WhenthestageforSanFranciscorolledawaythenextmorningwithMr。Hamlinandtheeditor，thelattermighthaverecognizedintheoccupantofadust-coveredbuggythatwascomingleisurelytowardsthemthetallfigure，longbeard，andstraightdusterofhislatevisitor，Mr。JamesBowers。ForMr。Bowerswasonthesamequestthattheothershadjustabandoned。LikeMr。Hamlin，hehadbeenlefttohisownresources，butMr。Bowers\'sresourceswerealife-
longexperienceandtechnicalskill；hetoohadnotedthetopographicalindicationsofthepoem，andhisknowledgeofthesylvaofUpperCaliforniapointedasunerringlyasMr。Hamlin\'slucktothecryptogamoushauntsoftheSummit。Suchabnormalgrowthswereindicativeofcertainlocalitiesonly，but，astheywerenotremunerativefromapecuniarypointofview，weretobeavoidedbythesagaciouswoodman。Itwasclear，therefore，thatMr。Bowers\'svisittoGreenSpringswasnotprofessional，andthathedidnotevenfigurativelyaccepttheomen。
Hebaitedandrestedhishorseatthehotel，wherehisbucolicexterior，however，didnotelicitthatattentionwhichhadbeenaccordedtoMr。Hamlin\'scharminginsolenceortheeditor\'scultivatedmanner。Butheglancedoveratownshipmaponthewallsofthereading-room，andtooknoteofthenamesoftheownersofdifferentlots，farms，andranches，passingthatofDelatourwiththeothers。Thenhedroveleisurelyinthedirectionofthewoods，and，reachingthem，tiedhishorsetoayoungsaplingintheshade，andenteredtheirdomainwithashamblingbutfamiliarwoodman\'sstep。
ItisnotthepurposeofthisbriefchronicletofollowMr。Bowersinhisprofessionaldiagnosisofthelocality。HerecognizedNatureinoneofhermoodsofwastefulextravagance，——awastethathisexperiencedeyecouldtellwasalsosappingthevitalityofthoseoutwardlyrobustshaftsthatrosearoundhim。Heknew，withouttestingthem，thathalfofthesefair-seemingcolumnswerehollowandrottenatthecore；hecoulddetectthechillodorofdecaythroughthehotbalsamicspicesstirredbythewindthatstreamedthroughtheirlongaisles，——likeincenseminglingwiththeexhalationsofacrypt。Hestoppednowandthentoparttheheavyfrondsdowntotheirrootsinthedankmoss，seeingagain，ashehadtoldtheeditor，theweirdSECONDtwilightthroughtheirminiaturestems，andthemicrocosmoflifethatfilledit。But，evenwhilepayingthistributetotheaccuracyoftheunknownpoetess，hewas，likehispredecessor，hauntedmorestronglybytheatmosphereandmelodyofherverse。Itsspellwasuponhim，too。
UnlikeMr。Hamlin，hedidnotsing。Heonlyhaltedonceortwice，silentlycombinghisstraightnarrowbeardwithhisthreefingers，untiltheactionseemedtodrawdownthelinesofhisfaceintolimitlessdejection，andaninscrutablemelancholyfilledhissmallgrayeyes。ThefewbirdswhichhadhailedMr。Hamlinastheirsuccessfulrivalfledawaybeforethegrotesqueandangularhalf-
lengthofMr。Bowers，asifthewindhadblowninascarecrowfromthedistantfarms。
Suddenlyheobservedthefigureofawoman，withherbacktowardshim，leaningmotionlessagainstatree，andapparentlygazingintentlyinthedirectionofGreenSprings。Hehadapproachedsoneartoherthatitwassingularshehadnotheardhim。Mr。Bowerswasabashfulmaninthepresenceoftheothersex。Hefeltexceedinglyembarrassed；ifhecouldhavegoneawaywithoutattractingherattentionhewouldhavedoneso。Neithercouldheremainsilent，atacitspyofhermeditation。Hehadrecoursetoapolitebutsingularlyartificialcough。
Tohissurprise，shegaveafaintcry，turnedquicklytowardshim，andthenshrankbackandlapsedquitehelplessagainstthetree。
Herevidentdistressovercamehisbashfulness。Herantowardsher。
\"I\'msorryIfrightedye，ma\'am，butIwasafraidImightskeeryemoreifIlaylow，andsaidnothin\'。\"
Eventhen，ifshehadbeensomefairyoungcountrygirl，hewouldhaverelapsedafterthisspeechintohisformerbashfulness。Butthefaceandfiguresheturnedtowardshimwereneitheryoungnorfair:awomanpastforty，withgraythreadsandsplashesinherbrushed-backhair，whichwasturnedoverherearsintwocurlslikefrayedstrandsofrope。Herforeheadwasratherhighthanbroad，hernoselargebutwell-shaped，andhereyesfullbutsosingularlylightincolorastoseemalmostsightless。Theshortupperlipofherlargemouthdisplayedherteethinanhabitualsmile，whichwasinturnsoflatlycontradictedbyeveryotherlineofhercarewornfacethatitseemedgratuitouslyartificial。Herfigurewashiddenbyashapelessgarmentthatpartookequallyoftheshawl，cloak，andwrapper。
\"Iamveryfoolish，\"shebegan，inavoiceandaccentthatatonceassertedacultivatedwoman，\"butIsoseldommeetanybodyherethatavoicequitestartledme。That，andtheheat，\"shewenton，wipingherface，intowhichthecolorwasreturningviolently——\"forIseldomgooutasearlyasthis——Isupposeaffectedme。\"
Mr。BowershadthatinnateFar-WesternreverenceforwomanhoodwhichIfancychallengesthemostpolishedpoliteness。Heremainedpatient，undemonstrative，self-effacing，andrespectfulbeforeher，hisangulararmslightlybutnotobtrusivelyadvanced，theofferofprotectionbeingintheactratherthaninanyspokenword，andrequiringnoresponse。
\"Likeasnot，ma\'am，\"hesaid，cheerfullylookingeverywherebutinherburningface。\"ThesunISpow\'fulhotatthistimeo\'day；I
feltitmyselfcomin\'yer，and，thoughthedampofthistimberkindersetsitback，it\'slikelytocomeoutag\'in。Yecan\'tcheckitnomorethanthesapinthatchokedlimbthar\"——hepointedostentatiouslywhereafallenpinehadbeencaughtinthebentandtwistedarmofanother，butwhichstillputoutafewgreentasselsbeyondthepointofimpact。\"Doyoulivefarfromhere，ma\'am?\"headded。
\"Onlyasfarasthefirstturningbelowthehill。\"
\"I\'vegotmybuggyhere，andI\'mgoin\'thatway，andIcanjistsetyedowntharcoolandcomfortable。Ef，\"hecontinued，inthesameassuringtone，withoutwaitingforareply，\"ye\'lljisttakeagoodgripofmyarmthar，\"curvinghiswristandhandbehindhimlikeashepherd\'scrook，\"I\'llgofirst，andbreakawaythebrushforye。\"
Sheobeyedmechanically，andtheyfaredonthroughthethickfernsinthisfashionforsomemoments，helookingahead，occasionallydroppingawordofcautionorencouragement，butneverglancingatherface。Whentheyreachedthebuggyheliftedherintoitcarefully，——andperpendicularly，itstruckherafterwards，verymuchasifshehadbeenatransplantedsaplingwithbaredandsensitiveroots，——andthengravelytookhisplacebesideher。
\"Bein\'inthetimbertrademyself，ma\'am，\"hesaid，gatheringupthereins，\"Ichancedtosightthesewoods，andtookalookaround。
MynameisBowers，ofMendocino；Ireckonthereain\'tmuchthatgrowsinthewayo\'standin\'timberonthePacificSlopethatI
don\'tknowandcan\'tlocate，thoughIDOsayit。I\'vegotezbigamill，andezbigaruninmydistrict，ezthereisanywhere。Efyou\'reeverupmyway，youaskforBowers——JimBowers——andthat\'sME。\"
Thereisprobablynothingmoreconducivetoconversationbetweenstrangersthanawholesomeandearlyrecognitionofeachother\'sfoibles。Mr。Bowers，believinghischanceacquaintanceasuperiorwoman，naivelyspokeofhimselfinawaythathehopedwouldreassureherthatshewasnotcompromisingherselfinacceptinghiscivility，andsosatisfywhatmustbeherinevitablepride。Ontheotherhand，thewomanregainedherself-possessionbythisexhibitionofMr。Bowers\'svanity，and，revivedbytherefreshingbreezecausedbytherapidmotionofthebuggyalongtheroad，thankedhimgraciously。
\"IsupposetherearemanystrangersattheGreenSpringsHotel，\"
shesaid，afterapause。
\"Ididn\'tgettosee\'em，asIonlyputupmyhossthere，\"hereplied。\"ButIknowthestagetooksomeawaythismornin\':itseemedprettywellloadedupwhenIpassedit。\"
Thewomandrewadeepsigh。TheactstruckMr。Bowersasapossiblereturnofherformernervousweakness。Herattentionmustatoncebedistractedatanycost——evenconversation。
\"Perhaps，\"hebegan，withsuddenandappallinglightness，\"I\'ma-talkin\'toMrs。McFadden?\"
\"No，\"saidthewoman，abstractedly。
\"ThenitmustbeMrs。Delatour?Thereareonlytwotownshiplotsonthatcrossroad。\"
\"MynameISDelatour，\"shesaid，somewhatwearily。
Mr。Bowerswasconversationallystranded。Hewasnotatallanxioustoknowhername，yet，knowingitnow，itseemedtosuggestthattherewasnothingmoretosay。Hewould，ofcourse，havepreferredtoaskherifshehadreadthepoetryabouttheUnderbrush，andifsheknewthepoetess，andwhatshethoughtofit；butthefactthatsheappearedtobean\"eddicated\"womanmadehimsensitiveofdisplayingtechnicalignoranceinhismanneroftalkingaboutit。Shemightaskhimifitwas\"subjectiveor\"objective\"——twowordshehadheardusedattheDebatingSocietyatMendocinoonthequestion，\"Ispoetrymorallybeneficial?\"Forafewmomentshewassilent。Butpresentlyshetooktheinitiativeinconversation，atfirstslowlyandabstractedly，andthen，asifappreciatinghissympatheticreticence，ormayhapfindingsomereliefinmonotonousexpression，talkedmechanically，deliberately，butunostentatiouslyaboutherself。Socolorlesswasherintonationthatattimesitdidnotseemasifshewastalkingtohim，butrepeatingsomeconversationshehadheldwithanother。
ShehadlivedthereeversinceshehadbeeninCalifornia。HerhusbandhadboughttheSpanishtitletothepropertywhentheyfirstmarried。Thepropertyathisdeathwasfoundtobegreatlyinvolved；shehadbeenobligedtopartwithmuchofittosupportherchildren——fourgirlsandaboy。ShehadbeencompelledtowithdrawthegirlsfromtheconventatSantaClaratohelpaboutthehouse；theboywastooyoung——shefeared，tooshiftless——todoanything。Thefarmdidnotpay；thelandwaspoor；sheknewnothingaboutfarming；shehadbeenbroughtupinNewOrleans，whereherfatherhadbeenajudge，andshedidn\'tunderstandcountrylife。Ofcourseshehadbeenmarriedtooyoung——asallgirlswere。LatelyshehadthoughtofsellingoffandmovingtoSanFrancisco，whereshewouldopenaboarding-houseoraschoolforyoungladies。Hecouldadviseher，perhaps，ofsomegoodopportunity。Herowngirlswerefarenoughadvancedtoassistherinteaching；oneparticularly，Cynthia，wasquiteclever，andspokeFrenchandSpanishfluently。
AsMr。BowerswasfamiliarwithmanyofthesecountsinthefeminineAmericanindictmentoflifegenerally，hewasnotperhapsgreatlymoved。Butinthelastsentencehethoughthesawanopeningtoreturntohismainobject，and，lookingupcautiously，said:——
\"Andmebbewritepo\'trynowandthen?\"Tohisgreatdiscomfiture，theonlyeffectofthissuggestionwastocheckhiscompanion\'sspeechforsomemomentsandapparentlythrowherbackintoherformerabstraction。Yet，afteralongpause，astheywereturningintothelane，shesaid，asifcontinuingthesubject:——
\"Ionlyhopethat，whatevermydaughtersmaydo，theywon\'tmarryyoung。\"
TheyawningbreachesintheDelatourgatesandfencespresentlycameinview。Theyweresupposedtobereinforcedbyhalfadozendogs，who，however，didtheirdutywithwhatwouldseemtobetheprevailinginefficiency，retiringafterasingleperfunctoryyelptoshamelessstretching，scratching，andslumber。Theirplacesweretakenontheverandabytwonegroservants，twogirlsrespectivelyofeightandeleven，andaboyoffourteen，whoremainedsilentlystaring。AsMr。Bowershadacceptedthewidow\'spoliteinvitationtoenter，shewascompelled，albeitinanequallydazedandhelplessway，toissuesomepreliminaryorders:——
\"Now，Chloe——ImeanauntDinah——dotakeEunice——ImeanVictorineandUna——away，and——youknow——tidythem；andyou，Sarah——it\'sSarah，isn\'tit?——laysomerefreshmentintheparlorforthisgentleman。And，Bob，tellyoursisterCynthiatocomeherewithEunice。\"AsBobstillremainedstaringatMr。Bowers，sheadded，inwearyexplanation，\"Mr。BowersbroughtmeoverfromtheSummitwoodsinhisbuggy——itwassohot。There——shakehandsandthankhim，andrunaway——do!\"
Theycrossedabroadbutscantily-furnishedhall。Everywherethesamelookofhopelessincompleteness，temporaryutility，andprematuredecay；mostofthefurniturewasmismatchedandmisplaced；manyoftheroomshadchangedtheiroriginalfunctionsordoubledthem；asmellofcookingcamefromthelibrary，onwhoseshelves，mingledwithbooks，weredressesandhouseholdlinen，andthroughthedoorofaroomintowhichMrs。DelatourretiredtoremoveherdusterMr。Bowerscaughtaglimpseofabed，andofatablecoveredwithbooksandpapers，atwhichatall，fairgirlwaswriting。InafewmomentsMrs。Delatourreturned，accompaniedbythisgirl，andEunice，hershort-lippedsister。Bob，whojoinedthepartyseatedaroundMr。Bowersandatablesetwithcake，adecanter，andglasses，completedthegroup。EmboldenedbythepresenceofthetallCynthiaandhisglimpseofherpreviousliteraryattitude，Mr。Bowersresolvedtomakeonemoreattempt。
\"Isupposetheseyeryoungladiessometimesgotothewood，too?\"
AshiseyerestedonCynthia，shereplied:——
\"Oh，yes。\"
\"Ireckononaccountofthepurtyshadowsdowninthebrush，andthesoftlight，eh?andallthat?\"hecontinued，withaplayfulmannerbutaseriousaccessionofcolor。
\"Why，thewoodsbelongtous。It\'smar\'sproperty!\"brokeinEunicewithaflashofteeth。
\"Well，Lordy，Iwanterknow!\"saidMr。Bowers，insomeastonishment。
\"Why，that\'srightinmyline，too!I\'vebeensightin\'timberallalonghere，andthat\'showIdroppedinonyermar。\"Then，seeingalookofeagernesslightupthefacesofBobandEunice，hewasencouragedtomakethemostofhisopportunity。\"Why，ma\'am，\"hewenton，cheerfully，\"Ireckonyou\'reholdin\'thatwoodataprettystifffigger，now。\"
\"Why?\"askedMrs。Delatour，simply。
Mr。BowersdeliveredawinkatBobandEunice，whowerestillwatchinghimwithanxiety。\"Well，notonaccountoftheactooltimber，forthebestofitain\'tsound，\"hesaid，\"butonaccountofitsbein\'famous!Everybodythatreadsthatpow\'fulprettypoemaboutitinthe\'ExcelsiorMagazine\'wantstoseeit。Why，itwouldpaytheGreenSpringshotel-keepertobuyitupforhiscustomers。ButIs\'poseyoureckontokeepit——alongwiththepoetess——inyourfamerly?\"
AlthoughMr。Bowerslongconsideredthisspeechasthehappiestandmostbrillianteffortofhislife，itsimmediateeffectwasnot，perhaps，allthatcouldbedesired。Thewidowturneduponhimarestrainedanddarkeningface。Cynthiahalfrosewithanappealing\"Oh，mar!\"andBobandEunice，havingapparentlypinchedeachothertothelaststageofendurance，retiredprecipitatelyfromtheroominaprolongedgiggle。
\"IhavenotyetthoughtofdisposingoftheSummitwoods，Mr。
Bowers，\"saidMrs。Delatour，coldly，\"butifIshoulddoso，Iwillconsultyou。Youmustexcusethechildren，whoseesolittlecompany，theyarequiteunmanageablewhenstrangersarepresent。
Cynthia，WILLyouseeiftheservantshavelookedafterMr。
Bowers\'shorse?YouknowBobisnottobetrusted。\"
TherewasclearlynothingelseforMr。Bowerstodobuttotakehisleave，whichhedidrespectfully，ifnotaltogetherhopefully。Butwhenhehadreachedthelane，hishorseshiedfromtheunwontedspectacleofBob，swinginghishat，andapparentlyawaitinghim，fromtheforkofawaysidesapling。
\"Hol\'up，mister。Lookhere!\"
Mr。Bowerspulledup。Bobdroppedintotheroad，and，afterabackwardglanceoverhisshoulder，said:——
\"Drive\'longsidethefenceintheshadder。\"AsMr。Bowersobeyed，Bobapproachedthewheelsofthebuggyinamannerhalfshy，halfmysterious。\"YouwanterbuythemSummitwoods，mister?\"
\"Well，per\'aps，sonny。Why?\"smiledMr。Bowers。
\"CozI\'lltellyesuthin\'。Don\'tyoubefooledintoallowin\'thatCynthiawrotethatpo\'try。Shedidn\'t——nomore\'nEunicenorme。
Markinderletyethinkit，\'cosshedon\'twantfolkstothinkSHE
didit。Butmarwrotethatpo\'tryherself；wroteitouto\'themtharwoods——allbyherself。Thar\'saheapmorepo\'trythar，youbet，andjistasgood。Andshe\'stheonethatkinwriteit——youhearme?That\'smymar，everytime!Youbuythattharwood，andgetmartorunitforpo\'try，andyou\'llmakeyourpile，sure!I
ain\'tlyin\'。You\'dbetterlookspry:thar\'sanotherfellersnoopin\'\'roundyere——onlyhebarkedupthewrongtree，andthoughtitwasCynthia，jistasyoudid。\"
\"Anotherfeller?\"repeatedtheastonishedBowers。
\"Yes；arig\'larsport。Hewasorfulkeenonthatpo\'try，too，youbet。Soyou\'dbetterhumpyourselfaforesomebodyelsecutsin。
Margotahundreddollarsforthatpome，fromthateditorfellerandhispardner。Ireckonthat\'stherig\'larprice，eh?\"headded，withasuddensuspiciouscaution。
\"Ireckonso，\"repliedMr。Bowers，blankly。\"But——lookhere，Bob!
Doyoumeantosayitwasyourmother——yourMOTHER，Bob，whowrotethatpoem?Areyousure?\"
\"D\'yethinkI\'mlyin\'?\"saidBob，scornfully。\"Don\'tIknow?
Don\'tIcopy\'emoutplainforher，soasfolkswon\'tknowherhandwrite?Go\'way!you\'reloony!\"Then，possiblydoubtingifthislatterexpressionwerestrictlydiplomaticwiththebusinessinhand，headded，inhalf-reproach，half-apology，\"Don\'tyeseeI
don\'twantyetobefooledintolosin\'yerchanceo\'buyingupthatSummitwood?It\'sthecoldtruthI\'mtellin\'ye。\"
Mr。Bowersnolongerdoubtedit。Disappointedasheundoubtedlywasatfirst，——andevenself-deceived，——herecognizedinaflashthegrimfactthattheboyhadstated。Herecalledtheapparitionofthesad-facedwomaninthewood——herdistressedmanner，thattohisinexperiencedmindnowtookuponitselftheagitatedtremblingofdisturbedmysticinspiration。Asenseofsadnessandremorsesucceededhisfirstshockofdisappointment。
\"Well，areyegoingtobuythewoods?\"saidBob，eyinghimgrimly。
\"Ye\'dbettersay。\"
Mr。Bowersstarted。\"Ishouldn\'twonder，Bob，\"hesaid，withasmile，gatheringuphisreins。\"Anyhow，I\'mcomin\'backtoseeyourmotherthisafternoon。Andmeantime，Bob，youkeepthefirstchanceforme。\"
Hedroveaway，leavingtheyouthfuldiplomatiststandingwithhisbarefeetinthedust。Foraminuteortwotheyounggentlemanamusedhimselfbyafewlightsaltatorystepsintheroad。Thenasmileofscornfulsuperiority，mingledperhapswithasenseofpreviousslightsandunappreciation，drewbackhislittleupperlip，andbrightenedhismottledcheek。
\"I\'dliketerknow，\"hesaid，darkly，\"whatthisyerGod-forsakenfamerlywoulddowithoutME!\"
CHAPTERV
ItistobepresumedthattheeditorandMr。Hamlinmutuallykepttotheirtacitagreementtorespecttheimpersonalityofthepoetess，forduringthenextthreemonthsthesubjectwasseldomalludedtobyeither。YetinthatperiodWhiteViolethadsenttwoothercontributions，andoneachoccasionMr。Hamlinhadinsisteduponincreasingthehonorariumtotheamountofhisformergift。
Invaintheeditorpointedoutthedangerofthisformofmunificence；Mr。Hamlinretortedbysayingthatifherefusedhewouldappealtotheproprietor，whocertainlywouldnotobjecttotakingthecreditofthisliberality。\"Astotherisks，\"concludedJack，sententiously，\"I\'lltakethem；andasfarasyou\'reconcerned，youcertainlygettheworthofyourmoney。\"
Indeed，ifpopularitywasanindiction，thishadbecomesuddenlytrue。Forthepoetess\'sthirdcontribution，withoutchangingitsstronglocalcolorandindividuality，hadbeenanunexpectedoutburstofhumanpassion——alove-song，thattouchedthosetowhomthesubtlermeditativegracesofthepoetesshadbeenunknown。
Manypeoplehadlistenedtothisimpassionedbutdespairingcryfromsomeremoteandcharmedsolitude，whohadneverreadpoetrybefore，whotranslateditintotheirownlimitedvocabularyandmorelimitedexperience，andwereinexpressiblyaffectedtofindthatthey，too，understoodit；itwascaughtupandechoedbythefeverish，adventurous，andunsatisfiedlifethatfilledthatdayandtime。Eventheeditorwassurprisedandfrightened。Likemostcultivatedmen，hedistrustedpopularity:likeallmenwhobelieveintheirownindividualjudgment，hedoubtedcollectivewisdom。
Yetnowthathisprotegeehadbeenacceptedbyothers，hequestionedthatjudgmentandbecamehercritic。Itstruckhimthathersuddenoutburstwasstrained；itseemedtohimthatinthismerecontortionofpassionthesibyl\'srobehadbecomerudelydisarranged。HespoketoHamlin，andevenapproachedthetabooedsubject。
\"Didyouseeanythingthatsuggestedthissortofbusinessin——in——
thatwoman——Imeanin——yourpilgrimage，Jack?\"
\"No，\"respondedJack，gravely。\"Butit\'seasytoseeshe\'sgotholdofsomehay-footedfellowupthereinthemountainswithstrawsinhishair，andisplayinghimforallhe\'sworth。Youwon\'tgetmuchmorepoetryoutofher，Ireckon。\"
Iswasnotlongafterthisconversationthatoneafternoon，whentheeditorwasalone，Mr。JamesBowersenteredtheeditorialroomwithmuchofthehesitationandirresolutionofhispreviousvisit。
Astheeditorhadnotonlyforgottenhim，buteven，dissociatedhimwiththepoetess，Mr。Bowerswasfaintomeethisunresponsiveeyeandmannerwithsomeexplanation。
\"Yedisremembermycomin\'here，Mr。Editor，toaskyouthenameo\'
theladywhocalledherself\'WhiteViolet，\'andhowyouallowedyoucouldn\'tgiveit，butwouldwriteandaskforit?\"
Mr。Editor，leaningbackinhischair，nowrememberedtheoccurrence，butwasdistressedtoaddthatthesituationremainedunchanged，andthathehadreceivednosuchpermission。
\"NevermindTHAT，mylad，\"saidMr。Bowers，gravely，wavinghishand。\"Iunderstandallthat；but，ezI\'veknowntheladyeversince，andamnowvisitingheratherhouseontheSummit，Ireckonitdon\'tmakemuchmatter。\"
ItwasquitecharacteristicofMr。Bowers\'ssmilelessearnestnessthathemadenoostentationofthisdramaticretort，noroftheundisguisedstupefactionoftheeditor。
\"DoyoumeantosaythatyouhavemetWhiteViolet，theauthorofthesepoems?\"repeatedtheeditor。
\"WhichhernameisDelatour，——thewidderDelatour，——ezshehasherselfgivemepermissiontotellyou，\"continuedMr。Bowers，withacertainabstractedandautomaticprecisionthatdissipatedanysuggestionofmaliceinthereversedsituation。
\"Delatour!——awidow!\"repeatedtheeditor。
\"Withfivechildren，\"continuedMr。Bowers。Then，withunalterablegravity，hebrieflygaveanoutlineofherconditionandthecircumstancesofhisacquaintancewithher。
\"ButIreckonedYOUmighthaveknownsuthin\'o\'this；thoughsheneverletonyoudid，\"heconcluded，eyingtheeditorwithtroubledcuriosity。
TheeditordidnotthinkitnecessarytoimplicateMr。Hamlin。Hesaid，briefly，\"I?Oh，no!\"
\"Ofcourse，YOUmightnothaveseenher?\"saidMr。Bowers，keepingthesamegrave，troubledgazeontheeditor。
\"Ofcoursenot，\"saidtheeditor，somewhatimpatientunderthesingularscrutinyofMr。Bowers；\"andI\'mveryanxioustoknowhowshelooks。Tellme，whatisshelike?\"
\"Sheisafine，pow\'ful，eddicatedwoman，\"saidMr。Bowers，withslowdeliberation。\"Yes，sir，——apow\'fulwoman，havin\'grandideasofherown，andholdin\'to\'em。\"Hehadwithdrawnhiseyesfromtheeditor，andapparentlyaddressedtheceilinginconfidence。
\"Butwhatdoesshelooklike，Mr。Bowers?\"saidtheeditor，smiling。
\"Well，sir，shelooks——LIKE——IT!Yes，\"——withdeliberatecaution，——
\"Ishouldsay，justlikeit。\"
Afterapause，apparentlytoallowtheeditortomaterializethisravishingdescription，hesaid，gently，\"Areyoubusyjustnow?\"
\"Notvery。WhatcanIdoforyou?\"
\"Well，notmuchforME，Ireckon，\"hereturned，withadeeperrespiration，thatwashisnearestapproachtoasigh，\"butsuthin\'
perhapsforyourselfand——another。Areyoumarried?\"
\"No，\"saidtheeditor，promptly。
\"Norengagedtoany——younglady?\"——withgreatpoliteness。
\"No。\"
\"Well，mebbeyouthinkitaqueerthingformetosay，——mebbeyoureckonyouKNOWitezwellezanybody，——butit\'smyopinionthatWhiteVioletisinlovewithyou。\"
\"Withme?\"ejaculatedtheeditor，inahopelessastonishmentthatatlastgavewaytoanincredulousandirresistiblelaugh。
AslighttouchofpainpassedoverMr。Bowers\'sdejectedface，butleftthedeepoutlinessetwitharudedignity。\"It\'sSO，\"hesaid，slowly，\"though，asayoungmanandagayfeller，yemaythinkit\'sfunny。\"
\"No，notfunny，butaterribleblunder，Mr。Bowers，forIgiveyoumywordIknownothingoftheladyandhaveneverseteyesuponher。\"
\"No，butshehasonYOU。Ican\'tsay，\"continuedMr。Bowers，withsublimenaivete，\"thatI\'deverrecognizeyoufromherdescription，butawomano\'thatkinddon\'tseewithhereyeslikeyouandme，butwithallhersensestoonct，andaheapmorethatain\'tsensesasweknow\'em。ThesameeyesthatseeddownthroughthebrushandfernsintheSummitwoods，thesameearsthatheerdthemusicofthewindtrailin\'throughthepines，don\'tseeyouwithmyeyesorhearyouwithmyears。Andwhenshepaintsyou，it\'snat\'rilforawomanwiththatpow\'fulmindandgrandideestodipherbrushintoherheart\'sbloodforwarmthandcolor。Yersmilin\'，youngman。
Well，goonandsmileatme，mylad，butnotather。Foryoudon\'tknowher。WhenyouknowherstoryasIdo，whenyouknowshewasmadeawifeaforesheeverknewwhatitwastobeayoungwoman，whenyouknowthatthemanshemarriedneverunderstoodthekindo\'
critterhewastiedtonomorethanefhe\'dbeenasteeryokedtoaMorgancolt，whenyeknowshehadchildrengrowin\'uparoundheraforeshehadgivenoverbein\'asortofchildherself，whenyeknowsheworkedandslavedforthatmanandthosechildrenaboutthehouse——herheart，hersoul，andallherpow\'fulmindbein\'allthetimeinthewoodsalongwiththeflickeringleavesandtheshadders，——whenyemindshecouldn\'tgetthesmallwayso\'theranchbecauseshehadthebigwayso\'Natur\'thatmadeit，——thenyou\'llunderstandher。\"
Impressedbythesincerityofhisvisitor\'smanner，touchedbytheunexpectedpoetryofhisappeal，andyetkeenlyalivetotheabsurdityofanincomprehensibleblundersomewherecommitted，theeditorgaspedalmosthysterically，——
\"ButwhyshouldallthismakeherinlovewithME?\"
\"Becauseyearebothgifted，\"returnedMr。Bowers，withsadbutunconquerableconviction；\"becauseye\'reboth，sotospeak，inalineo\'ideesandbusinessthatdrawsyetogether，——toleanoneachotherandtrusteachotherezpardners。NotthatYEareezaklyherekal，\"hewenton，withareturntohispreviousexasperatingnaivete，\"thoughI\'veheerdpromisin\'thingsofye，andye\'restillyoung，butinmatterso\'thiskindthereisallersoneezheztobelookeduptobytheother，——andgin\'rallythewrongone。Shelooksuptoyou，Mr。Editor，——it\'spartofherpo\'try，——ezshelooksdowninterthebrushandseesmorethanisplaintoyouandme。Not，\"
hecontinued，withacourteouslydeprecatingwaveofthehand，\"ezyouhain\'tbinkindtoher——mebbeTOOkind。Forthar\'sthepurtyletteryouwrither，thar\'stheperlite，easy，captivatin\'wayyouhadwithhergalsandthatboy——holdon!\"——astheeditormadeagestureofdespairingrenunciation，——\"Iain\'tsayin\'youain\'trightinkeepin\'ittoyourself，——andthar\'stheextrymoneyyousenthereverytime。Stop!sheknowsitwasEXTRY，forshemadeap\'into\'gettin\'metofindoutthemarketpriceo\'po\'tryinpapersandmagazines，andshereckonsyou\'vebinpayin\'herfourhundredpercent。abovethemfiggers——holdon!Iain\'tsayin\'itain\'tfreeandliberalinyou，andI\'dhavedonethesamething；
yetSHEthinks\"——
Buttheeditorhadrisenhastilytohisfeetwithflushingcheeks。
\"Onemoment，Mr。Bowers，\"hesaid，hurriedly。\"Thisisthemostdreadfulblunderofall。Thegiftisnotmine。Itwasthespontaneousofferingofanotherwhoreallyadmiredourfriend\'swork，——agentlemanwho\"——Hestoppedsuddenly。
Thesoundofafamiliarvoice，lightlyhumming，wasbornealongthepassage；thelighttreadofafamiliarfootwasapproaching。Theeditorturnedquicklytowardstheopendoor，——soquicklythatMr。
Bowerswasfaintoturnalso。
ForacharminginstantthefigureofJackHamlin，handsome，careless，andconfident，wasframedinthedoorway。Hisdarkeyes，withtheirhabitualscornofhisaveragefellow-man，sweptsuperciliouslyoverMr。Bowers，andrestedforaninstantwithcaressingfamiliarityontheeditor。
\"Well，sonny，anynewsfromtheoldgirlattheSummit?\"
\"No-o，\"hastilystammeredtheeditor，withahalf-hystericallaugh。
\"No，Jack。Excusemeamoment。\"
\"Allright；busy，Isee。Hastamanana。\"
Thepicturevanished，theframewasempty。
\"Yousee，\"continuedtheeditor，turningtoMr。Bowers，\"therehasbeenamistake。I\"——buthestoppedsuddenlyattheashenfaceofMr。Bowers，stillfixedinthedirectionofthevanishedfigure。
\"Areyouill?\"
Mr。Bowersdidnotreply，butslowlywithdrewhiseyes，andturnedthemheavilyontheeditor。Then，drawingalonger，deeperbreath，hepickeduphissoftfelthat，and，mouldingitintoshapeinhishandsasifpreparingtoputiton，hemoistenedhisdry，grayishlips，andsaid，gently:——
\"Friendo\'yours?\"
\"Yes，\"saidtheeditor——\"JackHamlin。Ofcourse，youknowhim?\"
\"Yes。\"
Mr。Bowershereputhishatonhishead，and，afterapause，turnedroundslowlyonceortwice，asifhehadforgottenit，andwasstillseekingit。Finallyhesucceededinfindingtheeditor\'shand，andshookit，albeithisowntrembledslightly。Thenhesaid:——
\"Ireckonyou\'reright。There\'sbinamistake。Iseeitnow。