Youmaynotlikethem，youknow:thegovernorisgettingtobeanoldman——perhapstoooldforyoungAmericans——butTHEYwilllikeYOU，andyoumustputupwiththat。MymotherandsistersknowMissMacyaswellasIdo，andwillmakeheroneofthefamily。”
Theconscientiousearnestnesswithwhichtheseapparentconventionalitieswereuttered，andsomeoccultqualityofquietconvictionintheyoungman\'smanner，broughtapleasantsparkletotheeyesofMrs。BradleyandLouise。
\"But，\"saidMrs。Bradley，gayly，\"ourgoingtoEnglandisquitebeyondourpresentwildestdreams；nothingbutawindfall，anunexpectedriseintimber，oreventhetabooedhotelspeculation，couldmakeitpossible。”
\"ButIshalltakethelibertyoftryingtopresentittoMr。
Bradleytonightinsomepracticalwaythatmayconvinceevenhiscriticaljudgment，\"saidMainwaring，stillseriously。\"Itwillbe，\"headdedmorelightly，\"thefamoustestimonialofmycurewhichIpromisedyou。”
\"AndyouwillfindMr。Bradleysoscepticalthatyouwillbeobligedtodeferyourgoing，\"saidMrs。Bradley，triumphantly。
\"Come，Louise，wemustnotforgetthatwehavestillMr。
Mainwaring\'spresentcomforttolookafter；thatMintyhasbaselydesertedus，andthatweourselvesmustseethatthelastdaysofourguestbeneathourroofarenotrememberedfortheirprivation。”
SheledLouiseawaywithahalf-mischievoussuggestionofmaternalpropriety，andleftMainwaringoncemorealoneontheveranda。
Hehaddoneit!Certainlyshemusthaveunderstoodhismeaning，andtherewasnothingleftforhimtodobuttoacquaintBradleywithhisintentionsto-night，andpressherforafinalanswerinthemorning。Therewouldbenoindelicacytheninaskingherforaninterviewmorefreefrominterruptionthanthispublicveranda。
Withoutconceit，hedidnotdoubtwhattheanswerwouldbe。Hisindecision，hissuddenresolutiontoleaveher，hadbeenallbasedupontheuncertaintyofHISownfeelings，theproprietyofHIS
declaration，thepossibilityofsomepreviousexperienceofhersthatmightcompromiseHIM。Convincedbyherunembarrassedmannerofherinnocence，orrathersatisfiedofherindifferencetoRichardson\'sgossip，hehadbeenhurriedbyhisfeelingsintoanunexpectedavowal。Broughtupintheperfectsecurityofhisownsocialposition，andfamiliarlyconscious——withoutvanity——ofitsimportanceandpowerinsuchasituation，hebelieved，withoutundervaluingLouise\'scharmsorindependence，thathehadnooneelsethanhimselftoconsult。Eventheslightuneasinessthatstillpursuedhimwasmoreduetohishabitualconscientiousnessofhisownintentionthantoanyfearthatshewouldnotfullyrespondtoit。Indeed，withhisconservativeideasofproperfeminineself-restraint，Louise\'scalmpassivityandundemonstrativeattitudewereaproofofhersuperiority；hadsheblushedovermuch，cried，orthrownherselfintohisarms，hewouldhavedoubtedthewisdomofsoeasyaselection。Itwastruehehadknownherscarcelythreeweeks；ifhechosetobecontentwiththat，hisownaccessiblerecordofthreecenturiesshouldbesufficientforher，andcondoneanyirregularity。
Nevertheless，asanhourslippedawayandLouisedidnotmakeherappearance，eitherontheverandaorinthelittlesitting-roomoffthehall，Mainwaringbecamemoreuneasyastotheincompletenessoftheirinterview。Perhapsafaintsuspicionoftheinadequacyofherresponsebegantotroublehim；buthestillfatuouslyregardeditratherasowingtohisownhurriedandunfinisheddeclaration。
Itwastruethathehadn\'tsaidhalfwhatheintendedtosay；itwastruethatshemighthavemisunderstooditastheconventionalgallantryofthesituation，as——terriblethought!——thelightbanterofthehabituallove-makingAmerican，towhichshehadbeenaccustomed；perhapsevennowsherelegatedhimtothelevelofGreyson，andthisaccountedforhersingularimpassiveness——animpassivenessthatcertainlywassingularnowhereflecteduponit——
thatmighthavebeenevencontempt。Thelastthoughtprickedhisdeepconscientiousness；hewalkedhurriedlyupanddowntheveranda，andthen，suddenlyre-enteringhisroom，tookupasheetofnote-paper，andbegantowritetoher:——
\"Canyougrantmeafewmoments\'interviewalone？IcannotbearyoushouldthinkthatwhatIwastryingtotellyouwhenwewereinterruptedwaspromptedbyanythingbutthedeepestsincerityandconviction，orthatIamwillingitshouldbepassedoverlightlybyyouorbeforgotten。Praygivemeachanceofprovingit，bysayingyouwillseeme。F。M。”
Buthowshouldheconveythistoher？HisdelicacyrevoltedagainsthandingittoherbehindMrs。Bradley\'sback，ortheprestidigitationofslippingitintoherlaporunderherplatebeforethematluncheon；hethoughtforaninstantoftheChinaman，butgentlemen——exceptinthat\"mirrorofnature\"thestage——usuallyhesitatetosubornotherpeople\'sservants，orentrustawoman\'ssecrettoherinferiors。HerememberedthatLouise\'sroomwasatthefartherendofthehouse，anditslowwindowgaveupontheveranda，andwasguardedatnightbyafilmofwhiteandbluecurtainsthatwerepartedduringtheday，toallowatriangularrevelationofapaleblueandwhitedrapedinterior。Mainwaringreflectedthatthelowinsidewindowledgewaseasilyaccessiblefromtheveranda，wouldaffordacapitallodgmentforthenote，andbequicklyseenbythefairoccupantoftheroomonentering。Hesaunteredslowlypastthewindow；theroomwasempty，themomentpropitious。Aslightbreezewasstirringtheblueribbonsofthecurtain；itwouldbenecessarytosecurethenotewithsomething；
hereturnedalongtheverandatothesteps，wherehehadnoticedasmallirregularstonelying，whichhadevidentlyescapedfromRichelieu\'sbagoftreasurespecimens，andhadbeenoverlookedbythatingenuouschild。Itwasofaprettypeacock-bluecolor，and，besidessecuringapaper，wouldbesuretoattractherattention。
Heplacedhisnoteontheinsideledge，andthebluestoneatop，andwentawaywithasenseofrelief。
Anotherhalfhourpassedwithoutincident。Hecouldhearthevoicesofthetwowomeninthekitchenanddining-room。Afterawhiletheyappearedtocease，andheheardthesoundofanopeningdoor。Itthenoccurredtohimthattheverandawasstilltooexposedforaconfidentialinterview，andheresolvedtodescendthesteps，passbeforethewindowsofthekitchenwhereLouisemightseehim，andpenetratetheshrubbery，whereshemightbeinducedtofollowhim。Theywouldnotbeinterruptednoroverheardthere。
ButhehadbarelylefttheverandabeforethefigureofRichelieu，whohadbeenpatientlywaitingforMainwaring\'sdisappearance，emergedstealthilyfromtheshrubbery。Hehaddiscoveredhislossonhandinghis\"fireassays\"tothegood-humoredBradleyforlaterexamination，andhehadretracedhisway，stepbystep，lookingeverywhereforhismissingstonewiththeunboundedhopefulness，lazypersistency，andloftydisregardfortimeandoccupationknownonlytothegenuineboy。Herememberedtohaveplacedhisknottedbagupontheveranda，and，slippingoffhisstiffbootsslowlyandsoftly，slidalongagainstthewallofthehouse，lookingcarefullyonthefloor，andyetpreservingastudiednegligenceofdemeanor，withonehandinhispocket，andhissmallmouthcontractedintoasingularlysoothingandalmostvoicelesswhistle——Richelieu\'sownpeculiaraccomplishment。Butnostoneappeared。Likemostofhisgenushewassuperstitious，andrepeatedtohimselfthecabalisticformula:\"Losin\'sseekin\'s，findin\'skeepin\'s\"——presumedtobeofgreatefficacyinsuchcases——withreligiousfervor。HehadlaboriouslyreachedtheendoftheverandawhenhenoticedtheopenwindowofLouise\'sroom，andstoppedasaperfunctorydutytolookin。AndthenRichelieuSharpestoodforaninstantutterlyconfoundedandaghastatthiscrowningproofoftheabsoluteinfamyandsickeningenormityofMan。
TherewasHISstone——HIS，RICHELIEU\'S，OWNSPECIMEN，carefullygatheredbyhimselfandnoneother——andnowstolen，abstracted，\"skyugled，\"\"smouged，\"\"hooked\"bythis\"rotten，skunkified，long-
legged，splay-footed，hoss-laughin\'，nigger-toothed，or\'narydespot\"And，worsethanall，actuallymadetodoinfamousdutyasalovetoken\"——a\"candy-gift!\"——a\"philanderin\'box\"toHIS，Richelieu\'s，girl——forLouisebelongedtothatinnocentandvagueoutsideseraglioofRichelieu\'sboyishdreams——andputatopofalettertoher!andProvidencepermittedsuchanoutrage!\"Wotwashe，Richelieu，senttoschoolfor，andorganizedwickednessintheshapeofgorillaInjinslikethisallowedtoridehighhorsesrampantoverCaliforney!\"Helookedattheheavensinmuteappeal。
Andthen——Providencenotimmediatelyinterfering——hethrusthisownsmallarmintothewindow，regainedhispricelesstreasure，andfledswiftly。
Afatefulsilenceensued。Thewindslightlymovedthecurtainoutward，asifinaplayfulattempttofollowhim，andthensubsided。Amomentlater，apparentlyre-enforcedbyotherwinds，orsympathizingwithRichelieu，itlightlyliftedtheunluckymissiveandcastitsoftlyfromthewindow。Buthereanotherwind，lyinginwait，caughtitcleverly，andtossedit，inalongcurve，intotheabyss。Foraninstantitseemedtofloatlazily，asonthemirroredsurfaceofalake，until，turninguponitsside，itsuddenlydartedintoutteroblivion。
WhenMainwaringreturnedfromtheshrubbery，hewentsoftlytothewindow。Thedisappearanceoftheletterandstonesatisfiedhimofthesuccessofhisstratagem，andforthespaceofthreehoursrelievedhisanxiety。Butattheendofthattime，findingnoresponsefromLouise，hisformeruneasinessreturned。Wassheoffended，or——thefirstdoubtofheracceptanceofhimcrossedhismind!
Asuddenandinexplicablesenseofshamecameuponhim。Atthesamemoment，heheardhisnamecalledfromthesteps，turned——andbeheldMinty。
Herdarkeyeswereshiningwithapleasantlight，andherlipspartedonherwhiteteethwithafrank，happysmile。Sheadvancedandheldoutherhand。Hetookitwithaminglingofdisappointmentandembarrassment。
\"You\'rewonderingwhyIkemonhere，arterIsentwordthismorningthatIkelkilatednottocome。Well，\'twixtthenandnowsuthin\'\'shappened。We\'vehadfinedoin\'soveratourhouse，youbet!
Popdon\'tknowwhichendhe\'sstandin\'on；andIreckonthatforabouttenminutesIdidn\'tknowmyownname。ButezsoonezIgotfairlyholdo\'thehullthing，andhaditputstraightinmymind，Iseztomyself，MintySharpe，sezI，thefirstthingforyoutodonow，istoputonyerbonnetandshawl，andtrapseovertoJimBradley\'sandhelpthemtwowomenfolksgetdinnerforthemselvesandthatsickstranger。And，\"continuedMinty，throwingherselfintoachairandfanningherglowingfacewithherapron，\"yerI
am!\"
\"ButyouhavenottoldmeWHAThashappened，\"saidMainwaring，withaconstrainedsmile，andanuneasyglancetowardsthehouse。
\"That\'sso，\"saidMinty，withabrilliantlaugh。\"Icleanforgotthehullgistofthething。Well，we\'rerichfolksnow——overthar\'
onBarrenLedge!Thatonerybrotherofmine，Richelieu，heztakensomeofhisspecimensovertoJimBradleytobetested。AndBradley，justtopleasethatchild，takes\'em；andnotanhouragoBradleycomesrunning，liketyswitch，overtoPoptotellhimtoputuphisnotices，forthehullofthatledgewheretheforgestandsisamineo\'silverandcopper。Aforeyeknewit，Lordy!
halfthefolksoutertheSummitandthemillwasscattereddowntharalloverit。Richardson——thatstrangerezknowsyou——kemthartoowithJim，andheallows，efBradley\'sessayisright，it\'sworthmorethanahundredthousanddollarsezitstands!\"
\"IsupposeImustcongratulateyou，MissSharpe，\"saidMainwaringwithanattemptatinterest，buthisattentionstillpreoccupiedwiththeopendoorway。
\"Oh，THEYknowallaboutit!\"saidMinty，followingthedirectionofhisabstractedeyeswithaslightdarkeningofherown，\"Ijestkemouto\'thekitchentheotherway，andJimsent\'emanote；butIallowedI\'dtellYOUmyself。Speciallyezyouaregoingawayto-morrow。”
\"WhosaidIwasgoingawayto-morrow？\"askedMainwaring，uneasily。
\"LooMacy!\"
\"Ah——shedid？ButImaychangemymind，youknow!\"hecontinued，withafaintsmile。
Mintyshookhercurlsdecisively。\"IreckonSHEknows，\"shesaiddryly，\"she\'sgotlawandgospelforwotshesays。Butyershecomes。Askher!Lookyer，Loo，\"sheadded，asthetwowomenappearedatthedoorway，withacertainexaggerationofcongratulatorymannerthatstruckMainwaringasbeingasartificialanddisturbedashisown，\"didn\'tSirFrancisyersayhewasgoingto-morrow？\"
\"That\'swhatIunderstood!\"returnedLouise，withcoldastonishment，lettingherclearindifferenteyesfalluponMainwaring。\"Idonotknowthathehaschangedhismind。”
\"Unless，asMissSharpeisagreatcapitalistnow，sheiswillingtouseherpowersofpersuasion，\"addedMrs。Bradley，withaslightacidulouspointingofherusualprimplayfulness。
\"IreckonMintySharpe\'sthesameezshealluswos，unlessmoreso，\"returnedMinty，withanhonestegotismthatcarriedsomuchconvictiontothehearerastocondoneitsvanity。\"ButIkemyertodoaday\'swork，gals，andIallowtopitchinanddoit，andnotsityerswoppin\'complimentsandkeepingHIMfrompackin\'hisduds。Onless，\"shestopped，andlookedaroundattheuneasy，unsympatheticcirclewithafainttremulousnessoflipthatbeliedthebraveblackeyesaboveit，\"onlessI\'minyerway。”
Thetwowomensprangforwardwithafemininebewilderingexcessofprotestation；andMainwaring，suddenlypiercedthroughhisouterselfishembarrassmenttohismorehonestdepths，stammeredquickly——
\"Lookhere，MissSharpe，ifyouthinkofrunningawayagain，afterhavingcomeallthewayheretomakeussharetheknowledgeofyourgoodfortuneandyourbetterheart，byJove!I\'llgobackwithyou。”
Butherethetwowomeneffusivelyhurriedherawayfromthedangerousproximityofsuchsympathetichonesty，andamomentlaterMainwaringheardherlaughingvoice，asofold，ringinginthekitchen。Andthen，asifunconsciouslyrespondingtothesignificantcommonsensethatlayinherlastallusiontohim，hewenttohisroomandgrimlybeganhispacking。
HedidnotagainseeLouisealone。AttheirinformalluncheontheconversationturneduponthemoreabsorbingtopicoftheSharpes\'
discovery，itsextent，anditsprobableeffectuponthefortunesofthelocality。Henoticed，abstractedly，thatbothMrs。Bradleyandhercousinshowedarealorassumedscepticismofitsvalue。Thisdidnotdisturbhimgreatly，exceptforitsintendedcheckuponMinty\'senthusiasm。Hewasmoreconscious，perhaps，——withafainttouchofmortifiedvanity，——thathisowncontemplateddeparturewasoflesserimportancethanthislocalexcitement。Yetinhisgrowingconvictionthatallwasover——if，indeed，ithadeverbegun——betweenhimselfandLouise，hewasgratefultothisnaturaldiversionofincidentwhichsparedthembothanintervalofembarrassingcommonplaces。And，withthesuspicionofsomeindefinableinsincerity——eitherofhisownorLouise\'s——hauntinghim，Minty\'sfrankheartinessandoutspokenloyaltygavehimastrangerelief。Itseemedtohimasiftheclearcoolbreathoftheforesthadenteredwithherhomelygarments，andthesteadfasttruthofNaturewereincarnateinhershiningeyes。Howfarthispoeticfancywouldhavebeenconsistentorevencoexistentwithanygleamoftendernessorself-forgetfulnessinLouise\'sequallyprettyorbs，Ileavethesatiricalfemininereadertodetermine。
ItwaslatewhenBradleyatlastreturned，bringingfurtherandmorecompletecorroborationofthetruthofSharpe\'sgoodfortune。
Twoexpertshadarrived，onefromPineFlatandanotherfromtheSummit，anduponthisstatementRichardsonhadofferedtopurchaseaninterestinthediscoverythatwouldatonceenabletheblacksmithtodevelophismine。\"Ishouldn\'twonder，Mainwaring，\"
headdedcheerfully，\"ifhe\'dputyouintoit，too，andmakeyoureternalfortune。”
\"Withlarksfallingfromtheskiesallroundyou，it\'sapityYOU
couldn\'tgetputintosomething，\"saidMrs。Bradley，straighteningherprettybrows。
\"I\'mnotagold-miner，mydear，\"saidBradley，pleasantly。
\"Noragold-finder，\"returnedhiswife，withacruellittledepressionofherpinknostrils，\"butyoucanworkallnightinthatstupidmillandthen，\"sheaddedinalowvoice，toescapeMinty\'sattention，\"spendthewholeofthenextdayexaminingandfollowingupaboy\'sdiscoverythathisownrelationshadbeentoolazyandtooignoranttounderstandandprofitby。IsupposethatnextyouwillbehuntingupasiteontheOTHERSIDEoftheCanyon，wheresomebodyelsecanputupahotelandruinyourownprospects。”
AsensitiveshadowofpainquicklydimmedBradley\'sglance——notthefirstorlasttimeevidently，foritwasgraduallybringingoutabackgroundofsadnessinhisintelligenteyes。ButthenextmomentheturnedkindlytoMainwaring，andbegantodeplorethenecessityofhisearlydeparture，whichRichardsonhadalreadymadeknowntohimwithpracticalandsatisfyingreasons。
\"Ihopeyouwon\'tforget，mydearfellow，thatyourmostreallyurgentbusinessistolookafteryourhealth；andif，hereafter，you\'llonlyremembertheoldLookoutenoughtoimpressthatfactuponyou，IshallfeelthatanypoorserviceIhaverenderedyouhasbeenamplyrepaid。”
Mainwaring，notwithstandingthathewincedslightlyatthisfatefulechoofLouise\'sadvice，returnedthegraspofhisfriend\'shandwithanhonestpressureequaltohisown。HelongednowonlyforthecomingofRichardson，tocompletehisschemeofgratefulbenefactiontohishost。
Thebankercamefortunatelyastheconversationbegantoflag；andMrs。Bradley\'shalf-coquettishill-humorofaprettywoman，andLouise\'sabstractedindifference，werebecomingsonoticeableastoevenimpressMintyintoathoughtfultaciturnity。ThegraciousnessofhisreceptionbyMrs。Bradleysomewhatrestoredhisformerostentatiousgallantry，andhisself-satisfied，domineeringmannerhadenoughmasculinepowerinittofavorablyaffectthethreewomen，who，itmustbeconfessed，werealittleboredbythefinerabstractionsofBradleyandMainwaring。Afterafewmoments，Mainwaringroseand，withasignificantglanceatRichardsontoremindhimofhisproposedconferencewithBradley，turnedtoleavetheroom。HewasobligedtopassLouise，whowassittingbythetable。Hisattentionwassuddenlyarrestedbysomethinginherhandwithwhichshewaslistlesslyplaying。Itwasthestonewhichhehadputonhislettertoher。
AshehadnotbeenpresentwhenBradleyarrived，hedidnotknowthatthisfatefulobjecthadbeenbroughthomebyhishost，who，afterreceivingitfromRichelieu，hadputitinhispockettoillustratehisstoryofthediscovery。Onthecontrary，itseemedthatLouise\'scarelessexposureofhisfoolishstratagemwasgratuitouslyandpurposelycruel。Nevertheless，hestoppedandlookedather。
\"That\'saqueerstoneyouhavethere，\"hesaid，inatonewhichsherecognizedascoldlyandostentatiouslycivil。
\"Yes，\"shereplied，withoutlookingup；\"it\'stheoutcropofthatmine。”Shehandedittohimasiftoobviateanyfurtherremark。
\"Ithoughtyouhadseenitbefore。”
\"Theoutcrop，\"herepeateddryly。\"Thatis——it——it——itistheindicationorsignofsomethingimportantthat\'sbelowit——isn\'tit？\"
Louiseshruggedhershoulderssceptically。\"Itdon\'tfollow。It\'sjustaslikelytocoverrubbish，afteryou\'vetakenthetroubletolook。”
\"Thanks，\"hesaid，withmeasuredgentleness，andpassedquietlyoutoftheroom。
ThemoonhadalreadyrisenwhenBradley，withhisbrierwoodpipe，precededRichardsonupontheveranda。ThelatterthrewhislargeframeintoLouise\'srocking-chairneartheedgeoftheabyss；
Bradley，withhisownchairtiltedagainstthesideofthehouseafterthenationalfashion，waitedforhimtospeak。TheabsenceofMainwaringandthestimulusofMrs。Bradley\'sgraciousnesshadgiventhebankeracertaincondescendingfamiliarity，whichBradleyreceivedwithamusedandironicaltolerancethathistwinklingeyesmadepartlyvisibleinthedarkness。
\"OneofthethingsIwantedtotalktoyouabout，Bradley，wasthatoldaffairoftheadvanceyouaskedforfromtheBank。Wedidnotquiteseeourwaytoitthen，and，speakingasabusinessman，itisn\'treallyamatterofbusinessnow；butithaslatelybeenputtomeinalightthatwouldmakethedoingofitpossible——youunderstand？Thefactofthematteristhis:SirRobertMainwaring，thefatheroftheyoungfellowyou\'vegotinyourhouse，isoneofourdirectorsandlargestshareholders，andIcantellyou——ifyoudon\'tsuspectitalready——you\'vebeenlucky，Bradley——deucedlylucky——tohavehadhiminyourhouseandtohaverenderedhimaservice。He\'stheheirtooneofthelargestlandedestatesinhiscountry，oneoftheoldestcountyfamilies，andwillstepintothetitlesomeday。But，ahem!\"hecoughedpatronizingly，\"youknewallthat!No？Well，thatcharmingwifeofyours，atleast，does；
forshe\'sbeentalkingaboutit。Gad，Bradley，ittakesthosewomentofindoutanythingofthatkind，eh？\"
ThelightinBradley\'seyesandhispipewentslowlyouttogether。
\"Thenwe\'llsaythataffairoftheadvanceisasgoodassettled。
It\'sSirRobert\'swish，youunderstand，andthisyoungfellow\'swish，——andifyou\'llcomedowntotheBanknextweekwe\'llarrangeitforyou；Ithinkyou\'lladmitthey\'redoingthehandsometoyouandyours。Andtherefore，\"heloweredhisvoiceconfidentially，\"you\'llsee，Bradley，thatitwillonlybethehonorablethinginyou，youknow，tolookupontheaffairasfinished，and，infact，todoallyoucan\"——hedrewhischaircloser——\"to——to——todropthisotherfoolishness。”
\"Idon\'tthinkIquiteunderstandyou!\"saidBradley，slowly。
\"Butyourwifedoes，ifyoudon\'t，\"returnedRichardson，bluntly；
\"ImeanthisfoolishflirtationbetweenLouiseMacyandMainwaring，whichisutterlypreposterous。Why，man，itcan\'tpossiblycometoanything，anditcouldn\'tbeallowedforamoment。Lookathispositionandhers。Ishouldthink，asapracticalman，itwouldstrikeyou——\"
\"Onlyonethingstrikesme，Richardson，\"interruptedBradley，inasingularlydistinctwhisper，rising，andmovingnearerthespeaker；
\"itisthatyou\'resittingperilouslyneartheedgeofthisveranda。For，bythelivingGod，ifyoudon\'ttakeyourselfoutofthatchairandoutofthishouse，Iwon\'tbeanswerablefortheconsequences!\"
\"Holdonthereaminute，willyou？\"saidMainwaring\'svoicefromthewindow。
Bothmenturnedtowardsit。AlonglegwasprotrudingfromMainwaring\'swindow；itwasquicklyfollowedbytheotherlegandbodyoftheoccupant，andthenextmomentMainwaringcometowardsthetwomen，withhishandsinhispockets。
\"Notsoloud，\"hesaid，lookingtowardsthehouse。
\"Letthatmango，\"saidBradley，inarepressedvoice。\"YouandI，Mainwaring，canspeaktogetherafterwards。”
\"ThatmanmuststayuntilhehearswhatIhavegottosay，\"saidMainwaring，steppingbetweenthem。Hewasverywhiteandgraveinthemoonlight，butveryquiet；andhedidnottakehishandsfromhispockets。\"I\'velistenedtowhathesaidbecausehecamehereonMYbusiness，whichwassimplytooffertodoyouaservice。
Thatwasall，Bradley，thatItoldhimtodo。Thisrotaboutwhatheexpectsofyouinreturnishisownimpertinence。Ifyou\'dpunchedhisheadwhenhebeganit，itwouldhavebeenallright。
Butsincehehasbegunit，beforehegoesIthinkheoughttohearmetellyouthatIhavealreadyOFFEREDmyselftoMissMacy，andshehasREFUSEDme!Ifshehadgivenmetheleastencouragement，I
shouldhavetoldyoubefore。Further，Iwanttosaythat，inspiteofthatman\'sinsinuations，IfirmlybelievethatnooneisawareofthecircumstanceexceptMissMacyandmyself。”
\"Ihadnoideaofintimatingthatanythinghadhappenedthatwasnothighlyhonorableandcreditabletoyouandtheyounglady，\"
beganRichardsonhurriedly。
\"Idon\'tknowthatitwasnecessaryforyoutohaveanyideasonthesubjectatall，\"saidMainwaring，sternly；\"northat，havingbeenshownhowyouhaveinsultedthisgentlemanandmyself，youneedtroubleusaninstantlongerwithyourcompany。Youneednotcomeback。Iwillmanagemyotheraffairsmyself。”
\"Verywell，Mr。Mainwaring——but——youmaybesurethatIshallcertainlytakethefirstopportunitytoexplainmyselftoSirRobert，\"returnedRichardsonas，withanattemptatdignity，hestrodeaway。
Therewasanintervalofsilence。
\"Don\'tbetooharduponafellow，Bradley，\"saidMainwaringasBradleyremaineddarkandmotionlessintheshadow。\"ItisapoorreturnI\'mmakingyouforyourkindness，butIswearIneverthoughtofanythinglike——like——this。”
\"NordidI，\"saidBradley，bitterly。
\"Iknowit，andthat\'swhatmakesitsoinfernallybadforme。
Forgiveme，won\'tyou？Thinkofme，oldfellow，asthewretchedestassyouevermet，butnotsuchacadasthiswouldmakeme!\"AsMainwaringsteppedoutfromthemoonlighttowardshimwithextendedhand，Bradleygraspeditwarmly。
\"Thanks——there——thanks，oldfellow!And，Bradley——Isay——don\'tsayanythingtoyourwife，forIdon\'tthinksheknowsit。And，Bradley——lookhere——Ididn\'tliketobeanythingbutplainbeforethatfellow；butIdon\'tmindtellingYOU，nowthatit\'sallover，thatIreallythinkLouise——MissMacy——didn\'taltogetherunderstandmeeither。”
Withanothershakeofthehandtheyseparatedforthenight。ForalongtimeafterMainwaringhadgone，BradleyremainedgazingthoughtfullyintotheGreatCanyon。Hethoughtofthetimewhenhehadfirstcomethere，fulloflifeandenthusiasm，makinganidealworldofhispureandwholesomeeyrieontheledge。Whatelsehethoughtwill，probably，neverbeknownuntilthemisunderstandingofhonorableandchivalrousmenbyacharmingandillogicalsexshallincitetheaudaciouspenofsomemoredaringromancer。
Whenhereturnedtothehouse，hesaidkindlytohiswife，\"Ihavebeenthinkingto-dayaboutyourhotelscheme，andIshallwritetoSacramentoto-nighttoacceptthatcapitalist\'soffer。”
CHAPTERV。
Thesunwasjustrising。Intwoyearsofmutationandchangeithadseenthelittlecottageclinginglikeaswallow\'snesttotherockycavesofagreatSierrancanyongivewaytoastraggling，many-galleriedhotel，andadozenblackenedchimneysriseabovethebarrentablelandwhereoncehadstoodthelonelyforge。TothatconservativeorboflightandheattheremusthavebeenapeculiarsatisfactioninlookingdownafewhoursearlieruponthebattlementsandgablesofOldenhurst，whosebasewasdeeplyembeddedinthematuredfoundationsandsettledtraditionsofanEnglishcounty。FortherisingsunhadfortencenturiesfoundOldenhurstinitsplace，fromtheheavystoneterracethatcoveredthedead-and-forgottenwall，whereaRomansentinelhadoncepaced，tothelittlegratinginthecloisteredquadrangle，whereithadseenaCistercianbrotherplacethemorningdole。Ithaddailywelcomedthegrowthofthisvastandpicturesqueexcrescenceofthetimes；ithadsmiledeverymorninguponthisformidableyetquaintincrustationofpowerandcustom，ignoring，asOldenhurstitselfhadignored，thegenerationswhopossessedit，themenwhobuiltit，themenwhocarrieditwithfireandsword，themenwhohadliedandcringedforit，theKingwhohadgivenittoafavorite，thefewbraveheartswhohaddiedforitinexile，andtheoneortwowhohadboughtandpaidforit。ForOldenhursthadabsorbedalltheseandmoreuntilithadbecomeastoryofthepast，incarnateinstone，greenwood，andflower；ithadevendrainedthelife-bloodfromadjacenthamlets，repayingthemwithtumuligrowthslikeitsown，intheshapeofpurposelesslodges，quaintlyincompetenthospitalsandschools，andchurcheswheretheinestimableblessingandknowledgeofitsgospelweretaughtandfostered。Norhaditdealtmorekindlywiththegentrywithinitswalls，sendingsometothescaffold，pilloryingothersininfamousoffice，reducingafewtopoverty，andhaltingitslaterguestswithgoutandparalysis。Ithadgiventheminexchangethedubiousimmortalityofaportraitgallery，fromwhichtheystaredwithstonyandequalresignation；ithadpreservedtheiruselessarmorandaccoutrements；ithadsetuptheirmarbleeffigiesinchurchesorlaidthemincross-leggedattitudestotripuptheunwary，untilindeath，asinlife，theygotbetweenthecongregationandtheTruththatwastaughtthere。IthadallowedanOldenhurstcrusader，withabrokennoselikeapugilist，onthestrengthofhishavingbeentwicetotheHolyLand，tohidethebeautifullyilluminatedWordfromthelowlierworshipperonthehumblerbenches；ithadsentaniconoclasticBishopoftheReformationtoanearerminstertoostentatiouslyoccupytheplaceoftheconsecratedimagehehadoverthrown。SmallwonderthatcrowdingtheOldenhurstretainersgraduallyintosmallerspace，withoccasionalSabbathglimpsesofthelivingrulersofOldenhurstalreadyinrailed-offexaltation，ithadforcedthemtoacceptOldenhurstasasynonymofeternity，andlefttheknowledgeofahigherPowertowhattimetheyshouldbeturnedouttotheirlongersleepunderthetendergrassofthebeautifulouterchurchyard。
Andevenso，whileeverystoneofthepileofOldenhurstandeverytreeinitsleafyparkmighthavebeeneloquentwiththestoryofvanity，selfishness，andunequaljustice，ithadbeenlefttotheinfinitemercyofNaturetosealtheirlipswithaspellofbeautythatleftmankindequallydumb；earth，air，andmoisturehadenteredintoagentleconspiracytosoften，mellow，andclotheitsexternalblemishesofbreachandaccident，itsirregulardesign，itsadditions，accretions，ruins，andlapseswithaharmoniouscharmofoutlineandcolor；poets，romancers，andhistorianshadequallyconspiredtoilluminatethedarkpassagesanduglierinconsistenciesofitsinteriorlifewiththeglamouroftheirownfancy。Thefragmentofmenacingkeep，withitschokedoubliettes，becameaboweroftenderivy；thegrimstoryofitscrimes，properlyeditedbyacontemporarybardofthefamily，passedintoacharmingballad。Eventhesuperstitiousdarknessofitsreligioushousehadescapedthroughfallenroofandshatteredwall，leavingonlythefoliatedandsun-piercedscreenoffront，withitsrose-
windowandpinnacleofcrossbehind。Pilgrimsfromalllandshadcometoseeit；fierceRepublicanshadcrossedtheseastogazeatitsmediaevaloutlines，andcopytheminwoodandstuccoontheiryoungersoil。Politicianshadequallypointedtoitasaconvincingevidenceoftheirownprinciplesandinrefutationofeachother；andithadsurvivedboth。Foritwasthisbeliefinitsownperpetuitythatwasitsstrengthandweakness。AndthatbeliefwasneverstrongerthanonthisbrightAugustmorning，whenitwasonthevergeofdissolution。AtelegrambroughttoSirRobertMainwaringhadeventhenascompletelyshatteredanddisintegratedOldenhurst，inallitwasandallitmeant，asifthebrown-paperenvelopehadbeenitselfchargedwiththeelectricfluid。