She would never know his secret love; he could never tell her that.

But it was something to hold to his heart, besides that unquenchable faith in himself, in some unseen genius for far-off good.
The next day Lane, having ascertained where Joshua Iden was employed, betook himself that way just at the noon hour.

Iden, like so many other Middleville citizens, gained a livelihood by working for the rich Swann.

In his best days he had been a master mechanic of the railroad shops; at sixty he was foreman of one of the steel mills.
As it chanced, Iden had finished his noonday meal and was resting in the shade, apart from other laborers there.

Lane remembered him, in spite of the fact that the three years had aged and bowed him, and lined his face.
"Mr.Iden, do you remember me ?" asked Lane.