Many things had been discussed and put away for good, but we had our old fondness for nature and for each other, who were so differently parts of it. Clemens naturally led the dinner-talk, which eventually driftedto reading. Those linotypes would all go into the scrap-heap presently. It was that evening or the next, perhaps, that he said to her: Ben [one of his pet names for her], now that you are here to run theranch, Paine and I are going to Washington on a vacation.
Herbert Putnam, thelibrarian, led us to seats among the literary group, and Clemens,removing his overcoat, stood in that dim room clad as in white armor. The holy Hindoo pilgrim's itineraryof salvation is one of the richest of all Mark Twain's fancies, and isabout the best thing in the book. He might even have it in the diningroom,or on the terrace, just outside. h the heat and dust on poor, comfortless railways, fighting hisbattle and enjoying it too, for he reveled in
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