Зима тревоги нашей

           Itmaybethatsomemenrequireahouseandahistorytoreassurethemselvesthattheyexist—it’saslimenoughconnection,atmost.InthestoreIwasafailureandaclerk,inmyhouseIwasHawley,soItoomustbeunsure.BakercouldofferahandtoHawley.Withoutmyhouse,Itoowouldhavebeencanceled.Itwasnotmantomanbuthousetohouse.IresentedtheremovalfromrealofDannyTaylor,butIcouldn’tstopit.Andthisthoughtsharpenedandtemperedme.BakerwasgoingtotrytorefurbishHawleyforBaker’sparticipationinMary’sfanciedinheritance.NowIwasontheedgeoftheminefield.Myhearthardenedagainstmyselflessbenefactor.Ifeltithardenandgrowwaryanddangerous.Andwithitsdirectioncamethefeelingofcombat,andthelawsofcontrolledsavagery,andthefirstlawis:Letevenyourdefensehavetheappearanceofattack.

           Isaid,"Mr.Baker,wedon’tneedtogooverthebackground.YouknowbetterthanIdotheslow,precisewayinwhichmyfatherlosttheHawleysubstance.Iwasawayatwar.Howdidithappen?"

           "Itwasn’thisintention,buthisjudgment—"

           "Iknowhewasunworldly—buthowdidithappen?"

           "Well,itwasatimeofwildinvestment.Heinvestedwildly."

           "Didhehaveanyadvice?"

           "Heputmoneyinmunitionsthatwerealreadyobsolete.Thenwhenthecontractswerecanceled,helost."

           "YouwereinWashington.Didyouknowaboutthecontracts?"

           "Onlyinageneralway."

           "Butenoughsoyoudidn’tinvest."

           "No,Ididn’t."