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           Inchoicercircles,too,theCurwenhomewasbynomeansundiscussed;forasthenewcomerhadgraduallyworkedintothechurchandtradinglifeofthetown,hehadnaturallymadeacquaintancesofthebettersort,whosecompanyandconversationhewaswellfittedbyeducationtoenjoy.Hisbirthwasknowntobegood,sincetheCurwensorCorwinsofSalemneedednointroductioninNewEngland.ItdevelopedthatJosephCurwenhadtraveledmuchinveryearlylife,livingforatimeinEnglandandmakingatleasttwovoyagestotheOrient;andhisspeech,whenhedeignedtouseit,wasthatofalearnedandcultivatedEnglishman.ButforsomereasonorotherCurwendidnotcareforsociety.Whilstneveractuallyrebuffingavisitor,healwaysrearedsuchawallofreservethatfewcouldthinkofanythingtosaytohimwhichwouldnotsoundinane.

           Thereseemedtolurkinhisbearingsomecryptic,sardonicarrogance,asifhehadcometofindallhumanbeingsdullthoughhavingmovedamongstrangerandmorepotententities.WhenDr.CheckleythefamouswitcamefromBostonin1738toberectorofKing’sChurch,hedidnotneglectcallingononeofwhomhesoonheardsomuch;butleftinaveryshortwhilebecauseofsomesinisterundercurrenthedetectedinhishost’sdiscourse.CharlesWardtoldhisfather,whentheydiscussedCurwenonewinterevening,thathewouldgivemuchtolearnwhatthemysteriousoldmanhadsaidtothesprightlycleric,butthatalldiaristsagreeconcerningDr.Checkley’sreluctancetorepeatanythinghehadheard.