\"Youarewrong，Itellyou，athousandtimeswrong。Thegirlissimplyupsetbythisearthquake。It\'sagreatpityherfatherdidn\'tcomeinsteadoftelegraphing。AndbyJove，ratherthanhearanymoreofthis，I\'llsendforhimmyself，\"saidthemajor，inanenergeticbutsuppressedvoice。
\"Andthegirlwon\'tthankyou，andyou\'llbeafoolforyourpains，\"returnedMrs。Randolph，withdrypersistency。
\"Butaccordingtoyourownideasofpropriety，Malloryoughttobethefirstonetobeconsulted——andbyme，too。\"
\"Notinthiscase。Ofcourse，beforeanyactualengagementison，youcanspeakofEmile\'sattentions。\"
\"ButsupposeMalloryhasotherviews。Supposehedeclinesthehonor。Themanisnofool。\"
\"Thankyou。Butforthatveryreasonhemust。Listentome，major；ifhedoesn\'tcaretopleasehisdaughterforherownsake，hewillhavetodosoforthesakeofdecency。Yes，Itellyou，shehasthoroughlycompromisedherself——quiteenough，ifitiseverknown，tospoilanyotherengagementherfathermaymake。Why，askAdele!ThedayoftheearthquakesheABSOLUTELYhadtheaudacitytosendhimoutoftheroomupstairsintoyourstudyforherfan，andthenfollowhimuptherealone。Theservantsknewit。Iknewit，forIwasinherroomatthetimewithFatherAntonio。Theearthquakemadeitplaintoeverybody。Declineit!No。Mr。
Mallorywillthinktwiceaboutitbeforehedoesthat。What\'sthat?Who\'sthere?\"
Therewasasuddenrustleinthebusheslikethepassageofsomefrightenedanimal——andthenallwasstillagain。
CHAPTERV
Thesun，anhourhigh，butonlyjusttoppingthegreenishcrestsofthewheat，wasstreaminglikethemorningbreezethroughtheopenlengthofTomBent\'sworkshed。Anexaggeratedandprolongedshadowoftheyounginventorhimselfatworkbesidehisbenchwasstretchingitselffarintothebroken-downranksofstalkstowardstheinvisibleroad，andfallingattheveryfeetofRoseMalloryassheemergedfromthem。
Shewasverypale，veryquiet，andverydetermined。Thetravelingmantlethrownoverhershoulderswasdusty，theribbonsthattiedherhatunderherroundchinhadbecomeunloosed。Sheadvanced，walkingdownthelineofshadowdirectlytowardshim。
\"IamafraidIwillhavetotroubleyouoncemore，\"shesaidwithafaintsmile，whichdidnot，however，reachherperplexedeyes。
\"CouldyougivemeanykindofaconveyancethatwouldtakemetoSanJoseatonce?\"
Theyoungmanhadstartedattherustlingofherdressintheshavings，andturnedeagerly。Thefaintestindicationofalossofinterestwasvisibleforaninstantinhisface，butitquicklypassedintoasmileofrecognition。Yetshefeltthathehadneithernoticedanychangeinherappearance，norexperiencedanywonderatseeingherthereatthathour。
\"Ididnottakeabuggyfromthehouse，\"shewentonquickly，\"forIleftearly，anddidnotwanttodisturbthem。Infact，theydon\'tknowthatIamgone。IwasworriedatnothearingnewsfrommyfatherinSanFranciscosincetheearthquake，andIthoughtI
wouldrundowntoSanJosetoinquirewithoutputtingthemtoanytrouble。Anythingwilldothatyouhaveready，ifIcantakeitatonce。\"
Stillwithoutexhibitingtheleastsurprise，Bentnoddedaffirmatively，putdownhistools，beggedhertowaitamoment，andranoffinthedirectionofthecabin。Ashedisappearedbehindthewheat，shelapsedquitesuddenlyagainsttheworkbench，butrecoveredherselfamomentlater，leaningwithherbackagainstit，herhandsgraspingitoneitherside，andherknitbrowsanddeterminedlittlefaceturnedtowardstheroad。Thenshestooderectagain，shookthedustoutofherskirts，liftedherveil，wipedhercheeksandbrowwiththecornerofasmallhandkerchief，andbeganwalkingupanddownthelengthoftheshedasBentreappeared。
Hewasaccompaniedbythemanwhohadfirstledherthroughthewheat。Hegazeduponherwithapparentlyallthecuriosityandconcernthattheotherhadlacked。
\"YouwanttogettoSanJoseasquickasyoucan?\"hesaidinterrogatively。
\"Yes，\"shesaidquickly，\"ifyoucanhelpme。\"
\"Youwalkedallthewayfromthemajor\'shere?\"hecontinued，withouttakinghiseyesfromherface。
\"Yes，\"sheansweredwithanaffectationofcarelessnessshehadnotshowntoBent。\"ButIstartedveryearly，itwascoolandpleasant，anddidn\'tseemfar。\"
\"I\'llputyoudowninSanJoseinsidethehour。Youshallhavemyhorseandtrottingsulky，andI\'lldriveyoumyself。Willthatdo?\"
Shelookedathimwonderingly。Shehadnotforgottenhispreviousrestraintandgravity，butnowhisfaceseemedtohaverelaxedwithsomehumoroussatisfaction。Shefeltherselfcoloringslightly，butwhetherwithshameorreliefshecouldnottell。
\"Ishallbesomuchobligedtoyou，\"sherepliedhesitatingly，\"andsowillmyfather，Iknow。\"
\"Ireckon，\"saidthemanwiththesamelookofamusedconjecture；
then，withaquick，assuringnod，heturnedaway，anddivedintothewheatagain。
\"You\'reallrightnow，MissMallory，\"saidBent，complacently。
\"Dawsonwillfixit。He\'sgotagoodhorse，andhe\'sagooddriver，too。\"Hepaused，andthenaddedpleasantly，\"Isupposethey\'reallwellupatthehouse?\"
Itwassoevidentthathisremarkcarriednopersonalmeaningtoherselfthatshewasobligedtoanswercarelessly，\"Oh，yes。\"
\"IsupposeyouseeagooddealofMissRandolph——MissAdele，I
thinkyoucallher?\"heremarkedtentatively，andwithacertainboyishenthusiasm，whichshehadneverconceivedpossibletohisnature。
\"Yes，\"sherepliedalittledryly，\"sheistheonlyyoungladythere。\"Shestopped，rememberingAdele\'snaivedescriptionofthemanbeforeher，andsaidabruptly，\"Youknowher，then?\"
\"Alittle，\"repliedtheyoungman，modestly。\"IseeherprettyoftenwhenIampassingtheupperendoftheranch。She\'sverywellbroughtup，andhermannersareveryrefined——don\'tyouthinkso?——andyetshe\'sjustassimpleandnaturalasacountrygirl。
There\'sagreatdealineducationafterall，isn\'tthere?\"hewentonconfidentially，\"andalthough\"——heloweredhisvoiceandlookedcautiouslyaroundhim——\"Ibelievethatsomeofusheredon\'tfancyhermothermuch，there\'snodoubtthatMrs。Randolphknowshowtobringupherchildren。Somepeoplethinkthatkindofeducationisallartificial，anddon\'tbelieveinit，butIdo!\"
Withtheconsciousnessthatshewasrunningawayfromthesepeopleandtheshamefuldisclosureshehadheardlastnight——withtherecollectionofAdele\'sscandalousinterpretationofhermostinnocentactionsandhersuddenandcompleterevulsionagainstallthatshehadpreviouslyadmiredinthathousehold，tohearthismanwhohadseemedtoheralivingprotestagainsttheirideasandprinciples，nowexpressingthemandholdingthemupforemulation，almosttookherbreathaway。
\"IsupposethatmeansyouintendtofixMajorRandolph\'swellforhim?\"shesaiddryly。
\"Yes，\"hereturnedwithoutnoticinghermanner；\"andIthinkIcanfindthatwateragain。I\'vebeenstudyingitupallnight，anddoyouknowwhatI\'mgoingtodo?Iamgoingtomaketheearthquakethatlostithelpmetofinditagain。\"Hepaused，andlookedatherwithasmileandareturnofhisformerenthusiasm。\"Doyourememberthecrackintheadobefieldthatstoppedyouyesterday?\"
\"Yes，\"saidthegirl，withaslightshiver。
\"Itoldyouthenthatthesamecrackwasasplitintherockoutcropfurtheruptheplain，andwasdeeper。Iamsatisfiednow，fromwhatIhaveseen，thatitisreallyaruptureofthewholestrataallthewaydown。That\'stheoneweakpointthattheimprisonedwaterissuretofind，andthat\'swheretheborerwilltapit——inthenewwellthattheearthquakeitselfhassunk。\"
Itseemedtohernowthatsheunderstoodhisexplanationperfectly，andshewonderedthemorethathehadbeensomistakeninhisestimateofAdele。SheturnedawayalittleimpatientlyandlookedanxiouslytowardsthepointwhereDawsonhaddisappeared。Bentfollowedhereyes。
\"He\'llbehereinamoment，MissMallory。Hehastodriveslowlythroughthegrain，butIhearthewheels。\"Hestopped，andhisvoicetookupitspreviousnoteofboyishhesitation。\"Bytheway——
I\'ll——I\'llbegoinguptotheRanchothisafternoontoseethemajor。HaveyouanymessageforMrs。Randolph——orfor——forMissAdele?\"
\"No\"——saidRose，hesitatingly，\"and——and\"——
\"Isee，\"interruptedBent，carelessly。\"Youdon\'twantanythingsaidaboutyourcominghere。Iwon\'t。\"
Itstruckherthatheseemedtohavenoulteriormeaninginthesuggestion。Butbeforeshecouldmakeanyreply，Dawsonreappeared，drivingahandsomemareharnessedtoalight，spider-
likevehicle。Hehadalsoassumed，evidentlyingreathaste，ablackfrockcoatbuttonedoverhiswaistcoatlessandcravatlessshirt，andatallblackhatthatalreadyseemedtobecrackinginthesunlight。Hedroveup，atonceassistedhertothenarrowperchbesidehim，andwithanodtoBentdroveoff。Hisbreathlessexpeditionrelievedtheleave-takingoftheseyoungpeopleofanyceremony。
\"Isuppose，\"saidMr。Dawson，givingahalfglanceoverhisshoulderastheystruckintothedustyhighway，——\"Isupposeyoudon\'tcaretoseeanybodybeforeyougettoSanJose?\"
\"No-o-o，\"saidRose，timidly。
\"AndIreckonyouwouldn\'tmindmyracin\'abitifanybodykemup?\"
\"No。\"
\"Themare\'ssorto\'fastidiousabouttakin\'anybody\'sdust。\"
\"Isshe?\"saidRose，withafaintsmile。
\"Awful，\"respondedhercompanion；\"andthequeerestthingofallis，shecan\'tbeartohaveanyonebehindher，either。\"
Heleanedforwardwithhisexpressionofhumorousenjoymentofsomelatentjokeanddidsomethingwiththereins——Rosenevercouldclearlyunderstandwhat，thoughitseemedtoherthathesimplyliftedthemwithostentatiouslightness；butthemaresuddenlyseemedtoLENGTHENherselfandloseherheight，andthestalksofwheatoneithersideofthedustytrackbegantomeltintoeachother，andthenslippedlikeaflashintoonelong，continuous，shimmeringgreenhedge。Soperfectwasthemare\'sactionthatthegirlwasscarcelyconsciousofanyincreasedeffort；soharmoniousthewholemovementthatthelightskeletonwagonseemedonlyaprolongedprocessofthatlong，slimbodyandfree，collarlessneck，bothstraightasthethinshaftsoneachsideandstraighterthanthedelicateribbon-liketraceswhich，inwhatseemedamereaffectationofconsciouspower，hungattimesalmostlimpbetweenthewhiffle-treeandthenarrowbreastbandwhichwasallthatconfinedtheanimal\'spowerfulfore-quarters。SosuperbwasthereachofitslongeasystridethatRosecouldscarcelyseeanyundulationsinthebrownshiningbackonwhichshecouldhaveplacedherfoot，norfeltthesoftbeatofthedelicatehoofsthattookthedustsofirmlyandyetsolightly。
TherapidityofmotionwhichkeptthembothwithheadsbentforwardandseemedtoforcebackanyutterancethatrosetotheirlipssparedRosetheobligationofconversation，andhercompanionwasequallyreticent。ButitwasevidenttoherthathehalfsuspectedshewasrunningawayfromtheRandolphs，andthatshewishedtoavoidtheembarrassmentofbeingovertakeneveninpersuasivepursuit。Itwasnotpossiblethatheknewthecauseofherflight，andyetshecouldnotaccountforhisevidentdesiretobefriendher，nor，aboveall，forhisapparentlyhumorousenjoymentofthesituation。Hadhetakenitgravely，shemighthavebeentemptedtopartlyconfideinhimandaskhisadvice。Wasshedoingright，afterall?OughtshenottohavestayedlongenoughtospeakhermindtoMrs。Randolphanddemandtobesenthome?No!Shehadnotonlyshrunkfromrepeatingtheinfamousslandershehadoverheard，butshehadaterriblefearthatifshehaddoneso，Mrs。Randolphwascapableofdenyingit，orevenchargingherofbeingstillundertheinfluenceoftheearthquakeshockandofwalkinginhersleep。No!Shecouldnottrusther——shecouldtrustnoonethere。
Hadnoteventhemajorlistenedtothoseinfamouslies?Hadshenotseenthathewashelplessinthehandsofthiscabalinhisownhousehold?——acabalthatsheherselfhadthoughtlesslyjoinedagainsthim。
Theyhadreachedthefirstslightascent。Hercompaniondrewouthiswatch，lookedatitwithsatisfaction，andchangedthepositionofhishandsonthereins。Withoutbeingabletodetectthedifference，shefelttheywereslackeningspeed。Sheturnedinquiringlytowardshim；henoddedhishead，withahalfsmileandagesturetohertolookahead。ThespiresofSanJosewerealreadyfaintlyupliftingfromthedistantfringeofoaks。
Sosoon!Infifteenminutesshewouldbethere——andTHEN!Sherememberedsuddenlyshehadnotyetdeterminedwhattodo。ShouldshegoonatoncetoSanFrancisco，ortelegraphtoherfatherandawaithimatSanJose?Ineithercaseanewfearoftheprecipitancyofheractionandtheinadequacyofherreasonshadsprungupinhermind。Wouldherfatherunderstandher?Wouldheunderratethecauseandbemortifiedattheinsultshehadgiventhefamilyofhisoldfriend，or，moredreadfulstill，wouldheexaggerateherwrongsandseekapersonalquarrelwiththemajor。
Hewasamanofquicktemper，andhadtheWesternideasofredress。
Perhapsevennowshewasprecipitatingaduelbetweenthem。Hercheeksgrewwanagain，herbreathcamequickly，tearsgatheredinhereyes。Oh，shewasadreadfulgirl，sheknewit；shewasanutterlymiserableone，andsheknewthattoo!
Thereinsweretightened。Thepacelessenedandatlastfelltoawalk。Consciousofhertelltaleeyesandtroubledface，shedarednotturntohercompaniontoaskhimwhy，butglancedacrossthefields。
\"WhenyoufirstcameIdidn\'tgettoknowyourname，MissMallory，butIreckonIknowyourfather。\"
Herfather!Whatmadehimsaythat?Shewantedtospeak，butshefeltshecouldnot。Inanothermoment，ifhewenton，shemustdoSOMETHING——shewouldcry!
\"Ireckonyou\'llbewantingtogotothehotelfirst，anyway?\"
There!——sheknewit!HeWOULDkeepon!Andnowshehadburstintotears。
Themarewasstillwalkingslowly；themanwaslazilybendingforwardovertheshaftsasifnothinghadoccurred。Thensuddenly，illogically，andwithoutamoment\'swarning，thepridethathadsustainedhercrumbledandbecameasthedustoftheroad。
Sheburstoutandtoldhim——thisstranger!——thismanshehaddisliked!——allandEVERYTHING。Howshehadfelt，howshehadbeendeceived，andwhatshehadoverheard!
\"Ithoughtasmuch，\"saidhercompanion，quietly，\"andthat\'swhyI
sentforyourfather。\"
\"Yousentformyfather!——when?——where?\"echoedRose，inastonishment。
\"Yesterday。Hewastocometo-day，andifwedon\'tfindhimatthehotelitwillbebecausehehasalreadystartedtocomeherebytheupperandlongerroad。ButyouleaveittoME，anddon\'tyousayanythingtohimofthisnow。Ifhe\'satthehotel，I\'llsayI
droveyoudowntheretoshowoffthemare。Sabe?Ifheisn\'t，I\'llleaveyouthereandcomebackheretofindhim。I\'vegotsomethingtotellhimthatwillsetYOUallright。\"Hesmiledgrimly，liftedthereins，themarestartedforwardagain，andthevehicleanditsoccupantsdisappearedinavanishingdustcloud。
CHAPTERVI
ItwasnearlynoonwhenMr。Dawsonfinishedrubbingdownhissweatingmareinthelittlestableshedamongthewheat。HehadleftRoseatthehotel，fortheyfoundMr。Malloryhadpreviouslystartedbyacircuitousrouteforthewheatranch。Hehadresumednotonlyhisworkingclothesbuthisworkingexpression。HewasnowsuperintendingtheunloadingofawainofstoresandimplementswhenthelightcarryalloftheRandolphsrolledintothefield。ItcontainedonlyMrs。Randolphandthedriver。AslightlookofintelligencepassedbetweenthelatterandthenearestoneofDawson\'scompanions，succeeded，however，byadulllookofstupidvacancyonthefacesofalltheothers，includingDawson。Mrs。
Randolphnoticedit，andwasforewarned。ShereflectedthatnohumanbeingseverlookedNATURALLYasstupidasthatandwereabletowork。Shesmiledsarcastically，andthenbeganwithdrydistinctnessandnarrowinglips。
\"MissMallory，ayoungladyvisitingus，wentoutforanearlywalkthismorningandhasnotreturned。Itispossibleshemayhavelostherwayamongyourwheat。Haveyouseenanythingofher?\"
Dawsonraisedhiseyesfromhisworkandglancedslowlyaroundathiscompanions，asiftakingtheheavysenseoftheassembly。Oneortwoshooktheirheadsmechanically，andreturnedtotheirsuspendedlabor。Hesaid，coolly:——
\"Nobodyhereseemsto。\"
Shefeltthattheywerelying。Shewasonlyawomanagainstfivemen。Shewasonlyapettydomestictyrant；shemighthavebeenalargerone。Butshehadallthecourageofthatpossibility。
\"MajorRandolphandmysonareaway，\"shewenton，drawingherselferect。\"ButIknowthatthemajorwillpayliberallyifthesemenwillsearchthefield，besidesmakingitallrightwithyour——
EMPLOYERS——forthelossoftime。\"
Dawsonutteredasinglewordinalowvoicetothemannearesthim，whoapparentlycommunicatedittotheothers，forthefourmenstoppedunloading，andmovedawayoneaftertheother——eventhedriverjoiningintheexodus。Mrs。Randolphsmiledsarcastically；
itwasplainthatthesepeople，withalltheirboastedindependence，werequiteamenabletopecuniaryconsiderations。Nevertheless，asDawsonremainedlookingquietlyather，shesaid:——
\"ThenIsupposethey\'veconcludedtogoandsee?\"
\"No；I\'vesentthemawaysothattheycouldn\'tHEAR。\"
\"Hearwhat?\"
\"WhatI\'vegottosaytoyou。\"
Shelookedathimsuddenly。Thenshesaid，withadisdainfulglancearoundher:\"IseeIamhelplesshere，and——thankstoyourtrickery——alone。Haveacare，sir；IwarnyouthatyouwillhavetoanswertoMajorRandolphforanyinsolence。\"
\"Ireckonyouwon\'ttellMajorRandolphwhatIhavetosaytoyou，\"
hereturnedcoolly。
Herlipswerenearlyagrayishhue，butshesaidscornfully:\"Andwhynot?Doyouknowwhoyouaretalkingto?\"
Themancamelazilyforwardtothecarryall，carelesslybrushedasidetheslackreins，andrestinghiselbowsonthehorse\'sback，laidhischinonhishands，ashelookedupinthewoman\'sface。
\"Yes；IknowwhoI\'mtalkingto，\"hesaidcoolly。\"Butasthemajordon\'t，Ireckonyouwon\'ttellhim。\"
\"Standawayfromthathorse!\"shesaid，herwholefacetakingthegrayishcolorofherlips，butherblackeyesgrowingsmallerandbrighter。\"Handmethosereins，andletmepass!Whatcanailleareyoutostopme?\"
\"Ithoughtso，\"returnedtheman，withoutalteringhisposition；
\"youdon\'tknowME。YouneversawMEbefore。Well，I\'mJimDawson，thenephewofL\'Hommadieu，YOUROLDMASTER!\"
Shegrippedtheironrailoftheseatasiftoleapfromit，butcheckedherselfsuddenlyandleanedback，withasetsmileonhermouththatseemedstampedthere。Itwasremarkablethatwiththatsmilesheflungawayheroldaffectationofsuperciliousnessforanolderandruderaudacity，andthatnotonlytheexpression，butthetypeofherfaceappearedtohavechanged。
\"Idon\'tsay，\"continuedthemanquietly，\"thathedidn\'tMARRYyoubeforehedied。ButyouknowaswellasIdothatthelawsofhisStatedidn\'trecognizethemarriageofamasterwithhisoctoroonslave!AndyouknowaswellasIdothatevenifhehadfreedyou，hecouldn\'tchangeyourblood。Why，ifI\'dbeenwillingtostayatAvoyellestobeanigger-driverlikehim，theplantationof\'deFontanges\'——whosenameyouhavetaken——wouldhavebeenlefttome。
IfYOUhadstayedthere，youmighthavebeenmypropertyinsteadofYOURowningasquaremanlikeRandolph。Youdidn\'tthinkofthatwhenyoucamehere，didyou?\"hesaidcomposedly。
\"Oh，monDieu!\"shesaid，droppingrapidlyintoadifferentaccent，withherwhiteteethandfixedmirthlesssmile，\"soitisaclaimforPROPERTY，eh?You\'rewantingmoney——you?Tresbien，youforgetweareinCalifornia，whereonedoesnotownaslave。Andyouhaveafinestorythere，mypoorfriend。Verypretty，butveryhardtoprove，m\'sieu。Andthesepeasantsareinit，eh，workingitonshareslikethefarm，eh?\"
\"Well，\"saidDawson，slightlychanginghisposition，andpassinghishandoverthehorse\'sneckwithahalf-weariedcontempt，\"oneofthesemenisfromPlaquemine，andtheotherfromCoupee。Theyknowallthel\'Hommadieus\'history。Andtheyknowastreakofthetarbrushwhentheyseeit。Theytookyourmeasurewhentheycameherelastyear，andsizedyouupfairly。SohadI，forthematterofthat，whenIFIRSTsawyou。Andwecomparednotes。Butthemajorisasquareman，forallheisyourhusband，andwereckonedhehadabigenoughcontractonhishandstotakecareofyouandl\'Hommadieu\'shalf-breeds，andso\"——hetossedthereinscontemptuouslyaside——\"wekeptthistoourselves。\"
\"Andnowyouwant——what——eh?\"
\"Wewantanendtothisfoolery，\"hebrokeoutroughly，steppingbackfromthevehicle，andfacinghersuddenly，withhisfirstangrygesture。\"Wewantanendtotheseairsandgrimaces，andallthisdandyniggerbusiness；wewantanendtothis\'cake-walking\'
throughthewheat，andfloutingofthehonestlaborofyourbetters。Wewantyouandyour\'deFontanges\'toclimbdown。Andwewantanendtothisroping-inofwhitefolkstosuityourlittlegame；wewantanendtoyourtryingtomixyourniggerbloodwithanyonehere，andweintendtostopit。Wedrawthelineatthemajor。\"
Lashedasshehadbeenbythosewordsapparentlyoutofallsemblanceofherformersocialarrogance，alowerandmorestubbornresistanceseemedtohavesprungupinher，asshesatsideways，watchinghimwithhersetsmileandcontractingeyes。
\"Ah，\"shesaiddryly，\"soSHEISHERE。Ithoughtso。Whichofyouisit，eh?It\'sagoodspec——Mallory\'sarichman。She\'snotparticular。\"
Themanhadstoppedasiflistening，hisheadturnedtowardstheroad。Thenheturnedcarelessly，andfacingheragain，wavedhishandwithagestureoftireddismissal，andsaid，\"Go!You\'llfindyourdriverovertherebythetool-shed。Hehasheardnothingyet——
butI\'vegivenyoufairwarning。Go!\"
Hewalkedslowlybacktowardstheshed，asthewoman，snatchingupthereins，droveviolentlyoffinthedirectionwherethemenhaddisappeared。Butsheturnedaside，ignoringherwaitingdriverinherwildandrecklessabandonmentofallheroldconventionalattitudes，andlashingherhorseforwardwiththesamesetsmileonherface，thesameoddrelaxationoffigure，andthesamesquaringofherelbows。
Avoidingthemainroad，shepushedintoanarrowtrackthatintersectedanothernearerthesceneoftheaccidenttoRose\'sbuggythreeweeksbefore。Shehadnearlypasseditwhenshewashailedbyastrangevoice，andlookingup，perceivedahorsemanflounderinginthemazesofthewheattoonesideofthetrack。
Whatevermeanthoughtofherpastlifeshewasflyingfrom，whatevermeanpurposeshewasflyingto，shepulledupsuddenly，andassuddenlyresumedhererect，aggressivestiffness。Thestrangerwasamiddle-agedman；indressandappearanceadwellerofcities。Heliftedhishatasheperceivedtheoccupantofthewagontobealady。
\"Ibegyourpardon，butIfearI\'velostmywayintryingtomakeashortcuttotheExcelsiorCompany\'sRanch。\"
\"Youareinitnow，\"saidMrs。Randolph，quickly。
\"Thankyou，butwherecanIfindthefarmhouse?\"
\"Thereisnone，\"shereturned，withheroldsuperciliousness，\"unlessyouchoosetogivethatnametotheshantiesandshedswherethelaborersandservantslive，neartheroad。\"
Thestrangerlookedpuzzled。\"I\'mlookingforaMr。Dawson，\"hesaidreflectively，\"butImayhavemadesomemistake。DoyouknowMajorRandolph\'shousehereabouts?\"
\"Ido。IamMrs。Randolph，\"shesaidstiffly。
Thestranger\'sbrowcleared，andhesmiledpleasantly。\"Thenthisisafortunatemeeting，\"hesaid，raisinghishatagainashereinedinhishorsebesidethewagon，\"forIamMr。Mallory，andI
waslookingforwardtothepleasureofpresentingmyselftoyouanhourortwolater。Thefactis，anoldacquaintance，Mr。Dawson，telegraphedmeyesterdaytomeethimhereonurgentbusiness，andI
feltobligedtogotherefirst。\"
Mrs。Randolph\'seyessparkledwithasuddengratifiedintelligence，buthermannerseemedrathertoincreasethanabateitsgrimprecision。
\"Ourmeetingthismorning，Mr。Mallory，isbothfortunateandunfortunate，forIregrettosaythatyourdaughter，whohasnotbeenquiteherselfsincetheearthquake，wasmissingearlythismorningandhasnotyetbeenfound，thoughwehavesearchedeverywhere。Understandme，\"shesaid，asthestrangerstarted，\"I
havenofearforherPERSONALsafety，IamonlyconcernedforanyINDISCRETIONthatshemaycommitinthepresenceofthesestrangerswhosecompanyshewouldseemtoprefertoours。\"
\"ButIdon\'tunderstandyou，madam，\"saidMallory，sternly；\"youarespeakingofmydaughter，and\"——
\"Excuseme，Mr。Mallory，\"saidMrs。Randolph，liftingherhandwithherdriestdeprecationandhermostdesiccatingsmile，\"I\'mnotpassingjudgmentorcriticism。Iamofaforeignrace，andconsequentlydonotunderstandthefreedomofAmericanyoungladies，andtheirfamiliaritywiththeoppositesex。Imakenocharges，Ionlywishtoassureyouthatshewillnodoubtbefoundinthecompanyandundertheprotectionofherowncountrymen。
Thereis，\"sheaddedwithironicaldistinctness，\"ayoungmechanic，orfieldhand，or\'quackwell-doctor，\'whomsheseemstoadmire，andwithwhomsheappearstobeonequalterms。\"
Malloryregardedherforamomentfixedly，andthenhissternnessrelaxedtoamischievouslycomplacentsmile。\"ThatmustbeyoungBent，ofwhomI\'veheard，\"hesaidwithunabatedcheerfulness。
\"AndIdon\'tknowbutwhatshemaybewithhim，afterall。FornowIthinkofit，achuckle-headedfellow，ofwhomamomentagoI
inquiredthewaytoyourhouse，toldmeI\'dbetterasktheyoungmanandyoungwomanwhowere\'philanderingthroughthewheat\'
yonder。Supposewelookforthem。FromwhatI\'veheardofBenthe\'stoomuchwrappedupinhisinventionsforflirtation，butitwouldbeagoodjoketostumbleuponthem。\"
Mrs。Randolph\'seyessparkledwithaminglingofgratifiedmaliceandundisguisedcontemptforthefatuousfatherbesideher。Butbeforeshecouldacceptordeclinethechallenge，ithadbecomeuseless。Amurmurofyouthfulvoicesstruckherear，andshesuddenlystooduprightandtransfixedinthecarriage。Forloungingdownslowlytowardsthemoutofthedimgreenaislesofthearboredwheat，lostinthemselvesandtheshimmeringveiloftheirseclusion，cametheengineer，ThomasBent，andonhisarm，gazingingenuouslyintohisface，thefigureofAdele，——herownperfectdaughter。
\"Idon\'tthink，mydear，\"saidMr。Mallory，astheanxiousRoseflewintohisarmsonhisreturntoSanJose，afewhourslater，\"thatitwillbenecessaryforyoutogobackagaintoMajorRandolph\'sbeforeweleave。Ihavesaid\'Good-by\'foryouandthankedthem，andyourtrunksarepackedandwillbesenthere。
Thefactis，mydear，youseethisaffairoftheearthquakeandthedisastertotheartesianwellhaveupsetalltheirarrangements，andIamafraidthatmylittlegirlwouldbeonlyintheirwayjustnow。\"