HIGH WINDS 



Crusoe thing was beginning to fray itself at the 

 edges. Charlie and the yellow dog, having no 

 manful pride in the matter, betrayed their depri 

 vation shamelessly. Charlie proposed that we 

 walk over to the homestead, he would like to see 

 Griselle ; and the yellow dog, when the confusion 

 was greatest in the mornings, went out sometimes 

 and blew her clarion toward the homestead for 

 help. When we went off for our morning walks, 

 I explained to Charlie that we had started the 

 Robinson Crusoe thing wrong end foremost, and 

 it was that which made it so hard to rectify. 

 &quot; What a terrible thing,&quot; I said, &quot; it would have 

 been for Crusoe if he had found a fairy on his 

 island who made everything easy for him.&quot; 



&quot; Why, how could it be terrible ? I should 

 think,&quot; said Charlie, &quot; that it would be just 

 scrum.&quot; 



&quot; I mean that it would be terrible when she 

 went away, and they always go away, Charlie, 

 after spoiling us. We should have begun without 

 one as Crusoe did, and depended on ourselves, 

 and worked out our comfort with our own hands. 

 That s the way brave men do.&quot; 



&quot;Then what s the good of a woman, anyhow?&quot; 

 asked Charlie. 



&quot; Oh, they have to work out their own affairs 

 on their own islands,&quot; I said vaguely and con 

 clusively. 



So we took our walks away from the Hotch- 

 kiss place, and I did my best to make the abstract 

 old mistress fill the void that the concrete maid 



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