\"WEdon\'t，butHEdoes，\"answeredtheyounggirl。\"Heconsidersushissocialinferiors。But——hush!\"
MintySharpehadjustenteredtheroom，andwasadvancingwithsmilingconfidencetowardsthetable。Mainwaringwasalittlestartled；hehadseenMintyinahollandsun-bonnetandturnedupskirtcrossingtheveranda，onlyamomentbefore；inthebriefinstantbetweenthedishing-upofdinneranditsactualannouncementshehadmanagedtochangeherdress，putonacleancollar，cuffs，andalargejetbrooch，andapplysomeodorousunguenttoherrebellioushair。Herface，guiltlessofpowderorcoldcream，wasstillshiningwiththehealthyperspirationofherlastlaborsasshepromptlytookthevacantchairbesideMainwaring。
\"Don\'tmindme，folks，\"shesaidcheerfully，restingherplumpelbowonthetable，andaddressingthecompanygenerally，butgazingwithfrankcuriosityintothefaceoftheyoungmanatherside。\"Itwasakeenjump，Itellyer，togetoutofmyolddudsinterthese，andlookdecentinsideo\'fiveminutes。ButIreckonIain\'tkeptyerwaitin\'long——leastofallthisyersickstranger。
Butyou\'relookingpearterthanyoudid。You\'rewonderin\'likeeznotwhereIeversawyebefore？\"shecontinued，laughing。\"Well，I\'lltellyou。Lastweek!I\'dkemoveryeronachanceofseein\'
JennyBradley，andwhileIwasmeanderin\'downtheverandaIsawyoulyin\'backinyourchairbythewindowdrownedinsleep，likeababy。Lordy!Imouthevwonapairo\'gloves，butIreckonedyouwereLoo\'sgame，andnotmine。”
TheslightlyconstrainedlaughwhichwentroundthetableafterMissMinty\'sspeechwasduequiteasmuchtothefaintflushthathadaccentedMainwaring\'sownsmileastotheembarrassingremarkitself。Mrs。BradleyandMissMacyexchangedrapidglances。
Bradley，whoaloneretainedhiscomposure，withaslightflickerofamusementinthecornerofhiseyeandnostril，saidquickly:\"Yousee，Mainwaring，hownaturestandsreadytohelpyourconvalescenceateveryturn。IfMissMintyhadonlyfollowedupherhealingopportunity，yourcurewouldhavebeencomplete。”
\"Yemouthevleftsomeo\'thatprettytalkforHIMtosay，\"saidMinty，takingupherknifeandforkwithaslightshrug，\"andyouneedn\'tcallmeMISSMintyeither，jestbecausethere\'skempenypresent。”
\"Ihopeyouwon\'tlookuponmeascompany，Minty，orIshallbeobligedtocallyou\'Miss\'too，\"saidMainwaring，unexpectedlyregaininghisusualfrankness。
Bradley\'sfacebrightened；MissMintyraisedherblackeyesfromherplatewithstillbroaderappreciation。
\"There\'snothin\'meanaboutthat，\"shesaid，showingherwhiteteeth。\"Well，what\'sYOURfirstname？\"
\"Notasprettyasyours，I\'mafraid。It\'sFrank。”
\"Noitain\'t，it\'sFrancis!YoureckontobeSirFrancissomeday，\"shesaidgravely。\"Youcan\'tplayanyFrankoffonme。Youwouldn\'tdoitonHER，\"sheadded，indicatingLouisewithherelbow。
Amomentoussilencefollowed。TheparticularformthatMinty\'svulgarityhadtakenhadnotbeenanticipatedbythetwootherwomen。Theyhad，notunreasonably，expectedsomeoriginalaudacityorgaucheriefromtheblacksmith\'sdaughter，whichmightastonishyetamusetheirguest，andcondoneforthesituationforceduponthem。Buttheywerenotpreparedforaplayfulnessthatinvolvedthemselvesinaridiculousindiscretion。Mrs。Bradley\'seyessoughtherhusband\'smeaningly；Louise\'sprettymouthhardened。
Luckilythecheerfulcauseofitsuddenlyjumpedupfromthetable，andsayingthatthestrangerwasstarving，insisteduponbringingadishfromtheothersideandhelpinghimherselfplentifully。
Mainwaringrosegallantlytotakethedishfromherhand，aslightscuffleensuedwhichendedintheyoungmanbeingforceddowninhischairbythepressureofMinty\'sstrongplumphandonhisshoulder。\"There，\"shesaid，\"yekinmindyourdinnernow，andI
reckonwe\'llgivetheothersachancetochipintotheconversation，\"
andatonceappliedherselftotheplatebeforeher。
Theconversationpresentlybecamegeneral，withtheexceptionthatMinty，moreorlessengrossedbyprofessionalanxietyinthequalityofthedinnerandoccasionalhurriedvisitstothekitchen，brieflyansweredthefewpoliteremarkswhichMainwaringfeltcalledupontoaddresstoher。Nevertheless，hewasconscious，malgreherrallyingallusionstoMissMacy，thathefeltnoneofthevagueyethalfpleasantanxietywithwhichLouisewasbeginningtoinspirehim。HefeltateaseinMinty\'spresence，andbelieved，rightlyorwrongly，thatsheunderstoodhimaswellasheunderstoodher。Andtherewerecertainlypointsincommonbetweenhistwohostessesandtheirhumblerthoughprouddependent。ThesocialevolutionofMrs。BradleyandLouiseMacyfromsomepreviousMintywasneitherremotenorcomplete；theself-sufficientindependence，ease，andquietself-assertionwerealikeineach。
Thesuperiorpositionwasstilltoorecentandaccidentalforeithertoresentorcriticisequalitiesthatwerecommontoboth。
Atleast，thiswaswhathethoughtwhennotabandoninghimselftothegratificationofaconvalescentappetite；tothepresenceoftwoprettywomen，thesympathyofagenialfriend，thehealthyintoxicationofthewhitesunlightthatglanceduponthepinewalls，theviewsthatmirroredthemselvesintheopenwindows，andthepureatmosphereinwhichTheLookoutseemedtoswim。Wanderingbreezesofbalmandspicelightlystirredtheflowersonthetable，andseemedtofanhishairandforeheadwithsoftlyhealingbreath。
Lookingupinanintervalofsilence，hecaughtBradley\'sgrayeyesfixeduponhimwithasubduedlightofamusementandaffection，asofanelderbrotherregardingaschoolboy\'sboisterousappetiteatsomefeast。Mainwaringlaiddownhisknifeandforkwithalaughingcolor，touchedequallybyBradley\'sfraternalkindlinessandtheconsciousnessofhisgastronomicalpowers。
\"Hangit，Bradley；lookhere!Iknowmyappetite\'sdisgraceful，butwhatcanafellowdo？Insuchair，withsuchviandsandsuchcompany!It\'slikethebeesgettingdrunkonHyblaandHymettus，youknow。I\'mnotresponsible!\"
\"It\'sthefirstsquaremealIbelieveyou\'vereallyeateninsixmonths，\"saidBradley，gravely。\"Ican\'tunderstandwhyyourdoctorallowedyoutorundownsodreadfully。”
\"Ireckonyouain\'taskeerfulofyourself，youBritishers，ezus，\"
saidMinty。\"Lordy!Whythere\'sPopinvestsinmorepatentmedicinesinonedaythanyouhaveintwoweeks，andhe\'dmaketwoofyou。Mebbeyourfolksdon\'tlookafteryouenough。”
\"I\'masplendidadvertisementofwhatYOURcareandyourmedicineshavedone，\"saidMainwaring，gratefully，toMrs。Bradley；\"andifyoueverwanttosetupa\'Cure\'here，I\'mreadywithaten-pagetestimonial。”
\"Haveacare，Mainwaring，\"saidBradley，laughing，\"thattheladiesdon\'ttakeyouatyourword。LouiseandJennyhavebeendoingtheirbestforthelastyeartogetmetoacceptaflatteringofferfromaSacramentofirmtoputupahotelfortouristsonthesiteofTheLookout。Why，Ibelievethattheyhavealreadysecretlyintheirheartsconcoctedaflamingprospectusof\'UnrivalledScenery\'
and\'Health-givingAir，\'andarelookingforwardtoSaturdaynighthopsonthepiazza。”
\"Haveyoureally，though？\"saidMainwaring，gazingfromtheonetotheother。
\"Weshouldcertainlyseemorecompanythanwedonow，andfeelalittlelessoutoftheworld，\"saidLouise，candidly。\"Therearenoneighborshere——ImeanthepeopleattheSummitarenot，\"sheadded，withaslightglancetowardsMinty。
\"AndMr。Bradleywouldfinditmoreprofitable——nottosaymoresuitabletoamanofhisposition——thanthiswretchedsaw-millandtimberbusiness，\"saidMrs。Bradley，decidedly。
Mainwaringwasastounded；wasitpossibletheyconsidereditmoredignifiedforalawyertokeepahotelthanasaw-mill？Bradley，asifansweringwhatwaspassinginhismind，saidmischievously，\"I\'mnotsure，exactly，whatmypositionis，mydear，andI\'mafraidI\'vedeclinedthehotelonbusinessprinciples。But，bytheway，Mainwaring，IfoundaletteratthemillthismorningfromMr。
Richardson。HeisabouttopayusthedistinguishedhonorofvisitingTheLookout，solelyonyouraccount，mydearfellow。”
\"ButIwrotehimthatIwasmuchbetter，anditwasn\'tnecessaryforhimtocome，\"saidMainwaring。
\"Hemakesanexcuseofsomelawbusinesswithme。Isupposeheconsidersthemerefactofhistakingthetroubletocomehere，allthewayfromSanFrancisco，asufficienthonortojustifyanyabsenceofformalinvitation，\"saidBradley，smiling。
\"Buthe\'sonly——Imeanhe\'smyfather\'sbanker，\"saidMainwaring，correctinghimself，\"and——youdon\'tkeepahotel。”
\"Notyet，\"returnedBradley，withamischievousglanceatthetwowomen，\"butTheLookoutiselastic，andIdaresaywecanmanagetoputhimup。”
Asilenceensued。Itseemedasifsomeshadow，ormomentarydarkeningofthebrilliantatmosphere；somefilmacrossthemirror-
likeexpanseoftheopenwindows，ormistydimmingoftheirwholesomelight，hadarisentotheirelevation。Mainwaringfeltthathewaslookingforwardwithunreasoningindignationanduneasinesstothisimpendinginterruptionoftheiridylliclife；
Mrs。BradleyandLouise，whohadbecomealittlemoreconstrainedandformalunderMinty\'sfreedom，werelesssympathetic；eventheirrepressibleMintyappearedabsorbedintheresponsibilitiesofthedinner。
Bradleyalonepreservedhisusualpatientgood-humor。\"We\'lltakeourcoffeeontheveranda，andtheladieswilljoinusbyandby，Mainwaring；besides，Idon\'tknowthatIcanallowyou，asaninvalid，togoentirelythroughMinty\'sbountifulmenuatpresent。
Youshallhavethesweetsanothertime。”
Whentheywerealoneontheveranda，hesaid，betweenthepuffsofhisblackbrier-woodpipe，——apetaversionofMrs。Bradley，——\"I
wonderhowRichardsonwillacceptMinty!\"
\"IfIcan，IthinkheMUST，\"returnedMainwaring，dryly。\"ByJove，itwillbegreatfuntoseehim；but\"——hestoppedandhesitated——\"I
don\'tknowabouttheladies。Idon\'tthink，youknow，thatthey\'llstandMintyagainbeforeanotherstranger。”
Bradleyglancedquicklyattheyoungman；theireyesmet，andtheybothjoinedinasuperiorand，Ifear，disloyalsmile。AfterapauseBradley，asifinaspiritoffurtherconfidence，tookhispipefromhismouthandpointedtotheblueabyssbeforethem。
\"Lookatthatprofundity，Mainwaring，andthinkofiteverbeingbulliedandoverawedbyalongveranda-loadofgaping，patronizingtourists，andtheidioticflirtingfemalesoftheirspecies。Thinkofalotofover-dressedcreaturesfloutingthosesevereoutlinesanddeep-toneddistanceswithfripperyandgarishness。Youknowhowyouhavebeenlulledtosleepbythatdelicious，indefinite，far-offmurmurofthecanyonatnight——thinkofitbeingbrokenbyacrazywaltzoramonotonousgerman——bytheclatterofwaitersandthepopofchampagnecorks。Andyet，bythunder，thosewomenarecapableoflikingbothandfindingnodiscordinthem!\"
\"Dancingain\'thalfbad，youknow，\"saidMainwaring，conscientiously，\"ifachap\'sgotthewindtodoit；andallAmericans，especiallythewomen，dancebetterthanwedo。ButIsay，Bradley，tohearyoutalk，afellowwouldn\'tsuspectyouwereasbigaVandalasanybody，withabeastly，howlingsaw-millintheheartoftheprimevalforest。ByJove，youquitebowledmeoverthatfirstdaywemet，whenyoupoppedyourheadoutofthatdeliriumtremensshakingmill，liketheverygeniusofdestructiveimprovement。”
\"ButthatwasFIGHTINGNature，notpatronizingher；andit\'sabusinessthatpays。ThatremindsmethatImustgobacktoit，\"
saidBradley，risingandknockingtheashesfromhispipe。
\"NotAFTERdinner，surely!\"saidMainwaring，insurprise。\"Comenow，that\'stoomuchliketheboltingYankeeofthetravellers\'
books。”
\"There\'saheavyruntogetthroughtonight。We\'reworkingagainsttime，\"returnedBradley。Evenwhilespeakinghehadvanishedwithinthehouse，returnedquickly——havingreplacedhisdarksuitbyjeantrouserstuckedinheavyboots，andaredflannelshirtoverhisstarchedwhiteone——and，noddinggaylytoMainwaring，steppedfromthelowerendoftheveranda。\"Thebeggaractuallylookspleasedtogo，\"saidMainwaringtohimselfinwonderment。
\"Oh!Jim，\"saidMrs。Bradley，appearingatthedoor。
\"Yes，\"saidBradley，faintly，fromthebushes。
\"Minty\'sready。Youmighttakeherhome。”
\"Allright。I\'llwait。”
\"IhopeIhaven\'tfrightenedMissSharpeaway，\"saidMainwaring。
\"Sheisn\'tgoing，surely？\"
\"Onlytogetsomebetterclothes，onaccountofcompany。I\'mafraidyouaregivingheragooddealoftrouble，Mr。Mainwaring，\"
saidMrs。Bradley，laughing。
\"Shewishedmetosaygood-bytoyouforher，asshecouldn\'tcomeontheverandainheroldshawlandsun-bonnet，\"addedLouise，whohadjoinedthem。\"Whatdoyoureallythinkofher，Mr。Mainwaring？
Icallherquitepretty，attimes。Don\'tyou？\"
Mainwaringknewnotwhattosay。Hecouldnotunderstandwhytheycouldhaveanyspecialinterestinthegirl，orcaretoknowwhathe，aperfectstranger，thoughtofher。Heavoidedadirectreply，however，byplayfullywonderinghowMrs。BradleycouldsubjectherhusbandtoMissMinty\'sundividedfascinations。
\"Oh，Jimalwaystakesherhome——ifit\'sintheevening。Hegetsalongwiththesepeoplebetterthanwedo，\"returnedMrs。Bradley，dryly。\"But，\"sheadded，withareturnofherpiquantQuaker-likecoquettishness，\"Jimsayswearetodevoteourselvestoyouto-
night——inretaliation，Isuppose。Wearetoamuseyou，andnotletyougetexcited；andyouaretobesenttobedearly。”
Itistobefearedthattheselatterwiseprecautions——invaluableforalldefencelessandenfeebledhumanity——werenotcarriedout:
anditwaslatewhenMainwaringeventuallyretired，withbrightenedeyesandasomewhatacceleratedpulse。Fortheladies，whohadquiteregainedthatkindlyequanimitywhichMintyhadrudelyinterrupted，hadalsoaddedadelicateandconfidentialsympathyintheirrelationswithMainwaring，——asofpeoplewhohadsufferedincommon，——andheexperiencedthesetenderattentionsattheirhandswhichanytwowomenareemboldenedbyeachother\'ssavingpresencetoshowanysinglememberofoursex。Indeed，hehardlyknewifhissatisfactionwasthemorecompletewhenMrs。Bradley，withdrawingforafewmoments，lefthimaloneontheverandawithLouiseandthevast，omnipotentnight。
Forawhiletheysatsilent，inthemidstoftheprofoundandmeasurelesscalm。Lookingdownuponthedimmoonlitabyssattheirfeet，theythemselvesseemedapartofthisnightthatarchedaboveit；thehalf-risenmoonappearedtolingerlongenoughattheirsidetoenwrapandsuffusethemwithitsglory；afewbrightstarsquietlyringedthemselvesaroundthem，andlookedwonderinglyintotheleveloftheirownshiningeyes。Forsomevagueyearningtohumanityseemedtodrawthisdarkandpassionlessvoidtowardsthem。ThevastprotectingmaternityofNatureleanthushedandbreathlessoverthesolitude。Warmcurrentsofairroseoccasionallyfromthevalley，whichonemighthavebelievedweresighsfromitsfullandoverflowingbreast，oragratefulcoolnessswepttheircheeksandhairwhenthetranquilheightsaroundthemweremovedtoslowlyrespond。Odorsfrominvisiblebayandlaurelsometimesfilledtheair；theincenseofsomerareandremotercultivatedmeadowbeyondtheirken，orthestronggerminatingbreathofleaguesofwildoats，thathadyellowedtheuplandbyday。Inthesilenceandshadow，theirvoicestookuponthemselves，almostwithouttheirvolition，afar-offconfidentialmurmur，withintervalsofmeaningsilence——ratherasiftheirthoughtshadspokenforthemselves，andtheyhadstoppedwonderinglytolisten。
Theytalkedatfirstvaguelytothisdiscreetaudienceofspaceanddarkness，andthen，growingbolder，spoketoeachotherandofthemselves。Investedbytheinfinitegravityofnature，theyhadnofearofhumanridiculetorestraintheiryouthfulconceitortheextravaganceoftheirunimportantconfessions。Theytalkedoftheirtastes，oftheirhabits，oftheirfriendsandacquaintances。
Theysettledsomepointsofdoctrine，duty，andetiquette，withthesweetseriousnessofyouthanditsall-powerfulconvictions。Thelisteningvineswouldhaverecognizednoflirtationorlove-makingintheiranimatedbutimportantconfidences；yetwhenMrs。Bradleyreappearedtowarntheinvalidthatitwastimetoseekhiscouch，theybothcoughedslightlyinthenervousconsciousnessofsomeunaccustomedqualityintheirvoices，andasenseofinterruptionfarbeyondtheirownortheinnocentintruder\'sken。
\"Well？\"saidMrs。Bradley，inthesitting-roomasMainwaring\'sstepsretreateddownthepassagetohisroom。
\"Well，\"saidLouisewithaslightyawn，leaningherprettyshoulderslanguidlyagainstthedoor-post，assheshadedhermoonlight-accustomedeyesfromthevulgarbrilliancyofMrs。
Bradley\'sbedroomcandle。\"Well——oh，hetalkedagreatdealabout\'hispeople\'ashecalledthem，andItalkedaboutus。He\'sverynice。Youknowinsomethingshe\'sreallylikeaboy。”
\"Helooksmuchbetter。”
\"Yes；butheisfarfromstrongyet。”
Meantime，Mainwaringhadnootherconfidantofhisimpressionsthanhisownthoughts。Mingledwithhisexaltation，whichwasthemoreseductivethatithadnowell-definedfoundationforexisting，andimpliednofutureresponsibility，wasarecurrenceofhisuneasinessattheimpendingvisitofRichardsonthenextday。Strangelyenough，ithadincreasedunderthestimulusoftheevening。Justashewasreallygettingonwiththefamily，hefeltsurethatthisvisitorwouldimportsomeforeignelementintotheirfamiliarity，asMintyhaddone。Itwaspossibletheywouldnotlikehim:nowherememberedtherewasreallysomethingostentatiouslyBritishandinsularaboutthisRichardson——somethingtheywouldlikelyresent。
Whycouldn\'tthisfellowhavecomelater——orevenbefore？Beforewhat？Butherehefellasleep，andalmostinstantlyslippedfromthisverandaintheSierras，sixthousandmilesaway，toanancientterrace，overgrownwithmossandtradition，thatoverlookedthesedategloryofanEnglishpark。Herehefoundhimself，restrictedpainfullybyhisinconsistentnight-clothes，endeavoringtoimpresshismotherandsisterswiththesingularvirtuesandexcellencesofhisAmericanhostandhostesses——virtuesandexcellencesthathehimselfwasbeginningtofeelconscioushadbecomemoreorlessapocryphalinthatatmosphere。Heheardhismother\'svoicesayingseverely，\"Whenyoulearn，Francis，torespecttheopinionsandprejudicesofyourfamilyenoughtopreventyourappearingbeforetheminthisuncivilizedaboriginalcostume，wewilllistentowhatyouhavetosayofthefriendswhosehabitsyouseemtohaveadopted；\"andhewasfranticallyindignantthathiseffortstoconvincethemthathisnegligencewasapersonaloversight，andnotaCaliforniancustom，wereutterlyfutile。ButeventhenthisvisionwasbrushedawaybythebewilderingsweepofLouise\'sprettyskirtacrossthedreamypicture，andherdelicatefeaturesandsoftly-fringedeyesremainedthelasttoslipfromhisfadingconsciousness。
Themoonrosehigherandhigherabovethesleepinghouseandsoftlybreathingcanyon。Therewasnothingtomartheidyllicreposeofthelandscape；onlythegrowinglightofthelasttwohourshadbroughtoutinthefareasternhorizonadimwhitepeak，thatgleamedfaintlyamongthestars，likeabridalcouchspreadbetweenthehillsfringedwithfadingnuptialtorches。Noonewouldhavebelievedthatbehindthatimpenetrableshadowtothewest，intheheartoftheforest，thethrobbingsaw-millofJamesBradleywasevenatthatmomenteatingitsdestructivewaythroughtheconservedgrowthofNatureandcenturies，andthattherefinedproprietorofhouseandgreenwood，withtheglowofhisfurnacefiresonhisredshirt，andhisalert，intelligenteyes，wasthegenieofthatdevastation，andthetoilingleaderoftheshadowy，toilingfiguresaroundhim。
CHAPTERIII。
AmidthebeautyofthemostuncultivatedanduntroddenwildernesstherearecertainlocalitieswherethemeanerandmerecommonprocessesofNaturetakeuponthemselvesadegradinglikenesstotheslovenly，wasteful，andimprovidentprocessesofman。Theunrecordedland-slipdisintegratingawholehillsidewillnotonlylaybarethedelicateframeworkofstrataanddeposittothevulgareye，buthurlintothevalleyadebrissomonstrousandunlovelyastoshameeventhehideousruinsleftbydynamite，hydraulic，orpickandshovel；anoverflownandforgottenwoodlandtorrentwillleaveinsomeremotehollowadisturbedandungracefulchaosofinextricablelogs，branches，rock，andsoilthatwillrivaltheunsavorydetailsofsomewreckedorabandonedsettlement。Oflessermagnitudeandimportance，therearecertainnaturaldust-
heaps，sinks，andcesspools，wheretheelementshavecollectedthecast-off，broken，andfrayeddisjectaofwoodandfield——thesweepingsofthesylvanhousehold。ItwasremarkablethatNature，sokindlyconsiderateofmerehumanruins，madenoattempttocoverupordisguisethesemonumentsofherownmortality:nograssgrewovertheunsightlylandslides，nomossorivyclothedthestrippedandbleachedskeletonsofoverthrownbranchandtree；thedeadleavesandwitheredhusksrottedintheiropengraveuncrossedbyvineandcreeper。Eventheanimals，exceptthelowerorganizations，shunnedthosehauntsofdecayandruin。
ItwasscarcelyahundredyardsfromoneofthosedrearyreceptaclesthatMr。BradleyhadtakenleaveofMissMintySharpe。
Thecabinoccupiedbyherfather，herself，andayoungerbrotherstood，infact，ontheveryedgeofthelittlehollow，whichwaspartlyfilledwithdecayedwood，leaves，anddisplacementsofthecrumblingbank，withthecoaldustandasheswhichMr。Sharpehadaddedfromhisforge，thatstoodafewpacesdistantatthecornerofacross-road。Theoccupantsofthecabinhadalsocontributedtothehollowtherefuseoftheirhouseholdinbrokenboxes，earthenware，tincans，andcast-offclothing；anditisnotimprobablethatthesiteofthecabinwaschosenwithreferencetothisconvenientdisposalofuselessandencumberingimpedimenta。
Itwastruethatthelocalityofferedlittlechoiceinthewayofbeauty。Anoutcropofbrowngranite——aportentofhigheraltitudes——extendedaquarterofamilefromthenearestfringeofdwarflaureland\"brush\"inonedirection；intheotheranadvancedfileofBradley\'swoodshadsufferedfromsomelong-forgottenfire，andstillraiseditsblackenedmastsandbrokenstumpsoverthescorchedandaridsoil，sweptofolderunderbrushandverdure。Ontheothersideoftheroadadarkravine，tangledwithbriersandhauntedatnightbyowlsandwildcats，struggledwearilyon，untilblunderingatlastupontheedgeoftheGreatCanyon，itslippedandlostitselfforeverinasinglefurrowofthosemightyflanks。
WhenBradleyhadonceaskedSharpewhyhehadnotbuilthishouseintheravine，theblacksmithhadreplied:\"ThatuntiltheLordhadappointedhistime，hereckonedtokeephisheadabovegroundandthefoundationsthereof。”Howbeit，theravine，orthe\"run，\"asitwaslocallyknown，wasMinty\'sonlySaturdayafternoonresortforrecreationorberries。\"Itwas，\"shehadexplained，\"pow\'fulsoothin\'，andsolitary。”
Sheenteredthehouse——arude，squarebuildingofunpaintedboards——
containingasitting-room，akitchen，andtwobedrooms。Aglanceattheserooms，whichwereplainlyfurnished，andwhosecanvas-
coloredwallswereadornedwithgorgeousagriculturalimplementcirculars，patentmedicinecalendars，withpolytintedchromosandcheaply-illuminatedScripturaltexts，showedherthatacertainneatnessandorderhadbeenpreservedduringherabsence；and，findingthehouseempty，shecrossedthebarrenandblackenedinterveningspacebetweenthebackdoorandherfather\'sforge，andenteredtheopenshed。Thelightwasfadingfromthesky；buttheglowoftheforgelitupthedustyroadbeforeit，andaccentedtheblacknessoftherockyledgebeyond。Asmallcurly-headedboy，bearingasingularlikenesstoasmudgedandblackenedcrayondrawingofMinty，wasmechanicallyblowingthebellowsandobviouslyintentuponsomethingelse；whileherfather——apowerfullybuiltman，withaquaintlydissatisfiedexpressionofcountenance——waswithequalwantofinterestmechanicallyhammeringatahorseshoe。
WithoutnoticingMinty\'sadvent，helazilybrokeintoaquerulousdrawlingchantofsomevaguereligiouscharacter:
\"Otur-ren，sinner；tur-ren。
FortheLordbidsyouturn——ah!
Otur-ren，sinner；tur-ren。
Whywillyoudie？\"
Themusicalaccentadapteditselftothemonotonousfallofthesledge-hammer；andateveryrepetitionoftheword\"turn\"hesuitedtheactiontothewordbyturningthehorseshoewiththeironinhislefthand。Aslightgruntattheendofeverystroke，andthesimultaneousrepetitionof\"turn\"seemedtoofferhimamusementandrelief。Minty，withoutspeaking，crossedtheshop，andadministeredasoundboxonherbrother\'sear。\"Takethat，andletmeketchyouagenlayin\'lowwhenmyback\'sturned，toputonyourstorepants。”
\"Theothershadfetchedawayinthelaig，\"saidtheboy，opposingakneeandelbowatacuteangletofurtherattack。
\"Youjestgetandchange\'em，\"saidMinty。
ThesuddencollapseofthebellowsbrokeinuponthesoothingrefrainofMr。Sharpe，andcausedhimtoturnalso。
\"It\'sMinty，\"hesaid，replacingthehorseshoeonthecoals，andsettinghispowerfularmsandthesledgeontheanvilwithanexaggeratedexpressionofweariness。
\"Yes；it\'sme，\"saidMinty，\"andCreationknowsit\'stimeIDID
come，tokeepthatboyfromruinin\'uswithhisairsandconceits。”
\"Didyebringoveranyo\'thatfevermixter？\"
\"No。Bradleysezyou\'reloadingyerselfupwithsomucho\'thatbitterbark——kuininetheycallitoverthere——thatyou\'lllifttheruffoffyourheadnext。Heallowsyeain\'tgotnoague；it\'sjestwindanddyspepsy。Hesezyer\'sstrongezahoss。”
\"Bradley，\"saidSharpe，layingasidehissledgewithanaggrievedmannerwhichwas，however，ascomplacentashisfatigueanddiscontent，\"ezoneofthemnat\'ralbornfinikinskunksezI
despise。Ireckonhebegantogivep\'intstohisparentswhenhewasaboutknee-hightoRichelieuthere。He\'sonthemconfidentialtermswithhisselfandtheAlmightythathereckonshekenrunasaw-millandaman\'sinsidesatthesametimewithonehandtiedbehindhim。Andthisfinikinisuptohisconceit:hewantedtotellmethatthatyerhandybrushdumpoutsideourshantywasunhealthy。Giveamanwithfrillslikethathisownwayandhe\'dbeasprinklingodorcologneandpeppermintalloverthecountry。”
\"Hesetyourshoulderaswellasanydoctor，\"saidMinty。
\"That\'sbone-settin\'，andanat\'ralgift，\"returnedSharpe，astriumphantlyashishabitualdepressionwouldadmit；\"itain\'tconceitandfinikingotouto\'books!Well，\"headded，afterapause，\"wot\'shappened？\"
Minty\'sfaceslightlychanged。\"Nothin\'；Ikembacktogetsomethings，\"shesaidshortly，movingaway。
\"AndyesawHIM？\"
\"Ye-e-s，\"drawledMinty，carelessly，stillretreating。
\"Bixbywasalonghereaboutnoon。Hesaysthestrangerwassuthin\'
highandmightyinhisowncountry，andthem\'Friscomillionairesarequitesweetonhim。Whereareyegoin\'？\"
\"Inthehouse。”
\"Well，lookyer，Minty。Nowthatyou\'rehere，yemightgetupabatcho\'hotbiscuitforsupper。Dinnerwasthatpromiscousandexperimentalto-day，alongo\'Richelieu\'snat\'ralfoolin\'，thatI
thinkIcouldgitoutsideofalittlesuthin\'now，ifonlytopropupakindofinnardsinkin\'thattakesme。Yekentellmethenewsatsupper。”
Later，however，whenMr。Sharpehadquittedhisforgeforthenightand，seatedathisdomesticboard，was，withadismalpresentimentoffutureindigestion，voraciouslyabsorbinghisfavoritemealofhotsaleratusbiscuitsswimminginbutter，hehadapparentlyforgottenhiscuriosityconcerningMainwaringandsettledhimselftoacomplainingchronicleoftheday\'smishaps。\"Nat\'rally，havin\'anextraloto\'workonhandandnotimeforfoolin\'，whatdoesthatorneryRichelieugetupanddothismornin\'？Yeknowthemridiklusspecimensthathe\'sbeenchippin\'outerthatledgethattheyearthslippedfromdowntherun，andlitterin\'upthewholeshantywith\'em。Well，darnmyskin!ifhedidn\'trunaheapof\'em，mixedupwithcoal，unbeknownedtome，intheforge，tomakewhathecalleda\'fireessay\'of\'em。Nat\'rally，Icouldn\'tgetablessedironhot，anddidn\'tknowwhathadgoneofthefire，orthecoaleither，fortwohours，tillIstoppedworkandrakedoutthecoal。Thatcomesfromhishangin\'roundthatsaw-millinthewoods，andlistenin\'toBradley\'shigh-falutin\'talkaboutrocksandstrataandsich。”
\"ButBradleydon\'tgoacentonminin\'，Pop，\"saidMinty。\"Hesezthewoodsisgoodenoughforhim；andthere\'smillionstobemadewhentherailroadcomesalong，andtimber\'swanted。”
\"Butuntilthenhe\'sgottokeephisself，topaywages，andkeepthemillrunnin\'。Onlessit\'s，ezBixbysays，thathehopestogetthatEnglishmantoropeinsomeo\'them\'Friscofriendsofhistotakeahand。Yedidn\'thaveanyo\'thatkindo\'talk，didye？\"
\"No；notTHATkindo\'talk，\"saidMinty。
\"NotTHATkindo\'talk!\"repeatedherfatherwithaggrievedcuriosity，\"Wotkind，then？\"
\"Well，\"saidMinty，liftingherblackeyestoherfather\'s；\"I
ain\'tnoaccount，andyouain\'tnoaccounteither。Youain\'tgotnocollegeeducation，ain\'tgotnofriendsin\'Frisco，andain\'tgotnohigh-tonedstyle；Ican\'tplaythepianner，jabberFrench，norgetFrenchdresses。Weain\'tgotnofancy\'Shallet，\'astheycallit，withafirst-classviewofnothing；butonlyashantyondryrock。But，aforeI\'Dtakeadvantageofalazy，gawkyboy——foritain\'tanythingelse，thoughhe\'sgoodmeanin\'enough——thathappenedtofallsickinMYhouse，andcoaxandcossethim，andwraphiminwhitecotton，andmotherhim，andsisterhim，andAuntSukeyhim，andalmostdry-nusshimgin\'rally，jisttogethimsweetonmeandonmine，andtaketheinsidetrackofothers——I\'DbeanInjin!Andifyou\'dallowit，Pop，you\'dbewussnoranigger!\"
\"Sho!\"saidherfather，kindlingwiththatintensegratificationwithwhichthemalereceivesanyintimationofalienfeminineweakness。\"Itain\'tthat，Minty，Iwanterknow!\"
\"It\'sjistthat，Pop；andIezgoodezlet\'emknowIseedit。I
ain\'tafool，ifsomefolksdodroptheireyesandpertendtowipethelaughoutoftheirnoseswithahandkerchiefwhenIletouttospeak。Imayn\'tbegoodenoughkempany——\"
\"Lookyer，Minty，\"interruptedtheblacksmith，sternly，halfrisingfromhisseatwitheverytraceofhisformerweaknessvanishedfromhishardsetface；\"doyoumeantosaythattheyputonairstoye——
toMYdarter？\"
\"No，\"saidMintyquickly；\"themendidn\'t；anddon\'tyou，aman，mixyourselfupwithwomen\'smeannesses。Ikenmanage\'em，Pop，withonehand。”
Mr。Sharpelookedathisdaughter\'sflashingblackeyes。PerhapsanuneasyrecollectionofthelateMrs。Sharpe\'sremarkablecapacityinthatrespectcheckedhisfurtherrage。
\"No。WotIwassayin\'，\"resumedMinty，\"ezthatImayn\'tbethoughtbyothersgoodenoughtokeepkempanywithbaronettsezistobe——thoughbaronettsmightn\'tobject——butIain\'tmeanenoughtotrytostealawaysomeolewoman\'sdarlingboyinEngland，orsnatchsomelikelyyoungEnglishgirl\'sbigbrotherouterthefamilywithoutsayin\'byyourleave。How\'dyoulikeitifRichelieuwasgrowedup，andwenttosea，——anditwouldbelikehispeartness，——
andhefellsickinsomeforeignland，andsomeprincessorotherskyulgedHIMunderhandawayfromus？\"
Probablyowingtotheaffairofthespecimens，theelderSharpedidnotseemtoregardthepossiblemesallianceofRichelieuwithextraordinarydisfavor。\"Thatboyisconceitedenoughwithhairileandfineclothesforanything，\"hesaidplaintively。\"Butdidn\'tthatLouiseMacyhevafelleralready——thatCaptainGreyson？
Wot\'sgoneo\'him？\"
\"That\'sit，\"saidMinty:\"hekingooutinthewoodsandwhistlenow。Butallthesame，shecouldhitchhiminagainatanytimeiftheotherstrangerkickedoverthetraces。That\'sthestyleoverthereatTheLookout。Thereain\'tezmuchheartinthemtwowomenputtogetherezwouldmakeagreengalflushupplayin\'forfeits。
It\'sallintheirbreed，Pop。Loveain\'tgoingtospiletheirappetitesandcomplexions，give\'emnose-bleed，norputadropo\'
waterintotheireyesinalltheirnaturalborndays。That\'swotmakesmemad。EfIthoughtthatLoocaredabitforthatchildI
wouldn\'tmind；I\'djustadvisehertomakehimgetupandget——packhisdudsouto\'camp，andgohomeandnotcomebackuntilhehadawrittenpermitfromhismother，ortheotherbaronetinoffice。”
\"Lookssorterefsomeoneorterinterfere，\"saidtheblacksmith，reflectively。\"\'Tain\'texacklyacaseforavigilancecommittee，tho\'it\'saginpublicmorals，thissorterkidnappin\'o\'strangers。
LooksezifitmightbringthecountryintodiscreditinEngland。”
\"Well，don\'tYOUgoandinterfereandhavin\'folkssayezmynosewasputouto\'jintoverthere，\"saidMinty，curtly。\"There\'sanotherEnglishmancomin\'upfrom\'Friscotoseehimto-morrow。Efheain\'tscoopedupbyJennyBradleyhe\'llguessthere\'saniggerinthefencesomewhere。Butthere，Pop，letitdrop。It\'sabadaig，anyway，\"sheconcluded，risingfromthetable，andpassingherhandsdownherfrockandhershapelyhips，asiftowipeofffurthercontaminationofthesubject。\"Where\'sRichelieuagin？\"
\"Saidhedidn\'twantsupper，andlikeeznothe\'sgoneovertoseethatfammerlyattheSummit。There\'salittlegirltharhe\'ssparkin\'，abouthisownage。”
\"Hisownage!\"saidMinty，indignantly。\"Why，she\'sdoublethat，ifshe\'saday。Well——ifheain\'tthetriflinest，conceitednestlittlelimbthatevergrew!I\'dliketoknowwherehegotitfrom——
itwasn\'tmar\'sstyle。”
Mr。Sharpesmileddarkly。Richelieu\'sprecociousgallantryevidentlywasnotconsideredasgratuitousashisexperimentalmetallurgy。Butashiseyesfollowedhisdaughter\'swholesome，Phyllis-likefigure，anewideatookpossessionofhim:needlesstosay，however，itwasinthelineofanotherpersonalaggrievement，albeitittooktheformofreligiousreflection。
\"It\'scurous，Minty，wot\'sforeordained，andwotain\'t。Now，yer\'soneofthemhighandmightyfellows，aftertheLord，ezcomesmeanderin\'aroundhere，anddropsoff——ezfurezIkinhear——inakindo\'faintatthefirsthousehekemsto，andistakeninandlodgedandsumptuouslyfed；and，nat\'rally，theygetstheirrewardforit。Nowwot\'stohevkeptthatyoungfellerfromcomingHERE
anddroppin\'downinmyforge，orinthisveryroom，andYOUatendin\'him，andjistlayin\'overthemfolksatTheLookout？\"
\"Wot\'sgotholdo\'ye，Pop？Don\'tItellyehehadalettertoJimBradley？\"saidMinty，quickly，withanangryflashofcolorinhercheek。
\"Thatain\'tit，\"saidSharpeconfidently；\"it\'scosheWALKED。
Nat\'rally，you\'dthinkhe\'dRIDE，beinghighandmighty，andthat\'swhere，eztheparsonwilltellye，wot\'smerelyfi-niteandhumanwisdomerrs!Efthatfellerhadridden，he\'dhavehadtocomebythisyerroad，andbythisyerforge，andstopaspelllikeanyother。Butitwasforeordainedthatheshouldwalk，jestcositwasn\'tgenerallykalkilatedandreckonedon。So，YOUhadnoshow。”
Foramoment，Mintyseemedstruckwithherfather\'soriginaltheory。Butwithavigorousshakeofhershouldersshethrewitoff。Hereyesdarkened。
\"Ireckonyouain\'tthinking，Pop——\"shebegan。
\"Iwasonlysayin\'itwascurous，\"berejoinedquietly。
Nevertheless，afterapause，herose，coughed，andgoinguptotheyounggirl，assheleanedoverthedresser，benthispowerfularmaroundher，and，drawingherandtheplateshewasholdingagainsthisbreast，laidhisbeardedcheekforaninstantsoftlyuponherrebellioushead。\"It\'sallright，Minty，\"hesaid；\"ain\'tit，pet？\"Minty\'seyelidsclosedgentlyunderthefamiliarpressure。
\"Wot\'sthatinyourhair，Minty？\"hesaidtactfully，breakinganembarrassingpause。
\"Bar\'sgrease，father，\"murmuredMinty，inachild\'svoice——thegrown-upwoman，underthatmagictouch，havinglapsedagainintoherfather\'smotherlesschargeoftenyearsbefore。
\"It\'spow\'fulsoothin\'，andpretty，\"saidherfather。
\"Imadeitmyself——doyouwantsome？\"askedMinty。
\"Notnow，girl!\"Foramomenttheyslightlyrockedeachotherinthatattitude——themandexterously，thewomanwithinfinitetenderness——andthentheyseparated。
Latethatnight，afterRichelieuhadreturned，andherfatherwrestledinhisfitfulsleepwiththeremorseofhisguiltyindulgenceatsupper，Mintyremainedaloneinherroom，hardatwork，surroundedbythecontentsofoneofhermother\'strunksandthefragmentsofcertainripped-upandnewly-turneddresses。ForMintyhadconceivedtheboldideaofalteringoneofhermother\'sgownstothefashionofacertainfascinatingfrockwornbyLouiseMacy。Itwaslatewhenherself-imposedtaskwascompleted。Withanervoustrepidationthatwasnoveltoher，Mintybegantodisrobeherselfpreparatorytotryingonhernewcreation。Thelightofatallowcandleandalargeswinginglantern，borrowedfromherfather\'sforge，fellshylyonhermilkyneckandshoulders，andshoneinhersparklingeyes，asshestoodbeforeherlargestmirror——thelongglazeddoorofakitchenclockwhichshehadplaceduponherchestofdrawers。HadpoorMintybeencontentwiththefull，free，andgoddess-likeoutlinesthatitreflected，shewouldhavebeensparedherimpendingdisappointment。For，alas!