The shock to Dawson came many days later, when the summer had come and
the population honored a certain royal lady at Windsor by lining the
Yukon's bank and watching Sitka Charley rise up with flashing paddle and
drive the first canoe across the line. On this day of the races, Mrs.
Eppingwell, who had learned and unlearned numerous things, saw Freda for
the first time since the night of the ball. "Publicly, mind you," as
Mrs. McFee expressed it, "without regard or respect for the morals of the
community," she went up to the dancer and held out her hand. At first,
it is remembered by those who saw, the girl shrank back, then words
passed between the two, and Freda, great Freda, broke down and wept on
the shoulder of the captain's wife. It was not given to Dawson to know
why Mrs. Eppingwell should crave forgiveness of a Greek dancing girl, but
she did it publicly, and it was unseemly.
It were well not to forget Mrs. McFee. She took a cabin passage on the
first steamer going out. She also took with her a theory which she had
achieved in the silent watches of the long dark nights; and it is her
conviction that the Northland is unregenerate because it is so cold
there.
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