Chapter 1

           Irememberthewholebeginningasasuccessionofflightsanddrops,alittleseesawoftherightthrobsandthewrong.Afterrising,intown,tomeethisappeal,Ihadatalleventsacoupleofverybaddays—foundmyselfdoubtfulagain,feltindeedsureIhadmadeamistake.InthisstateofmindIspentthelonghoursofbumping,swingingcoachthatcarriedmetothestoppingplaceatwhichIwastobemetbyavehiclefromthehouse.Thisconvenience,Iwastold,hadbeenordered,andIfound,towardthecloseoftheJuneafternoon,acommodiousflyinwaitingforme.Drivingatthathour,onalovelyday,throughacountrytowhichthesummersweetnessseemedtooffermeafriendlywelcome,myfortitudemountedafreshand,asweturnedintotheavenue,encounteredareprievethatwasprobablybutaproofofthepointtowhichithadsunk.IsupposeIhadexpected,orhaddreaded,somethingsomelancholythatwhatgreetedmewasagoodsurprise.Irememberasamostpleasantimpressionthebroad,clearfront,itsopenwindowsandfreshcurtainsandthepairofmaidslookingout;Irememberthelawnandthebrightflowersandthecrunchofmywheelsonthegravelandtheclusteredtreetopsoverwhichtherookscircledandcawedinthegoldensky.Thescenehadagreatnessthatmadeitadifferentaffairfrommyownscanthome,andthereimmediatelyappearedatthedoor,withalittlegirlinherhand,acivilpersonwhodroppedmeasdecentacurtsyasifIhadbeenthemistressoradistinguishedvisitor.