V + 

But once in this and walking about, how different it all seemed to the world to which so recently he had been accustomed. For here, as he had thus far seen, all was on a so much smaller scale. The depot, from which only a half hour before he had stepped down, was so small and dull, untroubled, as he could plainly see, by much traffic. And the factory section which lay opposite the small cityвБ†вАФacross the MohawkвБ†вАФwas little more than a red and gray assemblage of buildings with here and there a smokestack projecting upward, and connected with the city by two bridgesвБ†вАФa half dozen blocks apartвБ†вАФone of them directly at this depot, a wide traffic bridge across which traveled a car-line following the curves of Central Avenue, dotted here and there with stores and small homes. + 

But Central Avenue was quite alive with traffic, pedestrians and automobiles. Opposite diagonally from the hotel, which contained a series of wide plate-glass windows, behind which were many chairs interspersed with palms and pillars, was the dry-goods emporium of Stark and Company, a considerable affair, four stories in height, and of white brick, and at least a hundred feet long, the various windows of which seemed bright and interesting, crowded with as smart models as might be seen anywhere. Also there were other large concerns, a second hotel, various automobile showrooms, a moving picture theater. + 

He found himself ambling on and on until suddenly he was out of the business district again and in touch with a wide and tree-shaded thoroughfare of residences, the houses of which, each and every one, appeared to possess more room space, lawn space, general ease and repose and dignity even than any with which he had ever been in contact. In short, as he sensed it from this brief inspection of its very central portion, it seemed a very exceptional, if small city streetвБ†вАФrich, luxurious even. So many imposing wrought-iron fences, flower-bordered walks, grouped trees and bushes, expensive and handsome automobiles either beneath porte-cocheres within or speeding along the broad thoroughfare without. And in some neighboring shopsвБ†вАФthose nearest Central Avenue and the business heart where this wide and handsome thoroughfare began, were to be seen such expensive-looking and apparently smart displays of the things that might well interest people of means and comfortвБ†вАФmotors, jewels, lingerie, leather goods and furniture. + 

But where now did his uncle and his family live? In which house? What street? Was it larger and finer than any of these he had seen in this street? + 

He must return at once, he decided, and report to his uncle. He must look up the factory address, probably in that region beyond the river, and go over there and see him. What would he say, how act, what would his uncle set him to doing? What would his cousin Gilbert be like? What would he be likely to think of him? In his last letter his uncle had mentioned his son Gilbert. He retraced his steps along Central Avenue to the depot and found himself quickly before the walls of the very large concern he was seeking. It was of red brick, six stories highвБ†вАФalmost a thousand feet long. It was nearly all windowsвБ†вАФat least that portion which had been most recently added and which was devoted to collars. An older section, as Clyde later learned, was connected with the newer building by various bridges. And the south walls of both these two structures, being built at the waterвАЩs edge, paralleled the Mohawk. There were also, as he now found, various entrances along River Street, a hundred feet or more apartвБ†вАФand each one, guarded by an employee in uniformвБ†вАФentrances numbered one, two and threeвБ†вАФwhich were labeled вАЬfor employees onlyвАЭвБ†вАФan entrance numbered four which read вАЬofficeвАЭвБ†вАФand entrances five and six appeared to be devoted to freight receipts and shipments. + 

Clyde made his way to the office portion and finding no one to hinder him, passed through two sets of swinging doors and found himself in the presence of a telephone girl seated at a telephone desk behind a railing, in which was set a small gateвБ†вАФthe only entrance to the main office apparently. And this she guarded. She was short, fat, thirty-five and unattractive. + 

вАЬWell?вАЭ she called as Clyde appeared. + 

вАЬI want to see Mr.¬†Gilbert Griffiths,вАЭ Clyde began a little nervously. + 

вАЬWhat about?вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, you see, IвАЩm his cousin. Clyde Griffiths is my name. I have a letter here from my uncle, Mr.¬†Samuel Griffiths. HeвАЩll see me, I think.вАЭ + 

As he laid the letter before her, he noticed that her quite severe and decidedly indifferent expression changed and became not so much friendly as awed. For obviously she was very much impressed not only by the information but his looks, and began to examine him slyly and curiously. + 

вАЬIвАЩll see if heвАЩs in,вАЭ she replied much more civilly, and plugging at the same time a switch which led to Mr.¬†Gilbert GriffithsвАЩ private office. Word coming back to her apparently that Mr.¬†Gilbert Griffiths was busy at the moment and could not be disturbed, she called back: вАЬItвАЩs Mr.¬†GilbertвАЩs cousin, Mr.¬†Clyde Griffiths. He has a letter from Mr.¬†Samuel Griffiths.вАЭ Then she said to Clyde: вАЬWonвАЩt you sit down? IвАЩm sure Mr.¬†Gilbert Griffiths will see you in a moment. HeвАЩs busy just now.вАЭ + 

And Clyde, noting the unusual deference paid himвБ†вАФa form of deference that never in his life before had been offered himвБ†вАФwas strangely moved by it. To think that he should be a full cousin to this wealthy and influential family! This enormous factory! So long and wide and highвБ†вАФas he had seenвБ†вАФsix stories. And walking along the opposite side of the river just now, he had seen through several open windows whole rooms full of girls and women hard at work. And he had been thrilled in spite of himself. For somehow the high red walls of the building suggested energy and very material success, a type of success that was almost without flaw, as he saw it. + 

He looked at the gray plaster walls of this outer waiting chamberвБ†вАФat some lettering on the inner door which read: вАЬThe Griffiths Collar¬†& Shirt Company, Inc. Samuel Griffiths, Pres. Gilbert Griffiths, SecвАЩy.вАЭвБ†вАФand wondered what it was all like insideвБ†вАФwhat Gilbert Griffiths would be likeвБ†вАФcold or genial, friendly or unfriendly. + 

And then, as he sat there meditating, the woman suddenly turned to him and observed: вАЬYou can go in now. Mr.¬†Gilbert GriffithsвАЩ office is at the extreme rear of this floor, over toward the river. Any one of the clerks inside will show you.вАЭ + 

She half rose as if to open the door for him, but Clyde, sensing the intent, brushed by her. вАЬThatвАЩs all right. Thanks,вАЭ he said most warmly, and opening the glass-plated door he gazed upon a room housing many over a hundred employeesвБ†вАФchiefly young men and young women. And all were apparently intent on their duties before them. Most of them had green shades over their eyes. Quite all of them had on short alpaca office coats or sleeve protectors over their shirt sleeves. Nearly all of the young women wore clean and attractive gingham dresses or office slips. And all about this central space, which was partitionless and supported by round white columns, were offices labeled with the names of the various minor officials and executives of the companyвБ†вАФMr.¬†Smillie, Mr.¬†Latch, Mr.¬†Gotboy, Mr.¬†Burkey. + 

Since the telephone girl had said that Mr.¬†Gilbert Griffiths was at the extreme rear, Clyde, without much hesitation, made his way along the railed-off aisle to that quarter, where upon a half-open door he read: вАЬMr.¬†Gilbert Griffiths, SecвАЩy.вАЭ He paused, uncertain whether to walk in or not, and then proceeded to tap. At once a sharp, penetrating voice called: вАЬCome,вАЭ and he entered and faced a youth who looked, if anything, smaller and a little older and certainly much colder and shrewder than himselfвБ†вАФsuch a youth, in short, as Clyde would have liked to imagine himself to beвБ†вАФtrained in an executive sense, apparently authoritative and efficient. He was dressed, as Clyde noted at once, in a bright gray suit of a very pronounced pattern, for it was once more approaching spring. His hair, of a lighter shade than ClydeвАЩs, was brushed and glazed most smoothly back from his temples and forehead, and his eyes, which Clyde, from the moment he had opened the door had felt drilling him, were of a clear, liquid, grayish-green blue. He had on a pair of large horn-rimmed glasses which he wore at his desk only, and the eyes that peered through them went over Clyde swiftly and notatively, from his shoes to the round brown felt hat which he carried in his hand. + 

вАЬYouвАЩre my cousin, I believe,вАЭ he commented, rather icily, as Clyde came forward and stoppedвБ†вАФa thin and certainly not very favorable smile playing about his lips. + 

вАЬYes, I am,вАЭ replied Clyde, reduced and confused by this calm and rather freezing reception. On the instant, as he now saw, he could not possibly have the same regard and esteem for this cousin, as he could and did have for his uncle, whose very great ability had erected this important industry. Rather, deep down in himself he felt that this young man, an heir and nothing more to this great industry, was taking to himself airs and superiorities which, but for his fatherвАЩs skill before him, would not have been possible. + 

At the same time so groundless and insignificant were his claims to any consideration here, and so grateful was he for anything that might be done for him, that he felt heavily obligated already and tried to smile his best and most ingratiating smile. Yet Gilbert Griffiths at once appeared to take this as a bit of presumption which ought not to be tolerated in a mere cousin, and particularly one who was seeking a favor of him and his father. + 

However, since his father had troubled to interest himself in him and had given him no alternative, he continued his wry smile and mental examination, the while he said: вАЬWe thought you would be showing up today or tomorrow. Did you have a pleasant trip?вАЭ + 

вАЬOh, yes, very,вАЭ replied Clyde, a little confused by this inquiry. + 

вАЬSo you think youвАЩd like to learn something about the manufacture of collars, do you?вАЭ Tone and manner were infiltrated by the utmost condescension. + 

вАЬI would certainly like to learn something that would give me a chance to work up, have some future in it,вАЭ replied Clyde, genially and with a desire to placate his young cousin as much as possible. + 

вАЬWell, my father was telling me of his talk with you in Chicago. From what he told me I gather that you havenвАЩt had much practical experience of any kind. You donвАЩt know how to keep books, do you?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, I donвАЩt,вАЭ replied Clyde a little regretfully. + 

вАЬAnd youвАЩre not a stenographer or anything like that?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, sir, IвАЩm not.вАЭ + 

Most sharply, as Clyde said this, he felt that he was dreadfully lacking in every training. And now Gilbert Griffiths looked at him as though he were rather a hopeless proposition indeed from the viewpoint of this concern. + 

вАЬWell, the best thing to do with you, I think,вАЭ he went on, as though before this his father had not indicated to him exactly what was to be done in this case, вАЬis to start you in the shrinking room. ThatвАЩs where the manufacturing end of this business begins, and you might as well be learning that from the ground up. Afterwards, when we see how you do down there, we can tell a little better what to do with you. If you had any office training it might be possible to use you up here.вАЭ (ClydeвАЩs face fell at this and Gilbert noticed it. It pleased him.) вАЬBut itвАЩs just as well to learn the practical side of the business, whatever you do,вАЭ he added rather coldly, not that he desired to comfort Clyde any but merely to be saying it as a fact. And seeing that Clyde said nothing, he continued: вАЬThe best thing, I presume, before you try to do anything around here is for you to get settled somewhere. You havenвАЩt taken a room anywhere yet, have you?вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, I just came in on the noon train,вАЭ replied Clyde. вАЬI was a little dirty and so I just went up to the hotel to brush up a little. I thought IвАЩd look for a place afterwards.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, thatвАЩs right. Only donвАЩt look for any place. IвАЩll have our superintendent see that youвАЩre directed to a good boarding house. He knows more about the town than you do.вАЭ His thought here was that after all Clyde was a full cousin and that it wouldnвАЩt do to have him live just anywhere. At the same time, he was greatly concerned lest Clyde get the notion that the family was very much concerned as to where he did live, which most certainly it was not, as he saw it. His final feeling was that he could easily place and control Clyde in such a way as to make him not very important to anyone in any wayвБ†вАФhis father, the family, all the people who worked here. + 

He reached for a button on his desk and pressed it. A trim girl, very severe and reserved in a green gingham dress, appeared. + 

вАЬAsk Mr.¬†Whiggam to come here.вАЭ + 

She disappeared and presently there entered a medium-sized and nervous, yet moderately stout, man who looked as though he were under a great strain. He was about forty years of ageвБ†вАФrepressed and noncommittalвБ†вАФand looked curiously and suspiciously about as though wondering what new trouble impended. His head, as Clyde at once noticed, appeared chronically to incline forward, while at the same time he lifted his eyes as though actually he would prefer not to look up. + 

вАЬWhiggam,вАЭ began young Griffiths authoritatively, вАЬthis is Clyde Griffiths, a cousin of ours. You remember I spoke to you about him.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬWell, heвАЩs to be put in the shrinking department for the present. You can show him what heвАЩs to do. Afterwards you had better have Mrs.¬†Braley show him where he can get a room.вАЭ (All this had been talked over and fixed upon the week before by Gilbert and Whiggam, but now he gave it the ring of an original suggestion.) вАЬAnd youвАЩd better give his name in to the timekeeper as beginning tomorrow morning, see?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, sir,вАЭ bowed Whiggam deferentially. вАЬIs that all?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, thatвАЩs all,вАЭ concluded Gilbert smartly. вАЬYou go with Whiggam, Mr.¬†Griffiths. HeвАЩll tell you what to do.вАЭ + 

Whiggam turned. вАЬIf youвАЩll just come with me, Mr.¬†Griffiths,вАЭ he observed deferentially, as Clyde could seeвБ†вАФand that for all of his cousinвАЩs apparently condescending attitudeвБ†вАФand marched out with Clyde at his heels. And young Gilbert as briskly turned to his own desk, but at the same time shaking his head. His feeling at the moment was that mentally Clyde was not above a good bellboy in a city hotel probably. Else why should he come on here in this way. вАЬI wonder what he thinks heвАЩs going to do here,вАЭ he continued to think, вАЬwhere he thinks heвАЩs going to get?вАЭ + 

And Clyde, as he followed Mr.¬†Whiggam, was thinking what a wonderful place Mr.¬†Gilbert Griffiths enjoyed. No doubt he came and went as he choseвБ†вАФarrived at the office late, departed early, and somewhere in this very interesting city dwelt with his parents and sisters in a very fine houseвБ†вАФof course. And yet here he wasвБ†вАФGilbertвАЩs own cousin, and the nephew of his wealthy uncle, being escorted to work in a very minor department of this great concern. + 

Nevertheless, once they were out of the sight and hearing of Mr.¬†Gilbert Griffiths, he was somewhat diverted from this mood by the sights and sounds of the great manufactory itself. For here on this very same floor, but beyond the immense office room through which he had passed, was another much larger room filled with rows of bins, facing aisles not more than five feet wide, and containing, as Clyde could see, enormous quantities of collars boxed in small paper boxes, according to sizes. These bins were either being refilled by stock boys who brought more boxed collars from the boxing room in large wooden trucks, or were being as rapidly emptied by order clerks who, trundling small box trucks in front of them, were filling orders from duplicate check lists which they carried in their hands. + 

вАЬNever worked in a collar factory before, Mr.¬†Griffiths, I presume?вАЭ commented Mr.¬†Whiggam with somewhat more spirit, once he was out of the presence of Gilbert Griffiths. Clyde noticed at once the Mr.¬†Griffiths. + 

вАЬOh, no,вАЭ he replied quickly. вАЬI never worked at anything like this before.вАЭ + 

вАЬExpect to learn all about the manufacturing end of the game in the course of time, though, I suppose.вАЭ He was walking briskly along one of the long aisles as he spoke, but Clyde noticed that he shot sly glances in every direction. + 

вАЬIвАЩd like to,вАЭ he answered. + 

вАЬWell, thereвАЩs a little more to it than some people think, although you often hear there isnвАЩt very much to learn.вАЭ He opened another door, crossed a gloomy hall and entered still another room which, filled with bins as was the other, was piled high in every bin with bolts of white cloth. + 

вАЬYou might as well know a little about this as long as youвАЩre going to begin in the shrinking room. This is the stuff from which the collars are cut, the collars and the lining. They are called webs. Each of these bolts is a web. We take these down in the basement and shrink them because they canвАЩt be used this way. If they are, the collars would shrink after they were cut. But youвАЩll see. We tub them and then dry them afterwards.вАЭ + 

He marched solemnly on and Clyde sensed once more that this man was not looking upon him as an ordinary employee by any means. His Mr. Griffiths, his supposition to the effect that Clyde was to learn all about the manufacturing end of the business, as well as his condescension in explaining about these webs of cloth, had already convinced Clyde that he was looked upon as one to whom some slight homage at least must be paid. + 

He followed Mr.¬†Whiggam, curious as to the significance of this, and soon found himself in an enormous basement which had been reached by descending a flight of steps at the end of a third hall. Here, by the help of four long rows of incandescent lamps, he discerned row after row of porcelain tubs or troughs, lengthwise of the room, and end to end, which reached from one exterior wall to the other. And in these, under steaming hot water apparently, were any quantity of those same webs he had just seen upstairs, soaking. And nearby, north and south of these tubs, and paralleling them for the length of this room, all of a hundred and fifty feet in length, were enormous drying racks or moving skeleton platforms, boxed, top and bottom and sides, with hot steam pipes, between which on rolls, but festooned in such a fashion as to take advantage of these pipes, above, below and on either side, were more of these webs, but unwound and wet and draped as described, yet moving along slowly on these rolls from the east end of the room to the west. This movement, as Clyde could see, was accompanied by an enormous rattle and clatter of ratchet arms which automatically shook and moved these lengths of cloth forward from east to west. And as they moved they dried, and were then automatically re-wound at the west end of these racks into bolt form once more upon a wooden spool and then lifted off by a youth whose duty it was to вАЬtakeвАЭ from these moving platforms. One youth, as Clyde saw, вАЬtookвАЭ from two of these tracks at the west end, while at the east end another youth of about his own years вАЬfed.вАЭ That is, he took bolts of this now partially shrunk yet still wet cloth and attaching one end of it to some moving hooks, saw that it slowly and properly unwound and fed itself over the drying racks for the entire length of these tracks. As fast as it had gone the way of all webs, another was attached. + 

Between each two rows of tubs in the center of the room were enormous whirling separators or dryers, into which these webs of cloth, as they came from the tubs in which they had been shrinking for twenty-four hours, were piled and as much water as possible centrifugally extracted before they were spread out on the drying racks. + 

Primarily little more than this mere physical aspect of the room was grasped by ClydeвБ†вАФits noise, its heat, its steam, the energy with which a dozen men and boys were busying themselves with various processes. They were, without exception, clothed only in armless undershirts, a pair of old trousers belted in at the waist, and with canvas-topped and rubber-soled sneakers on their bare feet. The water and the general dampness and the heat of the room seemed obviously to necessitate some such dressing as this. + 

вАЬThis is the shrinking room,вАЭ observed Mr.¬†Whiggam, as they entered. вАЬIt isnвАЩt as nice as some of the others, but itвАЩs where the manufacturing process begins. Kemerer!вАЭ he called. + 

A short, stocky, full-chested man, with a pate, full face and white, strong-looking arms, dressed in a pair of dirty and wrinkled trousers and an armless flannel shirt, now appeared. Like Whiggam in the presence of Gilbert, he appeared to be very much overawed in the presence of Whiggam. + 

вАЬThis is Clyde Griffiths, the cousin of Gilbert Griffiths. I spoke to you about him last week, you remember?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬHeвАЩs to begin down here. HeвАЩll show up in the morning.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, sir.вАЭ + 

вАЬBetter put his name down on your check list. HeвАЩll begin at the usual hour.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, sir.вАЭ + 

Mr.¬†Whiggam, as Clyde noticed, held his head higher and spoke more directly and authoritatively than at any time so far. He seemed to be master, not underling, now. + 

вАЬSeven-thirty is the time everyone goes to work here in the morning,вАЭ went on Mr.¬†Whiggam to Clyde informatively, вАЬbut they all ring in a little earlierвБ†вАФabout seven-twenty or so, so as to have time to change their clothes and get to the machines. + 

вАЬNow, if you want to,вАЭ he added, вАЬMr.¬†Kemerer can show you what youвАЩll have to do tomorrow before you leave today. It might save a little time. Or, you can leave it until then if you want to. It donвАЩt make any difference to me. Only, if youвАЩll come back to the telephone girl at the main entrance about five-thirty IвАЩll have Mrs.¬†Braley there for you. SheвАЩs to show you about your room, I believe. I wonвАЩt be there myself, but you just ask the telephone girl for her. SheвАЩll know.вАЭ He turned and added, вАЬWell, IвАЩll leave you now.вАЭ + 

He lowered his head and started to go away just as Clyde began. вАЬWell, IвАЩm very much obliged to you, Mr.¬†Whiggam.вАЭ Instead of answering, he waved one fishy hand slightly upward and was goneвБ†вАФdown between the tubs toward the west door. And at once Mr.¬†KemererвБ†вАФstill nervous and overawed apparentlyвБ†вАФbegan. + 

вАЬOh, thatвАЩs all right about what you have to do, Mr.¬†Griffiths. IвАЩll just let you bring down webs on the floor above to begin with tomorrow. But if youвАЩve got any old clothes, youвАЩd better put вАЩem on. A suit like that wouldnвАЩt last long here.вАЭ He eyed ClydeвАЩs very neat, if inexpensive suit, in an odd way. His manner quite like that of Mr.¬†Whiggam before him, was a mixture of uncertainty and a very small authority here in ClydeвАЩs caseвБ†вАФof extreme respect and yet some private doubt, which only time might resolve. Obviously it was no small thing to be a Griffiths here, even if one were a cousin and possibly not as welcome to oneвАЩs powerful relatives as one might be. + 

At first sight, and considering what his general dreams in connection with this industry were, Clyde was inclined to rebel. For the type of youth and man he saw here were in his estimation and at first glance rather below the type of individuals he hoped to find hereвБ†вАФindividuals neither so intelligent nor alert as those employed by the Union League and the Green-Davidson by a long distance. And still worse he felt them to be much more subdued and sly and ignorantвБ†вАФmere clocks, really. And their eyes, as he entered with Mr.¬†Whiggam, while they pretended not to be looking, were very well aware, as Clyde could feel, of all that was going on. Indeed, he and Mr.¬†Whiggam were the center of all their secret looks. At the same time, their spare and practical manner of dressing struck dead at one blow any thought of refinement in connection with the work in here. How unfortunate that his lack of training would not permit his being put to office work or something like that upstairs. + 

He walked with Mr.¬†Kemerer, who troubled to say that these were the tubs in which the webs were shrunk over nightвБ†вАФthese the centrifugal dryersвБ†вАФthese the rack dryers. Then he was told that he could go. And by then it was only three oвАЩclock. + 

He made his way out of the nearest door and once outside he congratulated himself on being connected with this great company, while at the same time wondering whether he was going to prove satisfactory to Mr.¬†Kemerer and Mr.¬†Whiggam. Supposing he didnвАЩt. Or supposing he couldnвАЩt stand all this? It was pretty rough. Well, if worst came to worst, as he now thought, he could go back to Chicago, or on to New York, maybe, and get work. + 

But why hadnвАЩt Samuel Griffiths had the graciousness to receive and welcome him? Why had that young Gilbert Griffiths smiled so cynically? And what sort of a woman was this Mrs.¬†Braley? Had he done wisely to come on here? Would this family do anything for him now that he was here? + 

It was thus that, strolling west along River Street on which were a number of other kinds of factories, and then north through a few other streets that held more factoriesвБ†вАФtinware, wickwire, a big vacuum carpet cleaning plant, a rug manufacturing company, and the likeвБ†вАФthat he came finally upon a miserable slum, the like of which, small as it was, he had not seen outside of Chicago or Kansas City. He was so irritated and depressed by the poverty and social angularity and crudeness of itвБ†вАФall spelling but one thing, social misery, to himвБ†вАФthat he at once retraced his steps and recrossing the Mohawk by a bridge farther west soon found himself in an area which was very different indeedвБ†вАФa region once more of just such homes as he had been admiring before he left for the factory. And walking still farther south, he came upon that same wide and tree-lined avenueвБ†вАФwhich he had seen beforeвБ†вАФthe exterior appearance of which alone identified it as the principal residence thoroughfare of Lycurgus. It was so very broad and well-paved and lined by such an arresting company of houses. At once he was very much alive to the personnel of this street, for it came to him immediately that it must be in this street very likely that his uncle Samuel lived. The houses were nearly all of French, Italian or English design, and excellent period copies at that, although he did not know it. + 

Impressed by their beauty and spaciousness, however, he walked along, now looking at one and another, and wondering which, if any, of these was occupied by his uncle, and deeply impressed by the significance of so much wealth. How superior and condescending his cousin Gilbert must feel, walking out of some such place as this in the morning. + 

Then pausing before one which, because of trees, walks, newly-groomed if bloomless flower beds, a large garage at the rear, a large fountain to the left of the house as he faced it, in the center of which was a boy holding a swan in his arms, and to the right of the house one lone cast iron stag pursued by some cast iron dogs, he felt especially impelled to admire, and charmed by the dignity of this place, which was a modified form of old English, he now inquired of a stranger who was passingвБ†вАФa middle-aged man of a rather shabby working type, вАЬWhose house is that, mister?вАЭ and the man replied: вАЬWhy, thatвАЩs Samuel GriffithsвАЩ residence. HeвАЩs the man who owns the big collar factory over the river.вАЭ + 

At once Clyde straightened up, as though dashed with cold water. His uncleвАЩs! His residence! Then that was one of his automobiles standing before the garage at the rear there. And there was another visible through the open door of the garage. + 

Indeed in his immature and really psychically unilluminated mind it suddenly evoked a mood which was as of roses, perfumes, lights and music. The beauty! The ease! What member of his own immediate family had ever even dreamed that his uncle lived thus! The grandeur! And his own parents so wretchedвБ†вАФso poor, preaching on the streets of Kansas City and no doubt Denver. Conducting a mission! And although thus far no single member of this family other than his chill cousin had troubled to meet him, and that at the factory only, and although he had been so indifferently assigned to the menial type of work that he had, still he was elated and uplifted. For, after all, was he not a Griffiths, a full cousin as well as a full nephew to the two very important men who lived here, and now working for them in some capacity at least? And must not that spell a future of some sort, better than any he had known as yet? For consider who the Griffiths were here, as opposed to вАЬwhoвАЭ the Griffiths were in Kansas City, sayвБ†вАФor Denver. The enormous difference! A thing to be as carefully concealed as possible. At the same time, he was immediately reduced again, for supposing the Griffiths hereвБ†вАФhis uncle or his cousin or some friend or agent of theirsвБ†вАФshould now investigate his parents and his past? Heavens! The matter of that slain child in Kansas City! His parentsвАЩ miserable makeshift life! Esta! At once his face fell, his dreams being so thickly clouded over. If they should guess! If they should sense! + 

Oh, the devilвБ†вАФwho was he anyway? And what did he really amount to? What could he hope for from such a great world as this really, once they knew why he had troubled to come here? + 

A little disgusted and depressed he turned to retrace his steps, for all at once he felt himself very much of a nobody. + 