he met him on the bridge had she been so happy。 Again； as when Oliver championed her in the old Academy school…room； there stole over her a vague sense of pleasure in being protected。
〃Isn't it jolly！〃 she said as she sat hunched up beside him。 〃I'm as dry as a bone； not a drop on me。〃
Oliver was even more buoyant。 There was something irresistibly cosey and comfortable in the shelter which he had provided for hersomething of warmth and companionship and rest。 But more intensely enjoyable than all was the thought that he was taking care of a woman for the first time in his life； as it seemed to him。 And in a house of his own making； and in a place； too； of his own choosing； surrounded by the big trees that he loved。 He had even outwitted the elementsthe wind and the rain and the chillin her defence。 Old Moose Hillock could bellow now and White Face roar； and the wind and rain vent their wrath； but Margaret； close beside him； would still be warm and dry and safe。
By this time she had hung her tam…o'…shanter and jacket on a nail that she had found in the bark over her head； and was arranging her hair。
〃It's just like life； Oliver； isn't it？〃 she said； as she tightened the coil in her neck。 〃All we want； after all； is a place to get into out of the storm and wet； not a big place； either。〃
〃What kind of a place？〃 He was on his knees digging a little trench with his knife； piling up the moist earth in miniature embankments； so that the dripping from the roof would not spatter this Princess of his whom he had saved from the tempest outside。
〃Oh； any kind of a place if you have people you're fond of。 I'd love a real studio somewhere； and a few things hung aboutsome old Delft and one or two bits of stuffand somebody to take care of me。〃
Oliver shifted his pipe in his mouth and looked up。 Would she； with all her independence； really like to have someone take care of her？ He had seen no evidence of it。
〃Who？〃 he asked。 He had never heard her mention anybody's namebut then she had not told him everything；
He had dropped his eyes again； finishing the drain and flattening the boughs under her； to make the seat the easier。
〃Oh； some old woman； perhaps； like dear old Mrs。 Mulligan。〃 There was no coquetry in her tone。 She was speaking truthfully out of her heart。
〃Anything more？〃 Oliver's voice had lost its buoyancy now。 The pipe was upside down； the ashes falling on his shirt。
〃Yeslots of portraits to paint。〃
〃And a medal at the Salon？〃 asked Oliver； brushing off the waste of his pipe from his coat…sleeve。
〃Yes； I don't mind； if my pictures deserve it；〃 and she looked at him quizzically； while a sudden flash of humor lightened up her face。 〃What would you want； Mr。 Happy…go…lucky； if you had your wish？〃
〃I； Madge； dear？〃 he exclaimed； with a sudden outburst of tenderness； raising his body erect and looking earnestly into her eyes； which were now within a hand's breadth of his own。 She winced a little； but it did not offend her； nor did she move an inch。 〃Oh； I don't know what I want。 What I want； I suppose； is what I shall never have； little girl。〃
She wasn't his little girl； or anybody else's； she thought to herselfshe was firmly convinced of that fact。 It was only one of his terms of endearment。 He had them for everybodyeven for Hank and for Mrs。 Taftwhom he called 〃Taffy；〃 and who loved to hear him say it； and she old enough to be his grandmother！ She stole a look into his face。 There was a cloud over it； a slight knitting of the brows； and a pained expression about the mouth that were new to her。
〃I'd like to be a painter；〃 he continued； 〃but mother would never consent。〃 As be spoke； he sank back from her slowly； his knees still bent under him。 Then be added； with a sigh； 〃She wouldn't think it respectable。 Anything but a painter； she says。〃
Margaret looked out through the forest and watched a woodpecker at work on the dry side of a hollow trunk； the side protected from the driving rain。
〃And you would give up your career because she wants it？ How do you know she's right about it？ And who's to suffer if she's wrong？ Be a painter； Oliver； if you want to！ Your mother can't coddle you up forever！ No mother should。 Do what you can do best； and to please yourself； not somebody else；〃 and then she laughed lightly as if to break the force of her words。
Oliver looked at her in indignation that anyone even Margaretshould speak so of his mother。 It was the first time in all his life that he had heard her name mentioned without the profound reverence it deserved。 Then a sense of the injustice of her words took possession of him； as the solemn compact he had made with his mother not to be a burden on her while the mortgage was unpaid； rose in his mind。 This thought and Margaret's laugh softened any hurt her words had given him； although the lesson that they were intended to teach lingered in his memory for many days thereafter。
〃You would not talk that way； Madge； if you knew my dear mother；〃 he said； quietly。 〃There is nothing in her life she loves better than me。 She doesn't want me to be a painter because〃 He stopped； fearing she might not understand his answer。
〃Go onwhy not？〃 The laugh had faded out of her voice now； and a tone almost of defiance had taken its place。
〃She says it is not the profession of a gentleman；〃 he answered； sadly。 〃I do not agree with her； but she thinks so； and nothing can shake her。〃
〃If those are her opinions； I wonder what she would think of ME？〃 There was a slight irritation in her voicesomehow she always became irritable when Oliver spoke of his mother。 She was ashamed of it； but it was true。
All his anger was gone now。 Whatever opinion the world might have on any number of things there could be but one opinion of Madge。 〃She would LOVE you； little girl；〃 he burst out as he laid his hand on her armthe first time he had ever touched her with any show of affection。 〃You'd make her love you。 She never saw anybody like you before； and she never will。 That you are an artist wouldn't make any difference。 It's not the same with you。 You're a woman。〃
The girl's eyes again sought the woodpecker。 It was stabbing away with all its might； driving its beak far into the yielding bark。 It seemed in some way to represent her own mood。 After a moment's thought she said thoughtfully as she rested her head on the edge of the slant：
〃Ollie； what is a gentleman？〃 She knew； she thought； but she wanted him to define it。
〃My father is one；〃 he said； positively； 〃and so is yours；〃 and he looked inquiringly into her face。
〃That depends on your standard。 I don't know your father； but I do mine； and from what you have told me about yours I think they are about as different as two men can be。 Answer my questionwhat is a gentleman？〃 She was leaning over a little； and tucking a chip under her toes to keep the water away from her shoes。 Her eyes sought his again。
〃A gentleman； Madgewhy； you know what a gentleman is。 He is a man well born； well educated； and well bred。 That's the standard at home at least； that's my mother's。 Father's standard is the same； only he puts it in a different way。 He says a gentleman is a man who tolerates other people's mistakes and who sympathizes with other people's troubles。〃
〃Anything else？〃 She was searching his face now。 There were some things she wanted to settle in her own mind。
〃I don't think of anything else； Madge； deardo you？〃 He was really dismissing the question。 His thoughts were on something elsethe way her hair curled from under her worsted cap and the way her pink ears nestled close to her head； especially the little indents at each corner of her mouth。 He liked their modelling。
〃And so according to your mother's and father's ideas； and those of all your aristocratic people at home； Hank here could not be a gentleman if he tried？〃
The idea was new to Oliver。 He had become conscious now。 What had gotten into Margaret to…day！
〃Hank？no； certainly not。 How could he？〃
〃By BEING a gentleman； Mr。 Aristocrat。 Not in clothes； mind younor money； nor furniture； nor wines； nor carriages； but in HEART。 Think a moment； Ollie；〃 and her eyes snapped。 〃Hank finds a robin that has tumbled out of its nest； and spends half a day putting it back。 Hank follows you up the brook and sees you try to throw a fly into a pool； and he knows just how awkwardly you do it； for he's the best fisherman in the woodsand yet you never see a smile cross his face； nor does he ever speak of it behind your backnot even to me。 Hank walks across Moose Hillock to find old Jonathan Gordon to tell him he has some big trout in Loon Pond； so that the old man can have the fun of catching them and selling them afterward to the new hotel in the Notch。 He has walked twenty…four miles when he gets back。 Do these things make Hank a gentleman； or not？〃
〃Then you don't believe in Sir Walter Raleigh； Miss Democrat； simply because he was a lord？〃
〃Yesbut I always thought he wore his old cloak that day on purpose； so he could be made an earl。〃 And a ripple of laughter escaped her lips。
Oliver laughed too； sprang to his feet； and held out his hands so as to lift her up。 None of these fine…drawn distinctions really interested himcertainly not on this day； when he was so happy。 Why； he wondered； should she want to discuss theories and beliefs and creeds； with the beautiful forest all about and the sky breaking overhead？
〃Well； you've walked over mine many a time； Miss Queen Elizabeth； and you haven't decorated me yet； nor made me an earl nor anything else for it； and I'm not going to forgive you either；〃 and he rose to his feet。 〃Look！ Madge； look！〃 he cried； and sprang out into the path； pointing to the sunshine bursting through the treesthe storm had passed as suddenly as it had come。 〃Isn't it glorious！ Come here quick！ Don't wait a minute。 I should try to get that with Naples yellow and a little chromewhat do you think？〃 he asked when she stood beside him； half closing his eyes； to get the effect the better。
Margaret looked at him curiously for a moment。 She did not answer。 〃I cannot fasten his mind on anything in which I am interested；〃 she said to herself； with a sigh； 〃nor shall I ever overcome these prejudices which seem to be part