thedressofhermodelhadbeenframeduponasymmetricallyattenuatedFrenchcorset,andtheunfortunateMinty\'sfullerandamplercurveshadunderhersimplecountrystaysknownnomorerestrainingcincturethanknewtheVenusofMilo。Thealterationwasahideousfailure,itwasneitherMinty\'sstatuesqueoutlinenorLouiseMacy\'sgracefulcontour。Mintywasnofool,andtherevelationofthissloweducationofthefigureandtrainingofoutline——whetherfairorfalseinart——struckherquickintelligencewithallitsfullandhopelesssignificance。Abitterlightsprangtohereyes;shetorethewretchedshamfromhershoulders,andthenwrappingashawlaroundher,threwherselfheavilyandsullenlyonthebed。ButinactionwasnotacharacteristicofMinty\'semotion;
shepresentlyroseagain,and,takinganoldwork-boxfromhertrunk,begantorummageinitsrecesses。Itwasanoldshell-
incrustedaffair,andtheapparentreceptacleofsuchcheapoddsandendsofjewelryasshepossessed;ahideouscameoring,thepropertyofthelateMrs。Sharpe,wasmissing。Sheagainrapidlyexploredthecontentsofthebox,andthenaninspirationseizedher,andshedartedintoherbrother\'sbedroom。
ThatprecociousandgallantLovelaceoften,despiteallsentiment,hadbaselysuccumbedtothegrossmaterialismofyouthfulslumber。
Onacotinthecorner,halfhiddenunderthewreckofhisowncarelessandhurrieddisrobing,withonearmhangingoutofthecoverlid,Richelieulaysupremelyunconscious。Ontheforefingerofhissmallbutdirtyhandthemissingcameowasstillglitteringguiltily。WithaswiftmovementofindignationMintyrushedwithupliftedpalmtowardsthetemptingexpanseofyouthfulcheekthatlayinvitinglyexposeduponthepillow。Thenshestoppedsuddenly。
Shehadseenhimlyingthusahundredtimesbefore。Onthepillownearhimanindistinguishablemassofgoldenfur——thehelplessbulkofasquirrelchainedtothelegofhiscot;athisfeetawall-
eyedcat,whohadfollowedhistyrannouscapriceswiththelong-
sufferingdevotionofhersex;ontheshelfabovehimaloathsomecollectionoffliesandtarantulasindullgreenbottles:aslabofginger-breadforlightnocturnalrefection,andherownpotofbear\'sgrease。Perhapsitwasthepiteousdefencelessnessofyouthfulsleep,perhapsitwassomelingeringmemoryofherfather\'scaress;butasshegazedathimwithtroubledeyes,thejuvenilereprobateslippedbackintothebaby-boythatshehadcarriedinherownchildisharmssuchashorttimeago,whenthematernalresponsibilityhaddescendedwiththedeadmother\'sill-
fittingdressesuponherlankgirlishfigureandscantvirginbreast——andherhandfelllistlesslyatherside。
Thesleeperstirredslightlyandawoke。Atthesamemoment,bysomemysterioussympathy,apairofbeadybrighteyesappearedinthebulkoffurnearhiscurls,thecatstretchedherself,andevenavagueagitationwasheardinthebottlesontheshelf。Richelieu\'sblinkingeyeswanderedfromthecandletohissister,andthentheguiltyhandwassuddenlywithdrawnunderthebedclothes。
\"Nomatter,dear,\"saidMinty;\"it\'smar\'s,andyoukinwearitwhenyoulike,ifyou\'llonlyaskforit。”
Richelieuwonderedifhewasdreaming!Thisunexpectedmildness——
thisinexplicabletremorinhissister\'svoice:itmustbesomeoccultinfluenceofthenightseasononthesisterlymind,possiblyakintoafearofghosts!Hemadeamentalnoteofitinviewoffuturefavors,yetforthemomenthefeltembarrassedlygratified。
\"Yeain\'twantin\'anything,Minty,\"hesaidaffectionately;\"apailo\'coldwaterfromthefarspring——nonothin\'?\"Hemadeanostentatiousmovementasiftorise,yetsufficientlyprotractedtopreventanyhastyacceptanceofhisprodigaloffer。
\"No,dear,\"shesaid,stillgazingathimwithanabsorbedlookinherdarkeyes。
Richelieufeltaslightcreepysensationunderthatlonelyfar-offgaze。\"Youreyeslookawfulbigatnight,Minty,\"hesaid。Hewouldhaveadded\"andpretty,\"butshewashissister,andhehadtheloftyfraternalconvictionofhisdutyinrepressingtheinordinatevanityofthesex。\"Ye\'resureyeain\'twantin\'
nothin\'?\"
\"Notnow,dear。”Shepausedamoment,andthensaiddeliberately:
\"Butyouwouldn\'tmindturnin\'outaftersun-upandrunnin\'anerrandformeovertoTheLookout?\"
Richelieu\'seyessparkledsosuddenlythateveninherabsorptionMintynoticedthechange。\"Butye\'renotgoin\'totarryoverthere,nergossip——youhear?Yertotakethisyermessage。Yertosay\'thatitwillbeonpossibleformetocomebackthere,onaccount——onaccountof——\'\"
\"Importantbusiness,\"suggestedRichelieu;\"that\'stheperlitestyle。”
\"Efyoulike。”Sheleanedoverthebedandputherlipstohisforehead,stilldampwiththedewsofsleep,andthentohislong-
lashedlids。\"MindNip!\"——thesquirrel——hepracticallysuggested。
Foraninstanttheirblondcurlsmingledonthepillow。\"Nowgotosleep,\"shesaidcurtly。
ButRichelieuhadtakenherwhiteneckintheshortstrangulatoryhugofthesmallboy,andheldherfast。\"Ye\'llletmeputonmybestpants?\"
\"Yes。”
\"Andwearthatring?\"
\"Yes\"——alittlesadly。
\"Thenyerkincountmein,Minty;andseehere\"——hisvoicesanktoaconfidentialwhisper——\"mebbeesomedayye\'llbebeholdentoME
foraloto\'realjewelry。”
Shereturnedslowlytoherroom,and,openingthewindow,lookedoutuponthenight。ThesamemoonthathadlentsuchsupererogatorygracetothenaturalbeautyofTheLookout,hereseemedtohavefailed;asMintyhad,indisguisingtherelentlesslimitationsofNatureorthecruelbondsofcustom。Theblackplainofgranite,underitsrays,appearedonlytoextenditspovertytosomeremoterbarrier;theblackenedstumpsoftheburntforeststoodbleakeragainstthesky,likebrokenandtwistedpillarsofiron。ThecavityofthebrokenledgewhereRichelieuhadprospectedwasahideouschasmofbluishblackness,overwhichapurplevaporseemedtohover;the\"brushdump\"besidethehouseshowedacavernofwrithinganddistortedobjectsstiffenedintodarkrigidity。Shehadoftenlookedupontheprospect:ithadneverseemedsohardandchangeless;yetsheacceptedit,asshehadaccepteditbefore。
Sheturnedaway,undressedherselfmechanically,andwenttobed。
Shehadanideathatshehadbeenveryfoolish;thatherescapefrombeingstillmorefoolishwassomethingmiraculous,andinsomemeasureconnectedwithProvidence,herfather,herlittlebrother,andherdeadmother,whosedressshehadrecklesslyspoiled。Butthatshehadevensoslightlytouchedthebitternessandgloryofrenunciation——aswrittenofheroinesandfineladiesbynovelistsandpoets——neverenteredthefoolishheadofMintySharpe,theblacksmith\'sdaughter。
CHAPTERIV。
ItwasalittleafterdaybreaknextmorningthatMainwaringawokefromthefirstunrefreshingnighthehadpassedatTheLookout。Hewassofeverishandrestlessthathedressedhimselfatsunrise,andcautiouslysteppedoutuponthestillsilentveranda。ThechairswhichheandLouiseMacyhadoccupiedwerestill,itseemedtohim,conspicuouslyconfidentialwitheachother,andheseparatedthem,butashelookeddownintotheGreatCanyonathisfeethewasconsciousofsomeundefinablechangeintheprospect。Aslightmistwasrisingfromthevalley,asifitwerethelastoflastnight\'sillusions;thefirstlevelsunbeamswereobtrusivelysearching,andthekeenmorningairhadadrylypracticalinsistencewhichirritatedhim,untilalightfootsteponthefartherendoftheverandacausedhimtoturnsharply。
Itwasthesingularapparitionofasmallboy,bearingasurprisingresemblancetoMintySharpe,anddressedinanuniquefashion。Onatumbledseaofblondcurlsa\"chip\"sailorhat,withabroadredribbon,rodejauntily。Butherethenauticalsuggestionchanged,ashadthedesireofbecomingapiratewhichinducedit。Aredshirt,withawhitecollar,andayellowplaidribbontie,thatalsorecalledMintySharpe,lightlyturnedthesuggestionofhiscostumetomining。Shortblackvelvettrousers,comingtohisknee,andostentatiouslynewshort-leggedboots,withvisiblestrapslikecurlingears,completedtheentirelyoriginalcharacterofhislowerlimbs。
Mainwaring,alwayseasilygentleandfamiliarwithchildrenandhisinferiors,lookedathimwithanencouragingsmile。Richelieu——foritwashe——advancedgravelyandheldouthishand,withthecameoringapparent。Mainwaring,withequalgravity,shookitwarmly,andremovedhishat。Richelieu,keenlyobservant,didthesame。
\"IsJimBradleyoutyet?\"askedRichelieu,carelessly。
\"No;Ithinknot。ButI\'mFrankMainwaring。WillIdo?\"
Richelieusmiled。Thedimples,thewhiteteeth,thedark,laughingeyes,weresurelyMinty\'s?
\"I\'mRichelieu,\"herejoinedwithequalcandor。
\"Richelieu?\"
\"Yes。ThatFrenchman——theLordCardinal——youknow。MarsawForrestdohimoutinSt。Louis。”
\"Dohim?\"
\"Yes,inthetheayter。”
Withaconfusedmisconceptionofhismeaning,MainwaringtriedtorecallthehistoricaldressofthegreatCardinalandfitittothemasquerader——ifsuchhewere——beforehim。ButRichelieurelievedhimbyadding,——
\"RichelieuSharpe。”
\"Oh,that\'syourNAME!\"saidMainwaring,cheerfully。\"Thenyou\'reMissMinty\'sbrother。Iknowher。Howjollylucky!\"
Theybothshookhandsagain。Richelieu,eagertogetridoftheburdenofhissister\'smessage,whichhefeltwasinthewayoffree-and-easyintercoursewiththischarmingstranger,lookeduneasilytowardsthehouse。
\"Isay,\"saidMainwaring,\"ifyou\'reinahurry,you\'dbettergointhereandknock。Ihearsomeonestirringinthekitchen。”
Richelieunodded,butfirstwentbacktothestepsoftheveranda,pickedupasmallblueknottedhandkerchief,apparentlycontainingsomeheavyobjects,andrepassedMainwaring。
\"What!haveyoucutit,Richelieu,withyourvaluables?Whathaveyougotthere?\"
\"Specimins,\"saidRichelieu,shortly,andvanished。
Hereturnedpresently。\"Well,Cardinal,didyouseeanybody?\"
askedMainwaring。
\"Mrs。Bradley;butJim\'sovertothemill。I\'mgoin\'there。”
\"DidyouseeMissMacy?\"continuedMainwaring,carelessly。
\"Loo?\"
\"Loo!——well;yes。”
\"No。She\'sphilanderin\'withCaptainGreyson。”
\"PhilanderingwithGreyson?\"echoedMainwaring,inwonder。
\"Yes;onhorsebackontheridge。”
\"Youmeanshe\'sridingoutwithMr——withCaptainGreyson?\"
\"Yes;ridin\'ANDphilanderin\',\"persistedRichelieu。
\"Andwhatdoyoucallphilandering?\"
\"Well;Ireckonyouandsheoughterknow,\"returnedRichelieu,withaprecociousair。
\"Certainly,\"saidMainwaring,withafaintsmile。RichelieureallywaslikeMinty。
Therewasalongsilence。ThisyoungEnglishmanwasbecomingexceedinglyuninteresting。Richelieufeltthathewasgainingneitherprofitnoramusement,andlosingtime。\"I\'mgoing,\"hesaid。
\"Goodmorning,\"saidMainwaring,withoutlookingup。
Richelieupickeduphisspecimens,thoroughlyconvincedofthestranger\'sglitteringdeceitfulness,andvanished。
Itwasnearlyeighto\'clockwhenMrs。Bradleycamefromthehouse。
Sheapologized,withaslightlydistraitsmile,forthetardinessofthehousehold。\"Mr。Bradleystayedatthemillallnight,andwillnotbehereuntilbreakfast,whenhebringsyourfriendMr。
Richardsonwithhim\"——Mainwaringscarcelyrepressedamovementofimpatience——\"whoarrivesearly。It\'sunfortunatethatMissSharpecan\'tcometo-day。”
InhisabstractionMainwaringdidnotnoticethatMrs。BradleyslightlyaccentedMinty\'sformalappellation,andsaidcarelessly,——
\"Oh,that\'swhyherbrothercameoverheresoearly!\"
\"DidYOUseehim?\"askedMrs。Bradley,almostabruptly。
\"Yes。Heisanamusinglittlebeggar;butIthinkheshareshissister\'spreferenceforMr。Bradley。Hedesertedmehereintheverandaforhimatthemill。”
\"Louisewillkeepyoucompanyassoonasshehaschangedherdress,\"continuedMrs。Bradley。\"Shewasoutridingearlythismorningwithafriend。She\'sveryfondofearlymorningrides。”
\"ANDphilandering,\"repeatedMainwaringtohimself。ItwasquitenaturalforMissMacytorideoutinthemorning,afterthefashionofthecountry,withanescort;butwhyhadthecubinsistedonthe\"philandering\"?Hehadsaid,\"ANDphilandering,\"distinctly。Itwasanastythingforhimtosay。Anyotherfellowbuthe,Mainwaring,mightmisunderstandthewholething。Perhapsheoughttowarnher——butno!hecouldnotrepeatthegossipofachild,andthatchildthebrotherofoneofherinferiors。ButwasMintyaninferior?DidsheandMintytalktogetheraboutthisfellowGreyson?Atallevents,itwouldonlyrevivetheawkwardnessoftheprecedingday,andheresolvedtosaynothing。
Hewasrewardedbyahalf-inquiring,half-confidinglookinLouise\'sbrighteyes,whenshepresentlygreetedhimontheveranda。\"Shehadquiteforgotten,\"shesaid,\"totellhimlastnightofhermorning\'sengagement;indeed,shehadhalfforgottenIT。Itusedtobeafavoritepracticeofhers,withCaptainGreyson;butshehadlatelygivenitup。Shebelievedshehadnotriddensince——since——\"
\"Sincewhen?\"askedMainwaring。
\"Well,sinceyouwereill,\"shesaidfrankly。
AquickpleasureshoneinMainwaring\'scheekandeye;butLouise\'sprettylidsdidnotdrop,norherfaint,quietbloomdeepen。
BreakfastwasalreadywaitingwhenMr。Richardsonarrivedalone。
HeexplainedthatMr。Bradleyhadsomeimportantandunexpectedbusinesswhichhaddelayedhim,butwhich,headded,\"Mr。Bradleysaysmayproveinterestingenoughtoyoutoexcusehisabsencethismorning。”Mainwaringwasnotdispleasedthathiscriticalandobservanthostwasnotpresentattheirmeeting。LouiseMacywas,however,asdemurelyconsciousofthedifferentbearingofthetwocompatriots。Richardson\'ssomewhatself-importantpatronageofthetwoladies,andthatCalifornianfamiliarityhehadacquired,changedtoacertainuneasydeferencetowardsMainwaring;whiletheyoungerEnglishman\'sslightlystiffanddeliberatecordialitywas,nevertheless,mingledwithamysteriousunderstandingthatappearedinnateandunconscious。Louisewasquicktoseethatthesetwomen,morewidelydivergentinqualitythananytwoofherowncountrymen,wereyetmoresubtlyconnectedbysomeunknownsympathythanthemostequalofAmericans。Minty\'spropheticbeliefoftheeffectofthetwowomenuponRichardsonwascertainlytrueasregardedMrs。Bradley。Thebanker——alargematerialnature——wasquicklyfascinatedbythedemure,puritanicgracesofthatlady,andwasinclinedtoexhibitasomewhatbroadandostentatiousgallantrythatannoyedMainwaring。Whentheywereseatedaloneontheveranda,whichtheladieshaddiscreetlylefttothem,Richardsonsaid,——
\"OddIdidn\'thearofBradley\'swifebefore。Sheseemsaspicy,pretty,comfortablecreature。Regularlythrownawaywithhimuphere。”
Mainwaringrepliedcoldlythatshewas\"anadmirablehelpmeetofaveryadmirableman,\"not,however,withoutanuneasyrecollectionofherpreviousconfidencesrespectingherhusband。\"Theyhavebeenmostthoroughlygoodandkindtome;myownbrotherandsistercouldnothavedonemore。Andcertainlynotwithbettertasteordelicacy,\"headded,markedly。
\"Certainly,certainly,\"saidRichardson,hurriedly。\"IwrotetoLadyMainwaringthatyouweretakencapitalcareofbysomeveryhonestpeople;andthat——\"
\"LadyMainwaringalreadyknowswhatIthinkofthem,andwhatsheowestotheirkindness,\"saidMainwaring,dryly。
\"True,true,\"saidRichardson,apologetically。\"Ofcourseyoumusthaveseenagooddealofthem。IonlyknowBradleyinabusinessway。He\'sbeentryingtogettheBanktohelphimtoputupsomenewmillshere;butwedidn\'tseeit。Idaresayheisgoodcompany——ratheramusing,eh?\"
Mainwaringhadthegiftofhisclassofsnubbingbythepoliteandforgivingoblivionofsilence。Richardsonshifteduneasilyinhischair,butcontinuedwithassumedcarelessness:——
\"No;Ionlyknewofthiscousin,MissMacy。IheardofherwhenshewasvisitingsomefriendsinMenloParklastyear。Ratheranattractivegirl。TheysayColonelJohnson,ofSacramento,tookquiteafancytoher——itwouldhavebeenagoodmatch,Idaresay,forheisveryrich——butthethingfellthroughinsomeway。Then,theysay,SHEwantedtomarrythatSpaniard,youngPico,oftheAmadorRanche;buthisfamilywouldn\'thearofit。Somehow,she\'sdeucedunlucky。Isupposeshe\'llmakeamessofitwithCaptainGreysonshewasoutridingwiththismorning。”
\"Didn\'ttheBankthinkBradley\'smillsagoodinvestment?\"askedMainwaringquietly,whenRichardsonpaused。
\"Notwithhiminit;heisnotabusinessman,youknow。”
\"Ithoughthewas。Heseemstomeanenergeticman,whoknowshiswork,andisnotafraidtolookafterithimself。”
\"That\'sjustit。Hehasgotabsurdideasofco-operatingwithhisworkmen,youknow,anddoingeverythingslowlyandonalimitedscale。Theonlythingtobedoneistobuyupallthelandonthisridge,runoffthesettlers,freezeoutalltheothermills,andputitintoabigSanFranciscocompanyonshares。That\'stheonlywaywewouldlookatit。”
\"Butyoudon\'tconsidertheinvestmentbad,evenfromHISpointofview?\"
\"Perhapsnot。”
\"Andyouonlydeclineitbecauseitisn\'tbigenoughfortheBank?\"
\"Exactly。”
\"Richardson,\"saidMainwaring,slowlyrising,puttinghishandsinhistrouserspockets,andsuddenlylookingdownuponthebankerfromtheeasylevelofhabitualsuperiority,\"Iwishyou\'dattendtothisthingforme。IdesiretomakesomereturntoMr。Bradleyforhiskindness。Iwishtogivehimwhathelphewants——inhisownway——youunderstand。Iwishit,andIbelievemyfatherwishesit,too。Ifyou\'dlikehimtowritetoyoutothateffect——\"
\"Bynomeans,it\'snotatallnecessary,\"saidRichardson,droppingwithequalsuddennessintohisold-worldobsequiousness。\"Ishallcertainlydoasyouwish。Itisnotabadinvestment,Mr。
Mainwaring,andasyousuggest,averyproperreturnfortheirkindness。And,beinghere,itwillcomequitenaturallyformetotakeuptheaffairagain。”
\"And——Isay,Richardson。”
\"Yes,sir?\"
\"Astheseladiesarerathershort-handedintheirdomesticservice,youknow,perhapsyou\'dbetternotstaytoluncheonordinner,butgoontotheSummitHouse——it\'sonlyamileortwofarther——andcomebackherethisevening。Ishan\'twantyouuntilthen。”
\"Certainly!\"stammeredRichardson。\"I\'lljusttakeleaveoftheladies!\"
\"It\'snotatallnecessary,\"saidMainwaring,quietly;\"youwouldonlydisturbthemintheirhouseholdduties。I\'lltellthemwhatI\'vedonewithyou,iftheyask。You\'llfindyourstickandhatinthepassage,andyoucanleavetheverandabythesesteps。Bytheway,youhadbettermanageattheSummittogetsomeonetobringmytrapsfromheretobeforwardedtoSacramentoto-morrow。I\'llwantaconveyance,orahorseofsomekind,myself,forI\'vegivenupwalkingforawhile;butwecansettleaboutthatto-night。
Comeearly。Goodmorning?\"
Heaccompaniedhisthoroughlysubjugatedcountryman——who,however,farfromattemptingtoreasserthimself,actuallyseemedeasierandmorecheerfulinhissubmission——totheendoftheveranda,andwatchedhimdepart。Asheturnedback,hesawtheprettyfigureofLouiseMacyleaningagainstthedoorway。Howgracefulandrefinedshelookedinthatsimplemorningdress!WhatwonderthatshewasadmiredbyGreyson,byJohnson,andbythatSpaniard!——no,byJove,itwasSHEthatwantedtomarryhim!
\"WhathaveyousentawayMr。Richardsonfor?\"askedtheyounggirl,withahalf-reproachful,half-mischievouslookinherbrighteyes。
\"IpackedhimoffbecauseIthoughtitwasalittletoohardonyouandMrs。Bradleytoentertainhimwithouthelp。”
\"ButashewasOURguest,youmighthaveleftthattous,\"saidMissMacy。
\"ByJove!Ineverthoughtofthat,\"saidMainwaring,coloringinconsternation。\"Prayforgiveme,MissMacy——butyouseeIknewtheman,andcouldsayit,andyoucouldn\'t。”
\"Well,Iforgiveyou,foryoulookreallysocutup,\"saidLouise,laughing。\"ButIdon\'tknowwhatJennywillsayofyourdisposingofherconquestsosummarily。”Shestoppedandregardedhimmoreattentively。\"Hashebroughtyouanybadnews?ifso,it\'sapityyoudidn\'tsendhimawaybefore。He\'squitespoilingourcure。”
Mainwaringthoughtbitterlythathehad。\"Butit\'sacureforallthat,MissMacy,\"hesaid,withanattemptatcheerfulness,\"andbeingacure,yousee,there\'snolongeranexcuseformystayinghere。Ihavebeenmakingarrangementsforleavinghereto-morrow。”
\"Sosoon?\"
\"Doyouthinkitsoon,MissMacy?\"askedMainwaring,turningpaleinspiteofhimself。
\"Iquiteforgot——thatyouwerehereasaninvalidonly,andthatweoweourpleasuretotheaccidentofyourpain。”
Shespokealittleartificially,hethought,yethercheekshadnotlosttheirpinkbloom,norhereyestheirtranquillity。HadheheardMinty\'scriticismhemighthavebelievedthattheorganicomissionnoticedbyherwasafact。
\"AndnowthatyourgoodworkasSisterofCharityiscompleted,you\'llbeabletoentertheworldofgayetyagainwithaclearconscience,\"saidMainwaring,withasmilethatheinwardlyfeltwasamiserablefailure。\"You\'llbeabletoresumeyourmorningrides,youknow,whichthewretchedinvalidinterrupted。”
Louiseraisedhercleareyestohis,withoutreproach,indignation,orevenwonder。Hefeltasifhehadattemptedaninsultandfailed。
\"Doesmycousinknowyouaregoingsosoon?\"sheaskedfinally。
\"No,Ididnotknowmyselfuntilto-day。Yousee,\"headdedhastily,whilehishonestbloodblazonedthelieinhischeek,\"I\'veheardofsomemiserablebusinessaffairsthatwillbringmebacktoEnglandsoonerthatIexpected。”
\"Ithinkyoushouldconsideryourhealthmoreimportantthananymerebusiness,\"saidLouise。\"Idon\'tmeanthatyoushouldremainHERE,\"sheaddedwithahastylaugh,\"butitwouldbeapity,nowthatyouhavereapedthebenefitofrestandtakingcareofyourself,thatyoushouldnotmakeityouronlybusinesstoseekitelsewhere。”
Mainwaringlongedtosaythatwithinthelasthalfhour,livingordyinghadbecomeoflittlemomenttohim;buthedoubtedthetruthorefficacyofthistimewornheroicofpassion。Hefelt,too,thatanythinghesaidwasameresubterfugefortherealreasonofhissuddendeparture。Andhowwashetoquestionherastothatreason?Inescapingfromthesesubterfuges——hewascompelledtolieagain。Withanassumptionofchangingthesubject,hesaidcalmly,\"Richardsonthoughthehadmetyoubefore——inMenloPark,I
think。”
Amazedattheevidentirrelevanceoftheremark,Louisesaidcoldly,thatshedidnotrememberhavingseenhimbefore。
\"IthinkitwasataMr。Johnson\'s——orWITHaMr。Johnson——orperhapsatoneofthoseSpanishranches——IthinkhementionedsomenamelikePico!\"
Louiselookedathimwonderinglyforaninstant,andthengavewaytoafrank,irrepressiblelaugh,whichlentherdelicatebutrathersetlittlefaceallthecolorhehadmissed。Partiallyrelievedbyherunconcern,andyetmortifiedthathehadonlyprovokedhersenseoftheludicrous,hetriedtolaughalso。
\"Then,tobequiteplain,\"saidLouise,wipinghernowhumideyes,\"youwantmetounderstandthatyoureallydidn\'tpaysufficientattentiontohearcorrectly!Thankyou;that\'saprettyEnglishcompliment,Isuppose。”
\"Idaresayyouwouldn\'tcallit\'philandering\'?\"
\"Icertainlyshouldn\'t,forIdon\'tknowwhat\'philandering\'
means。”
Mainwaringcouldnotreply,withRichelieu,\"Yououghttoknow\";
nordidhedareexplainwhathethoughtitmeant,andhowheknewit。Louise,however,innocentlysolvedthedifficulty。
\"There\'sacountrysongI\'veheardMintysing,\"shesaid。\"Itruns——
Come,Philander,letusbea-marchin\',Everyoneforhistruelovea-sarchin\'
Chooseyourtruelovenowornever……
Haveyoubeenlisteningtoheralso?\"
\"No,\"saidMainwaring,withasuddenincomprehensible,bututterlyirrepressible,resolution;\"butI\'M\'a-marchin\',\'youknow,andperhapsImust\'choosemytruelovenowornever。\'Willyouhelpme,MissMacy?\"
Hedrewgentlynearher。Hehadbecomequitewhite,butalsoverymanly,anditstruckher,moredeeply,thoroughly,andconscientiouslysincerethananymanwhohadbeforeaddressedher。
Shemovedslightlyaway,asiftorestherselfbylayingbothhandsuponthebackofthechair。
\"Wheredoyouexpecttobeginyour\'sarchin\'\'?\"shesaid,leaningonthechairandtiltingitbeforeher;\"orareyouasvagueasusualastolocality?Isitatsome\'Mr。Johnson\'or\'Mr。Pico,\'
or——\"
\"Here,\"heinterruptedboldly。
\"Ireallythinkyououghttofirsttellmycousinthatyouaregoingawayto-morrow,\"shesaid,withafaintsmile。\"It\'ssuchshortnotice。She\'sjustinthere。”Shenoddedherprettyhead,withoutraisinghereyes,towardsthehall。
\"Butitmaynotbesosoon,\"saidMainwaring。
\"Oh,thenthe\'sarchin\'\'isnotsoimportant?\"saidLouise,raisingherhead,andlookingtowardsthehallwithsomeuneasybutindefinablefeminineinstinct。
Shewasright;thesitting-roomdooropened,andMrs。Bradleymadehersmilingappearance。
\"Mr。Mainwaringwasjustlookingforyou,\"saidLouise,forthefirsttimeraisinghereyestohim。\"He\'snotonlysentoffMr。
Richardson,buthe\'sgoingawayhimselfto-morrow。”
Mrs。Bradleylookedfromtheonetotheotherinmutewonder。
MainwaringcastanimploringglanceatLouise,whichhadthedesiredeffect。Muchmoreseriously,andinaquaint,business-
likeway,theyounggirltookituponherselftoexplaintoMrs。
BradleythatRichardsonhadbroughttheinvalidsomeimportantnewsthatwould,unfortunately,notonlyshortenhisstayinAmerica,butevencompelhimtoleaveTheLookoutsoonerthanheexpected,perhapsto-morrow。Mainwaringthankedherwithhiseyes,andthenturnedtoMrs。Bradley。
\"WhetherIgoto-morrowornextday,\"hesaidwithsimpleandearnestdirectness,\"Iintend,youknow,toseeyousoonagain,eitherhereorinmyownhomeinEngland。Idonotknow,\"headdedwithmarkedgravity,\"thatIhavesucceededinconvincingyouthatIhavemadeyourfamilyalreadywellknowntomypeople,andthat\"——
hefixedhiseyeswithameaninglookonLouise——\"nomatterwhen,orinwhatway,youcometothem,yourplaceismadereadyforyou。