Quin

“ Quin saw a pair of small gloved hands grasp the railing resolutely, and he was straightway filled with indignation that any man, of whatever rank, should stand back on his dignity when a voice like that asked a favor. ”

“ Quin heard about it when he arrived on Saturday morning, and as usual offered advice:
"What you need is a man in the house. Then you wouldn't be scared all the time."
"Well," said Madam, "what about you?"
Quin's face fell. He had no desire to exchange the noisy, wholesome family life of the Martels for the silent, somber grandeur of the Bartletts. His affections had taken root in the shabby little brown house that always seemed to be humming gaily to itself. When the piano was not being played, the violin or guitar was. ”

“ The dressy old gentleman with the flowing white locks and the white rose in his buttonhole bore down upon Quin and enveloped his hand in both his own.
"I welcome you for Cassius' sake and for your own!" he declared with such effusion that Quin was visibly embarrassed. "My grandson has told me of your long siege in the hospital, of your noble service to your country, of your gallant conduct at——"
"Sit down, Papa Claude, and finish your oration after supper," cried Rose; "the rabbit won't wait on anybody." ”

“ At this moment the bus rounded a sharp corner without slowing up, and the passengers on top were lurched forward with such violence that at least one masculine arm took advantage of the occasion to clasp a swaying lady with unnecessary solicitude. It may have been a second, and it may have been longer, that Quin sat with his arm about Eleanor and his hand clasping hers. Time and space ceased to exist for him and blessed infinity set in. ”

“ Quin was scarcely responsible for what he said, so suddenly had disaster trodden on the heels of ecstasy.
"He is Papa Claude's partner and producer," said Eleanor with dignity. "If I don't care anything for him, I don't see what harm there is in seeing him."
"Not liking whisky won't keep it from going to your head," said Quin stubbornly.
"That's perfect nonsense; and besides, what can I do? It's his play as well as ours. I can't ask him to stay away from rehearsals."
"No; but you can stay away yourself. You don't have to be in this play. Something else will turn up. ”

“ Quin insisted fatuously. "I'd butt in anywhere to get to see you."
Eleanor's eyes dropped under his gaze.
"You don't know my grandmother," she said; "and, what is much more important, she doesn't know you."
"No, but she might like to," urged Quin, with one of his most engaging smiles. "Old ladies and cats always cotton to me." ”

“ Thrusting his bare feet into slippers and his arms into a shabby old bath-robe, he flung himself out of bed and slipped out on the porch. The air was cold and bracing and gloriously free from the hospital combination of wienerwürst, ether, and dried peaches that had come to be a nightmare odor to him. He sat on the railing and drew in deep, refreshing breaths, and as he did so things began to right themselves. Fair play to Quin amounted almost to a religion, and it was suddenly borne in upon him that he would not be where he was had he observed the rules of the game. ”

“ He made the most of the opportunity thus offered.
"Honest, now!" he boldly challenged her. "You can't deny that you love me just a little bit, can you?"
She stared straight ahead of her down the long dim avenue, making no response to his question. The cherries that swung from her hat-brim stirred not a hair's-breadth, but the commotion their stillness caused in Quin's heart was nothing short of cyclonic.
"More than when you left Kentucky?" he persisted relentlessly. ”

“ At nine-thirty Edwin came in and passed up the creaking stairs. Ten minutes later Cass limped by the door, stopping a moment in the pantry to get a bite to eat. Quin sat motionless in the dark sitting-room and made no sign. He was waiting for Rose, with a dumb dependence the strongest man feels for the understanding feminine in times of crisis.
When he heard her cheerful voice calling good night to Fan Loomis, the clock was just striking ten.
"Quin! What is it?" she cried in alarm the moment she saw his face. "Is anybody dead?"
"Worse! She's run away to get married!" ”

“ Quin, in a voice of thunder, immediately vociferated, 'Waiter, bring me a dish of coffee, hot as h-ll, and strong as d—mn—n!' The beau starting, exclaimed, 'Waiter, what is that gentleman's name?' Quin, in his usual tremendous tone, exclaimed, 'Waiter, pray what is that lady's name?'
A Highlander was visited on his death-bed by his clergyman, who exhorted Donald to prepare for another world, by a sincere repentance of all the crimes he had committed on earth; and earnestly urged the absolute necessity of forgiving his enemies. ”

“ Suppose Papa Claude was as visionary about her career as he was about everything else? At such times a word of discouragement would have broken her spirit and sent her back to bondage.
"Would you go on with it?" she asked Quin, time and again.
"Sure," said Quin stoutly; "you'll never be satisfied until you try it out." ”

“ Quin couldn't resist the thrust on behalf of Mr. Ranny.
"It's sensible for a sensible person," Madam said crossly. "It's where you belong, instead of attempting all this university business."
There were times these days when Quin quite agreed with Madam. When the tide of his confidence was out, he regarded himself as a hopeless fool and despaired of ever making up the years he had lost. But at high tide there was no limit to his aspirations, nor to his courage. While his struggles at the university kept him humble, his success at the factory constantly elated him. ”

“ I asked of Quin, whose eyes were set dreamily before him, as though in the little gap between the horse's ears he saw visions of a country we should never reach. "Are there never any people about on the roads?" ”

“ To everybody's amazement, she opened the conference by abruptly announcing that she had decided that Eleanor and Quin should be married at once.
"She's at loose ends, and he's at loose ends. The sooner they get tied up, the better," was the way she put it.
"But hold on!" cried Quin, sitting up in bed. "I can't do that, you know; I've got to get on my feet first."
"How are you going to get on your feet until you get your strength back?" demanded Madam. "You look like going to work, don't you?"
"Well, the doctor has promised me I can go out on Saturday. ”

“ Here, Peter Quince.
Quin. Robin Starveling, you must play Thisby's mother:
Tom Snowt, the tinker.
Snowt. Here, Peter Quince.
Quin. You, Pyramus's father; myself, Thisby's father; Snug the joiner, you the Lion's part; I hope there is a play fitted.
Snug. Have you the Lion's part written? Pray you, if it be, give it me, for I am slow of study.
Quin. You may do it extempore, for it is nothing but roaring.
Bot. Let me play the Lion too, I will roar, that I will do any man's heart good to hear me. I will roar, that I will make the Duke say, let him roar again, let him roar again! ”

“ Quin rose precipitately and made a dash for the hall, while Eleanor discreetly disappeared through a rear door.
"Well," said Madam grimly, pulling on her gloves, "it is a novel experience to find a young person who has a respect for other people's time." ”

“ Quin was in the highest of spirits. Even Cass had never seen him quite like this. With his white apron over his uniform, he pranced about, dancing attendance on Rose, and keeping Myrna and Edwin in gales of laughter over his antics. Every now and then, however, his knees got wabbly and his breath came short, and by the time supper was prepared he was quite ready to sit down.
"What a shame Nell's not here!" said Rose, breaking the eggs into the chafing-dish. "Then we could have charades. She's simply great when she gets started."
"Who is Nell?" asked Quin.
"Eleanor Bartlett, our cousin. ”

“ When she was back in her chair and Quin was leaving, she beckoned to him.
"What about Mr. Ranny?" she asked in an anxious whisper. "Was he at the office to-day?"
Quin had been dreading the question, but when it came he did not evade it. Randolph Bartlett's lapses from grace were coming with such alarming frequency that the sisters' frantic efforts to keep the truth from their mother only resulted in arousing her suspicion and making her more unhappy.
"No," said Quin; "he hasn't been there for a week. He's never going to be any better as long as he stays in the business. ”

“ I am too unhappy, Quin, and with Aunt Enid gone——" Her voice broke, and as she caught her lip between her small white teeth she stared ahead of her with tragic eyes.
Quin laid his arm along the sofa, as close to her shoulders as he dared, and looked at her in dumb sympathy.
"Don't you think you might try a different tack with the old lady?" he ventured presently. "Even a porcupine likes to have its head scratched, and I think sometimes she's kind of hungry for somebody to cotton up to her a bit. ”

“ Although Quin had taken himself and his career seriously before Eleanor's home-coming, it was nothing in comparison to the fever of energy that possessed him after her departure. He was determined to forge ahead in business, get an education, and become versed in the gentler branches of social life at the earliest possible moment. His chief trouble was that the days contained only twenty-four hours. Even his dreams were a jumble of plows and personal pronouns, of mathematical problems and social proprieties. ”

“ He was at that mellow stage that radiates affection, and, having bidden a loving farewell to the taxi driver, he now linked his arm in Quin's and repeated gaily:
"'Risto? Of course I can find it for you, if it's where it was this morning! Always make a point of helping a man that's worse off than I am. Always help a sholdier, anyhow. Take my arm, old chap. Take my cane, too. I'll help you."
Thus assisted and assisting, Quin good-humoredly allowed himself to be conducted in a zigzag course to the imposing doorway of a large apartment-house across the street. ”

“ It was Eleanor's turn to trace patterns in the sand.
"Well, you see——" she began.
"No, I don't." Quin rose indignantly. "There's nobody in the world that would do any more for you than I would. I may be chasing the kite in thinking that you want me to do anything, but if you'll just let me under the ribbon, you bet your life I'll give Phipps and the rest of the talent a run for their money!" ”

“ I don't care how anxious grandmother is! To-morrow I'll send them a wire from Chicago telling them I'm married.
Dear Quin, I know this is a terribly serious step, and I know you won't approve; but I am unhappy enough to die, and I don't know where else to turn, or what to do. Some day I hope you will know Mr. Phipps better, and see what a really fine man he is. Do try to comfort Aunt Isobel, and make her understand. Please don't hate me, but try to forgive your utterly miserable friend,
E. M. B.
Quin stood staring at the letter. ”

“ But Quin shrugged his shoulders with a slow, easy-going laugh.
"That settles it," he said triumphantly. "We got to go to the Hawaiian Garden now, because it's the only place that's free!"
"I'll be hanged if I know what you want to go to a dance for," argued his companion fiercely. "Here you been on your back for six months, and your legs so shaky they won't hardly hold you. Don't you know you can't dance?"
"Sure," agreed Quin amicably. "I don't mean to dance. But I got to go where I can see some girls. I'm dead sick of men. Come on in. We don't need to stay but a little while." ”

“ Quin asked hospitably. "They get awful lonesome with so few people dropping in."
Mr. Chester in evident embarrassment flicked the ash from his cigar and answered guardedly:
"I used to be there a great deal in the old days. Unfortunately, Madam Bartlett and I had a misunderstanding. As a matter of fact, I have not crossed that threshold in—let me see—it must be fifteen years! It was a party, I remember, given for Eleanor, the little granddaughter, on her fifth birthday."
"Oh, yes!" said Quin, finding Mr. Chester for the first time interesting. ”

“ He had really never loved anyone, certainly not dead Lily, more certainly not that white woman over in Victoria, though he thought he had. What he felt for Jenny was a revelation; it made him a saint and a devil at once, as passion does even the best and worst of men. And Quin had force and fire, and bone, and muscle and a big heavy head and hands like clip-hooks. ”

“ Quin and Mrs. Clive, seated each side of Fire-place.
CLIVE. Who dines with Mr. Vane to-day besides ourselves?
QUIN. His inamorata, Mrs. Woffington, of this theatre.
CLIVE. Of course. But who else?
QUIN. Sir Charles Pomander. The critics, Snarl and Soaper, are invited, I believe.
CLIVE. Then I shall eat no dinner.
[Pg 2]
QUIN. Pooh! There is to be a haunch that will counterpoise in one hour a century of censure. Let them talk! the mouth will revenge the ears of Falstaff;—besides, Snarl is the only ill-natured one—Soaper praises people, don’t he?
CLIVE. Don’t be silly, Quin! ”

“ But neither Cass nor Quin was to have the privilege. Mr. Martel announced that he was going to escort her himself. The only crumb of comfort that Quin was able to snatch from the wretched evening was when he was helping her on with her coat in the hall.
"When can I see you?" he whispered anxiously.
"I don't know," she whispered back; "every hour's taken."
"What about Sunday afternoon?"
"I've promised to motor out to Anchordale with Aunt Flo and Uncle Ranny to hunt for wild flowers. Think of it! When all this trouble's brewing." ”

“ I'd like to know if I didn't keep Isobel from being a missionary, and Enid from marrying Francis Chester when he didn't make enough money to pay her carfare."
"That's so," agreed Quin cheerfully. "And then, there was Mr. Ranny." He waited for the remark to sink in; then he went on lightly: "But say! They all belong to another generation. Things are run on different lines these days."
"More's the pity! Every little fool of a kite thinks all it has to do is to break its string to be free."
"Miss Nell don't want to break the string; she just wants it lengthened." ”