　a　grafted　tree　is　not　really　one　tree。　　It　is
  two　trees　growing　together。　　There　is　a　double　life　in　it；　and
  the　second　life；　the　added　life；　dominates　the　other。　　The
  stock　becomes　a　kind　of　animate　soil　for　the　graft　to　grow
  in。〃
  Presently　the　road　dipped　into　a　little　valley　and　rose
  again；　breasting　the　slope　of　a　wooded　hill　which　thrust
  itself　out　from　the　steeper　flank　of　the　mountain…range。　　Down
  the　hill…side　a　song　floated　to　meet　usthat　most　noble　lyric　of
  old　Robert　Herrick：
  Bid　me　to　live；　and　I　will　live
  Thy　Protestant　to　be；
  Or　bid　me　love；　and　I　will　give
  A　loving　heart　to　thee。
  It　was　a　girl's　voice；　fresh　and　clear；　with　a　note　of
  tenderness　in　it　that　thrilled　me。　　Keene's　pace　quickened。
  And　soon　the　singer　came　in　sight；　stepping　lightly　down　the
  road；　a　shape　of　slender　whiteness　on　the　background　of
  gathering　night。　　She　was　beautiful　even　in　that　dim　light；
  with　brown　eyes　and　hair；　and　a　face　that　seemed　to　breathe
  purity　and　trust。　　Yet　there　was　a　trace　of　anxiety　in　it；　or
  so　I　fancied；　that　gave　it　an　appealing　charm。
  〃You　have　come　at　last；　Edward；〃　she　cried；　running
  forward　and　putting　her　hand　in　his。　　〃It　is　late。　　You　have
  been　out　all　day；　I　began　to　be　afraid。〃
  〃Not　too　late；〃　he　answered；　〃there　was　no　need　for　fear；
  Dorothy。　I　am　not　alone；　you　see。〃　And　keeping　her　hand；　he
  introduced　me　to　the　daughter　of　Master　Ward。
  It　was　easy　to　guess　the　relation　between　these　two　young
  people　who　walked　beside　me　in　the　dusk。　　It　needed　no　words
  to　say　that　they　were　lovers。　　Yet　it　would　have　needed　many
  words　to　define　the　sense；　that　came　to　me　gradually；　of
  something　singular　in　the　tie　that　bound　them　together。　　On
  his　part　there　was　a　certain　tone　of　half…playful
  condescension　toward　her　such　as　one　might　use　to　a　lovely
  child；　which　seemed　to　match　but　ill　with　her　unconscious
  attitude　of　watchful　care；　of　tender　solicitude　for
  himalmost　like　the　manner　of　an　elder　sister。　　Lovers　they
  surely　were；　and　acknowledged　lovers；　for　their　frankness　of
  demeanour　sought　no　concealment；　but　I　felt　that　there　must　be
  A　little　rift　within　the　lute；
  though　neither　of　them　might　know　it。　　Each　one's　thought　of
  the　other　was　different　from　the　other's　thought　of　self。
  There　could　not　be　a　complete　understanding；　a　perfect　accord。
  What　was　the　secret；　of　which　each　knew　half；　but　not　the　other
  half？
  Thus；　with　steps　that　kept　time；　but　with　thoughts　how
  wide　apart；　we　came　to　the　door　of　the　school。　　A　warm　flood
  of　light　poured　out　to　greet　us。　　The　Master；　an　elderly；
  placid；　comfortable　man；　gave　me　just　the　welcome　that　had
  been　promised　in　his　name。　　The　supper　was　waiting；　and　the
  evening　passed　in　such　happy　cheer　that　the　bewilderments　and
  misgivings　of　the　twilight　melted　away；　and　at　bedtime　I
  dropped　into　the　nest　of　sleep　as　one　who　has　found　a　shelter
  among　friends。
  II
  The　Hilltop　School　stood　on　a　blessed　site。　　Lifted　high　above
  the　village；　it　held　the　crest　of　the　last　gentle　wave　of　the
  mountains　that　filled　the　south　with　crowding　billows；　ragged
  and　tumultuous。　　Northward；　the　great　plain　lay　at　our　feet；
  smiling　in　the　sun；　meadows　and　groves；　yellow　fields　of
  harvest　and　green　orchards；　white　roads　and　clustering　towns；
  with　here　and　there　a