ButDonJosewasnotdestinedtoremainlonginpeacefulstudyoftheAmericanConstitution。Hehadbarelytakenupthebookagainandrenewedhisseriouscontemplationofitsexcellenceswhentherewasanotherknockathisdoor。Thistime,inobediencetohisinvitationtoenter,thenewvisitorapproachedwithmoredeliberationandacertainformality。
HewasayoungmanofapparentlythesameageasDonJose,handsomelydressed,andofaquietself—possessionandgravityalmostequaltohishost’s。
\"IbelieveIamaddressingDonJoseSepulvida,\"hesaidwithafamiliaryetcourteousinclinationofhishandsomehead。DonJose,whohadriseninmarkedcontrasttohisreceptionofhisformerguest,answered,——
\"Youaretrulymakingtohimagreathonor。\"
\"Well,you’regoingitblindasfarasI’Mconcernedcertainly,\"
saidtheyoungman,withaslightsmile,\"foryoudon’tknowME。\"
\"Pardon,myfriend,\"saidDonJosegently,\"inthisbook,thisgreatTestamentofyourgloriousnation,Ihavereadthatyouareallequal,onenotabove,onenotbelowtheother。IsaluteinyoutheNation!Itisenough!\"
\"Thankyou,\"returnedthestranger,withafacethat,savingthefaintesttwinkleinthecornerofhisdarkeyes,wasasimmovableashishost’s,\"butforthepurposesofmybusinessIhadbettersayIamJackHamlin,agambler,andamjustnowdealingfarointheFloridasaloonroundthecorner。\"
Hepausedcarelessly,asiftoallowDonJosetheprotesthedidnotmake,andthencontinued,——
\"Thematteristhis。Oneofyourvaqueros,whois,however,anAmerican,wasroundthereanhouragobuckingagainstfaro,andputupandLOST,notonlythemarehewasriding,butahorsewhichI
havejustlearnedisyours。Nowwereckon,overthere,thatwecanmakeenoughmoneyplayingasquaregame,withoutbeingobligedtotakepropertyfromahowlingdrunkard,tosaynothingofitnotbelongingtohim,andI’vecomehere,DonJose,tosaythatifyou’llsendoverandbringawayyourmanandyourhorse,youcanhave’emboth。\"
\"IfIhavecomprehended,honestHamlin,\"saidDonJoseslowly,\"thisRoberto,whowasmyvaqueroandismybrother,hasapproachedthisfarogamebyhimselfunsolicited?\"
\"Hecertainlydidn’tseemshyofit,\"saidMr。Hamlinwithequalgravity。\"Tothebestofmyknowledgehelookedasifhe’dbeentherebefore。\"
\"Andifhehadwon,excellentHamlin,youwouldhavegivenhimtheequalofhismareandhorse?\"
\"Ahundreddollarsforeach,yes,certainly。\"
\"ThenIseenotwhyIshouldsendforthepropertywhichistrulynolongermine,norformybrotherwhowillamusehimselfafterthefashionofhiscountryinthecompanyofsohonorableacaballeroasyourself?Stay!ohimbecilethatIam。Ihavenotremembered。
Youwouldpossiblysaythathehasnolongerofhorses!Playhim;
playhim,admirableyetprudentHamlin。Ihavetwothousandhorses!Ofasuretyhecannotexhausttheminfourhours。
Thereforeplayhim,trusttomeforrecompensa,andhavenofear。\"
Aquickflushcoveredthestranger’scheek,andhiseyebrowsmomentarilycontracted。Hewalkedcarelesslytothewindow,however,glancedout,andthenturnedtoDonJose。
\"MayIask,then,\"hesaidwithalmostsepulchralgravity,\"isanybodytakingcareofyou?\"
\"Truly,\"returnedDonJosecautiously,\"thereismybrotherandfriendRoberto。\"
\"Ah!Roberto,certainly,\"saidMr。Hamlinprofoundly。
\"Whydoyouask,consideratefriend?\"
\"Oh!Ionlythought,withyourkindofopinions,youmustoftenfeellonelyinCalifornia。Good—bye。\"HeshookDonJose’shandheartily,tookuphishat,inclinedhisheadwithgracefulseriousness,andpassedoutoftheroom。Inthehallhemetthelandlord。
\"Well,\"saidJenkinson,withasmilehalfanxious,halfinsinuating,\"yousawhim?Whatdoyouthinkofhim?\"
Mr。HamlinpausedandregardedJenkinsonwithacalmlycontemplativeair,asifheweretryingtorememberfirstwhohewas,andsecondlywhyheshouldspeaktohimatall。\"Thinkofwhom?\"herepeatedcarelessly。
\"Whyhim——youknow——DonJose。\"
\"Ididnotseeanythingthematterwithhim,\"returnedHamlinwithfrigidsimplicity。
\"What?nothingqueer?\"
\"Well,no——exceptthathe’saguestinYOURhouse,\"saidHamlinwithgreatcheerfulness。\"Butthen,asyoukeepahotel,youcan’thelpoccasionallyadmittinga——gentleman。\"
Mr。Jenkinsonsmiledtheuneasysmileofamanwhoknewthathisinterlocutor’splayfulnessoccasionallyextendedtotheuseofaderringer,inwhichhewassingularlypromptandproficient,andMr。Hamlin,equallyconsciousofthatknowledgeonthepartofhiscompanion,descendedthestaircasecomposedly。
Butthedayhaddarkenedgraduallyintonight,andDonJosewasatlastcompelledtoputasidehisvolume。ThesoundofalargebellrungviolentlyalongthehallandpassagesadmonishedhimthattheAmericandinnerwasready,andalthoughtheviandsandthemodeofcookingwerenotentirelytohisfancy,hehad,inhisgraveenthusiasmforthenationalhabits,attendedthetabled’hoteregularlywithRoberto。Onreachingthelowerhallhewasinformedthathishenchmanhadearlysuccumbedtothepotencyofhislibations,andhadalreadybeencarriedbytwomentobed。
Receivingthisinformationwithhisusualstoicalcomposure,heenteredthedining—room,butwassurprisedtofindthataseparatetablehadbeenpreparedforhimbythelandlord,andthatarudeattempthadbeenmadetoservehimwithhisownnativedishes。
\"SenoresySenoritas,\"saidDonJose,turningfromitandwithgravepolitenessaddressingtheassembledcompany,\"ifIseemto—
daytopartakealoneandinareservedfashionofcertainviandsthathavebeenpreparedforme,itistrulyfromnolackofcourtesytoyourdistinguishedcompany,butrather,Iprotest,toavoidtheappearanceofgreaterdiscourtesytoourexcellentJenkinson,whohastakensomepainsandtroubletocomporthisestablishmenttowhatheconceivestobemydesires。Wherefore,myfriends,inGod’snamefallto,thesameasifIwerenotpresent,andgracebewithyou。\"
Afewstaredatthetall,gentle,melancholyfigurewithsomeastonishment;afewwhisperedtotheirneighbors;butwhen,attheconclusionofhisrepast,DonJosearoseandagainsalutedthecompany,oneortwostoodupandsmilinglyreturnedthecourtesy,andPollyJenkinson,thelandlord’syoungestdaughter,tothegreatdelightofhercompanions,blewhimakiss。
Aftervisitingthevaqueroinhisroom,andwithhisownhandapplyingsomenativeointmenttothevariouscontusionsandscratcheswhichrecordedthelateengagementsoftheunconsciousRoberto,DonJoseplacedagoldcoininthehandsoftheIrishchamber—maid,andbiddingherlookafterthesleeper,hethrewhisserapeoverhisshouldersandpassedintotheroad。Theloungersontheverandagazedathimcuriously,yethalfacknowledgedhisusualserioussalutation,andmadewayforhimwithacertainrespect。Avoidingthefewnarrowstreetsofthelittletown,hepursuedhiswaymeditativelyalongthehighroad,returningtothehotelafteranhour’sramble,astheeveningstage—coachhaddepositeditspassengersanddeparted。
\"There’saladywaitingtoseeyouupstairs,\"saidthelandlordwithapeculiarsmile。\"Sheratheralloweditwasn’ttheproperthingtoseeyoualone,orshewasn’tquiteekaltoit,Ireckon,forshegotmyPollytostandbyher。\"
\"YourPolly,goodJenkinson?\"saidDonJoseinterrogatively。
\"Mydarter,DonJose。\"
\"Ah,truly!Iamtwiceblessed,\"saidDonJose,gravelyascendingthestaircase。
Onenteringtheroomheperceivedatall,large—featuredwomanwithanextraordinaryquantityofblondhairpartedononesideofherbroadforehead,sittinguponthesofa。BesidehersatPollyJenkinson,herfresh,honest,andratherprettyfacebeamingwithdelightedexpectationandmischief。DonJosesalutedthemwithaformalcourtesy,which,however,hadnotraceofthefactthathereallydidnotrememberanythingofthem。
\"Icalled,\"saidthelarge—featuredwomanwithavoiceequallypronounced,\"inreferencetoarequestfromyou,which,thoughperhapsunconventionalintheextreme,Ihavebeenabletomeetbytheinterventionofthisyounglady’scompany。Mynameonthiscardmaynotbefamiliartoyou——butIam’DorothyDewdrop。’\"
AslightmovementofabstractionandsurprisepassedoverDonJose’sface,butasquicklyvanishedasheadvancedtowardsherandgracefullyraisedthetipsofherfingerstohislips。\"HaveI
then,atlast,theprivilegeofbeholdingthatmostdistressedanddeeplyinjuredofwomen!Orisitbutadream!\"
Itcertainlywasnot,asfarasconcernedthesubstantialpersonofthewomanbeforehim,who,however,seemedsomewhatuneasyunderhiswordsaswellasthedemurescrutinyofMissJenkinson。\"I
thoughtyoumighthaveforgotten,\"shesaidwithslightacerbity,\"thatyoudesiredaninterviewwiththeauthoressof\"——
\"Pardon,\"interruptedDonJose,standingbeforeherinanattitudeofthedeepestsympathizingdejection,\"Ihadnotforgotten。ItisnowthreeweekssinceIhavereadinthejournal’GoldenGate’theeloquentandtouchingpoemofyoursufferings,andyouraspirations,andyourmiscomprehensionsbythoseyoulove。I
rememberasyesterdaythatyouhavesaid,thatcruelfatehavelinkedyoutoasoullessstate——that——butIspeaknotwellyourownbeautifullanguage——youareintearsatevenfall’becausethatyouarenotunderstoodofothers,andthatyoursoulrecoiledfromironbonds,until,asinadream,yousoughtsuccorandreleaseinsometrueKnightofequalplight。’\"
\"Iamtold,\"saidthelarge—featuredwomanwithsomesatisfaction,\"thatthepoemtowhichyoualludehasbeengenerallyadmired。\"
\"Admired!Senora,\"saidDonJose,withstilldarkersympathy,\"itisnottheword;itisFELT。Ihavefeltit。WhenIreadthosewordsofdistress,Iamtouchedofcompassion!Ihavesaid,Thiswoman,sodisconsolate,sooppressed,mustberelieved,protected!
Ihavewrotetoyou,atthe’GoldenGate,’toseemehere。\"
\"AndIhavecome,asyouperceive,\"saidthepoetess,risingwithaslightsmileofconstraint;\"andemboldenedbyyourappreciation,I
havebroughtafewtriflesthrownoff\"——
\"Pardon,unhappySenora,\"interruptedDonJose,liftinghishanddeprecatinglywithoutrelaxinghismelancholyprecision,\"buttoacavalierfurtherevidenceisnotrequired——andIhavenotyetmakefinish。IhavenotcontentmyselftoWRITEtoyou。IhavesentmytrustyfriendRobertotoinquireatthe’GoldenGate’ofyourcondition。Ihavefoundthere,mostunhappyandpersecutedfriend——
thatwithtrulyangelicforbearanceyouhavenottoldALL——thatyouareMARRIED,andthatofanecessityitisyourhusbandthatiscoldandsoullessandunsympathizing——andallthatyoudescribe。\"
\"Sir!\"saidthepoetess,risinginangryconsternation。
\"Ihavewrittentohim,\"continuedDonJose,withunheedinggravity;\"haveappealedtohimasafriend,Ihaveconjuredhimasacaballero,IhavethreatenedhimevenasachampionoftheRight,Ihavesaidtohim,ineffect——thatthismustnotbeasitis。I
haveinformedhimthatIhavemadeanappointmentwithyouevenatthishouse,andIchallengedhimtomeetyouhere——inthisroom——
evenatthisinstant,and,withGod’shelp,weshouldmakegoodourchargesagainsthim。Itisyetearly;Ihaveallowedtimeforthelatenessofthestageandthefactthathewillcomebyanotherconveyance。Therefore,ODonaDewdrop,tremblenotlikethynamesakeasitwereontheleafofapprehensionandexpectancy。I,DonJose,amheretoprotectthee。Iwilltakethesecharges\"——
gentlywithdrawingthemanuscriptsfromherastonishedgrasp——
\"thougheven,asIrelatedtotheebefore,Iwantthemnot,yetwewilltogetherconfronthimwiththemandmakethemgoodagainsthim。\"
\"Areyoumad?\"demandedtheladyinalmoststentoriousaccents,\"oristhisanunmanlyhoax?\"Suddenlyshestoppedinundeniableconsternation。\"Goodheavens,\"shemuttered,\"ifAbnershouldbelievethis。HeisSUCHafool!Hehaslatelybeenqueerandjealous。Ohdear!\"shesaid,turningtoPollyJenkinsonwiththefirstindicationoffeminineweakness,\"Ishetellingthetruth?ishecrazy?whatshallIdo?\"
PollyJenkinson,whohadwitnessedtheinterviewwiththeintensestenjoyment,nowroseequaltotheoccasion。
\"Youhavemadeamistake,\"shesaid,upliftingherdemureblueeyestoDonJose’sdarkandmelancholygaze。\"ThisladyisaPOETESS!
Thesufferingsshedepicts,thesorrowsshefeels,areintheIMAGINATION,inherfancyonly。\"
\"Ah!\"saidDonJosegloomily;\"thenitisallfalse。\"
\"No,\"saidPollyquickly,\"onlytheyarenotherOWN,youknow。
Theyaresomebodyelses。Sheonlydescribesthemforanother,don’tyousee?\"
\"Andwho,then,isthisunhappyone?\"askedtheDonquickly。
\"Well——a——friend,\"stammeredPolly,hesitatingly。
\"Afriend!\"repeatedDonJose。\"Ah,Isee,ofpossibilityadearone,even,\"hecontinued,gazingwithtendermelancholyintotheuntroubledceruleandepthsofPolly’seyes,\"even,butno,child,itcouldnotbe!THOUarttooyoung。\"
\"Ah,\"saidPolly,withanextraordinarygulpandafiercenudgeofthepoetess,\"butitWASme。\"
\"You,Senorita,\"repeatedDonJose,fallingbackinanattitudeofmingledadmirationandpity。\"You,thechildofJenkinson!\"
\"Yes,yes,\"joinedinthepoetesshurriedly;\"butthatisn’tgoingtostoptheconsequencesofyourwretchedblunder。Myhusbandwillbefurious,andwillbehereatanymoment。Goodgracious!whatisthat?\"
Theviolentslammingofadistantdooratthatinstant,thesoundsofquickscufflingonthestaircase,andtheupliftingofaniratevoicehadreachedherearsandthrownherbackinthearmsofPollyJenkinson。Eventheyounggirlherselfturnedananxiousgazetowardsthedoor。DonJosealonewasunmoved。
\"Possessyourselvesinpeace,Senoritas,\"hesaidcalmly。\"Wehavehereonlythecharacteristicconvalescenceofmyfriendandbrother,theexcellentRoberto。Hewilleverrecoverhimselffromdrinkwithviolence,evenasheprecipitateshimselfintoitwithfury。Hehasbeenprematurelyawakened。Iwilldiscoverthecause。\"
Withanelaboratebowtothefrightenedwomen,helefttheroom。
ScarcelyhadthedoorclosedwhenthepoetessturnedquicklytoPolly。\"Theman’sastarkstaringlunatic,but,thankHeaven,Abnerwillseeitatonce。Andnowlet’sgetawaywhilewecan。
Tothink,\"shesaid,snatchingupherscatteredmanuscripts,\"thatTHATwasallthebeastwanted。\"
\"I’msurehe’sverygentleandkind,\"saidPolly,recoveringherdimpleswithademurepout;\"butstop,he’scomingback。\"
ItwasindeedDonJosere—enteringtheroomwiththecomposureofarelievedandself—satisfiedmind。\"ItisevenasIsaid,Senora,\"
hebegan,takingthepoetess’shand,——\"andMORE。YouareSAVED!\"
Asthewomenonlystaredateachother,hegravelyfoldedhisarmsandcontinued:\"Iwillexplain。FortheinstantIhavenotrememberthat,inimitationofyourowndelicacy,Ihavegiventoyourhusbandinmyletter,notthenameofmyself,but,asamereDonFulano,thenameofmybrotherRoberto——’BuckingBob。’Yourhusbandhavethismomentarrive!PenetratingthebedroomoftheexcellentRoberto,hehasindiscreetlyseizehiminhisbed,withoutexplanation,withoutintroduction,withoutfear!TheexcellentRoberto,everreadyforsuchdistractions,haverespond!
Inaword,tousethelanguageofthegoodJenkinson——ourhost,ourfather——whowaspresent,hehave’wipedthefloorwithyourhusband,’andhaveevencarriedhimdownthestaircasetothestreet。Believeme,hewillnotreturn。Youarefree!\"
\"Fool!Idiot!Crazybeast!\"saidthepoetess,dashingpasthimandoutofthedoor。\"Youshallpayforthis!\"
DonJosedidnotchangehisimperturbableandmelancholycalm。
\"Andnow,littleone,\"hesaid,droppingononekneebeforethehalf—frightenedPolly,\"childofJenkinson,nowthatthyperhapstooexcitablesponsorhas,inapoet’scaprice,abandonedtheeforsomenewerfantasy,confideinmethydistress,tome,thyKnight,andtellthestoryofthysorrows。\"
\"But,\"saidPolly,risingtoherfeetandstrugglingbetweenalaughandacry。\"Ihaven’tanysorrows。Ohdear!don’tyousee,it’sonlyherFANCYtomakemeseemso。There’snothingthematterwithme。\"
\"Nothingthematter,\"repeatedDonJoseslowly。\"Youhavenodistress?Youwantnosuccor,norelief,noprotector?This,then,isbutanotherdelusion!\"hesaid,risingsadly。
\"Yes,no——thatis——oh,mygraciousgoodness!\"saidPolly,hopelesslydividedbetweenasenseoftheridiculousandsomestrangeattractioninthedark,gentleeyesthatwerefixeduponherhalfreproachfully。\"Youdon’tunderstand。\"
DonJoserepliedonlywithamelancholysmile,andthengoingtothedoor,openeditwithabowedheadandrespectfulcourtesy。Attheact,Pollypluckedupcourageagain,andwithitaslightdashofheroldaudacity。
\"I’msureI’mverysorrythatIain’tgotanylovesorrows,\"shesaiddemurely。\"AndIsupposeit’sverydreadfulinmenottohavebeenravingandbroken—heartedoversomebodyorotherasthatwomanhassaid。Only,\"shewaitedtillshehadgainedthesecurevantageofthethreshold,\"IneverknewagentlemantoOBJECTtoitbefore!\"
WiththisParthianarrowfromherblueeyessheslippedintothepassageandvanishedthroughthedooroftheoppositeparlor。ForaninstantDonJoseremainedmotionlessandreflecting。Then,recoveringhimselfwithgraveprecision,hedeliberatelypickeduphisnarrowblackglovesfromthetable,drewthemon,tookhishatinhishand,andsolemnlystridingacrossthepassage,enteredthedoorthathadjustclosedbehindher。
III。
ItmustnotbesupposedthatinthemeantimetheflightofDonJoseandhisfollowerwasunattendedbyanycommotionattheranchooftheBlessedInnocents。Attheendofthreehours’deliberation,inwhichtheretainerswereseverallyexamined,thecorralsearched,andthewellinthecourtyardsounded,scoutsweredispatchedindifferentdirections,whoreturnedwiththesurprisinginformationthatthefugitiveswerenotinthevicinity。AtrustworthymessengerwassenttoMontereyfor\"custom—housepaper,\"onwhichtodrawupaformaldeclarationoftheaffair。ThearchbishopwassummonedfromSanLuis,andDonVictorandDonVincenteSepulvida,withtheDonasCarmenandInezAlvarado,andaformeralcalde,gatheredatafamilycouncilthenextday。InthisseriousconclavethegoodFatherFelipeoncemoreexpoundedthealienatedconditionandthedangerousreadingoftheabsentman。InthemidstofwhichtheordinarypostbroughtaletterfromDonJose,calmlyinvitingthefamilytodinewithhimandRobertoatSanMateoonthefollowingWednesday。Thedocumentwaspassedgravelyfromhandtohand。Wasitafreshevidenceofmentalaberration——
anaudacityoffrenzy——oratrickofthevaquero?Thearchbishopandalcaldeshooktheirheads——itwaswithoutdoubtalawless,evenasacrilegiousandblasphemousfete。ButacertaincuriosityoftheladiesandofFatherFelipecarriedtheday。Withoutformallyacceptingtheinvitationitwasdecidedthatthefamilyshouldexaminetheafflictedman,withaviewoftakingactivemeasureshereafter。Onthedayappointed,thetravelingcarriageoftheSepulvidas,anequipagecoevalwiththebeginningofthecentury,drawnbytwowhitemulesgaudilycaparisoned,haltedbeforethehotelatSanMateoanddisgorgedFatherFelipe,theDonasCarmenandInezAlvaradoandMariaSepulvida,whileDonVictorandDonVincenteSepulvida,theirattendantcavaliersonfierymustangs,likeoutriders,drewreinatthesametime。Aslightthrillofexcitement,asoftheadventofapossiblecircus,hadprecededthemthroughthelittletown;afaintblendingofcigarettesmokeandgarlicannouncedtheirpresenceontheveranda。
Usheredintotheparlorofthehotel,apparentlysetapartfortheirreception,theywereembarrassedatnotfindingtheirhostpresent。Buttheywerestillmoredisconcertedwhenatallfull—
beardedstranger,withashrewdamused—lookingface,rosefromachairbythewindow,andsteppingforward,salutedtheminfluentSpanishwithaslightAmericanaccent。
\"Ihavetoaskyou,gentlemenandladies,\"hebegan,withacertaininsinuatingeaseandfranknessthatalternatelyarousedandlulledtheirsuspicions,\"topardontheabsenceofourfriendDonJoseSepulvidaatthispreliminarygreeting。Fortobeperfectlyfrankwithyou,althoughtheultimateaimandobjectofourgatheringisasocialone,youaredoubtlessawarethatcertaininfelicitiesandmisunderstandings——commontomostfamilies——haveoccurred,andafree,dispassionate,unprejudiceddiscussionanddisposalofthematthebeginningwillonlytendtoaugmentthegoodwillofourgathering。\"
\"TheSenorwithoutdoubtis\"——suggestedthepadre,withapoliteinterrogativepause。
\"Pardonme!Iforgottointroducemyself。ColonelParker——
entirelyatyourserviceandthatofthesecharmingladies。\"
Theladiesreferredtoallowedtheireyestorestwithevidentprepossessionontheinsinuatingstranger。\"Ah,asoldier,\"saidDonVincente。
\"Formerly,\"saidtheAmericanlightly;\"atpresentalawyer,thecounselofDonJose。\"
Asuddenrigorofsuspicionstiffenedthecompany;theladieswithdrewtheireyes;thepriestandtheSepulvidasexchangedglances。
\"Come,\"saidColonelParker,withapparentunconsciousnessoftheeffectofhisdisclosure,\"letusbeginfrankly。Youhave,I
believe,someanxietyinregardtothementalconditionofDonJose。\"
\"Webelievehimtobemad,\"saidPadreFelipepromptly,\"irresponsible,possessed!\"
\"Thatisyouropinion;good,\"saidthelawyerquietly。
\"Andourstoo,\"clamoredtheparty,\"withoutdoubt。\"
\"Good,\"returnedthelawyerwithperfectcheerfulness。\"Ashisrelations,youhavenodoubthadsuperioropportunitiesforobservinghiscondition。Iunderstandalsothatyoumaythinkitnecessarytohavehimlegallydeclarednoncompos,aproceedingwhich,youareaware,mightresultintheincarcerationofourdistinguishedfriendinamad—house。\"
\"Pardon,Senor,\"interruptedDonaMariaproudly,\"youdonotcomprehendthefamily。WhenaSepulvidaisvisitedofGodwedonotasktheGovernmenttoconfinehimlikeacriminal。Weprotecthiminhisownhousefromtheconsequencesofhisfrenzy。\"
\"Fromthemachinationsoftheworldlyandheretical,\"brokeinthepriest,\"andfromthewasteanddispersionofinheritedpossessions。\"
\"Verytrue,\"continuedColonelParker,withunalterablegood—humor;
\"butIwasonlyabouttosaythattheremightbeconflictingevidenceofhiscondition。Forinstance,ourfriendhasbeenherethreedays。Inthattimehehashadthreeinterviewswiththreeindividualsundersingularcircumstances。\"ColonelParkerthenbrieflyrecountedtheepisodesofthelandlord,thegambler,MissJenkinsonandthepoetess,astheyhadbeenrelatedtohim。\"Yet,\"
hecontinued,\"allbutoneoftheseindividualsarewillingtoswearthattheynotonlybelieveDonJoseperfectlysane,butendowedwithasingularlysoundjudgment。Infact,thetestimonyofMr。HamlinandMissJenkinsonisremarkablyclearonthatsubject。\"
Thecompanyexchangedasupercilioussmile。\"Doyounotsee,O
SenorAdvocate,\"saidDonVincentecompassionately,\"thatthisisbutaconspiracytoavailthemselvesofourrelative’sweakness。
Ofanecessitytheyfindhimsanewhobenefitsthem。\"
\"Ihavethoughtofthat,andamgladtohearyousayso,\"returnedthelawyerstillmorecheerfully,\"foryourpromptopinionemboldensmetobeatonceperfectlyfrankwithyou。Brieflythen,DonJosehassummonedmeheretomakeafinaldispositionofhisproperty。Inthecarryingoutofcertaintheoriesofhis,whichitisnotmyprovincetoquestion,hehasresolveduponcomparativepovertyforhimselfasbestfittedforhispurpose,andtoemployhiswealthsolelyforothers。Infact,ofallhisvastpossessionsheretainsforhimselfonlyanincomesufficientforthebarenecessariesoflife。\"
\"Andyouhavedonethis?\"theyaskedinonevoice。
\"Notyet,\"saidthelawyer。
\"BlessedSanAntonio,wehavecomeintime!\"ejaculatedDonaCarmen。\"Anotherdayanditwouldhavebeentoolate;itwasaninspirationoftheBlessedInnocentsthemselves,\"saidDonaMaria,crossingherself。\"Canyoulongerdoubtthatthisisthewildestmadness?\"saidFatherFelipewithflashingeyes。
\"Yet,\"returnedthelawyer,caressinghisheavybeardwithameditativesmile,\"theingeniousfellowactuallyinstancedthevowsofYOUROWNORDER,reverendsir,asanexampleinsupportofhistheory。Buttobebrief。Conceiving,then,thathisholdingofpropertywasamereaccidentofheritage,notadmittedbyhim,unworthyhisacceptance,andarelicofsuperstitiousignorance\"——
\"ThisistheverysacrilegeofSatanicprepossession,\"brokeinthepriestindignantly。
\"Hetherefore,\"continuedthelawyercomposedly,\"makesoverandrevertsthewholeofhispossessions,withtheexceptionsIhavestated,tohisfamilyandtheChurch。\"
Abreathlessandstupefyingsilencefelluponthecompany。InthedeadhushthesoundofPollyJenkinson’spiano,playedinadistantroom,couldbedistinctlyheard。Withtheirvacanteyesstaringathimthespeakercontinued:
\"ThatdeedofgiftIhavedrawnupashedictatedit。Idon’tmindsayingthatintheopinionofsomehemightbedeclarednoncomposupontheevidenceofthatalone。IneednotsayhowrelievedIamtofindthatyouropinioncoincideswithmyown。\"
\"But,\"gaspedFatherFelipehurriedly,withaquickglanceattheothers,\"itdoesnotfollowthatitwillbenecessarytoresorttotheselegalmeasures。Care,counsel,persuasion——\"
\"Thegeneralministeringofkinship——nursing,awoman’scare——theinstinctsofaffection,\"pipedDonaMariainbreathlesseagerness。
\"Anylightsocialdistraction——aharmlessflirtation——apossibleattachment,\"suggestedDonaCarmenshyly。
\"Changeofscene——activeexercise——experiences——evenasthoseyouhaverelated,\"brokeinDonVincente。
\"IforonehaveeverbeenopposedtoLEGALmeasures,\"saidDonVictor。\"Amereconsultationoffriends——infact,afetelikethisissufficient。\"
\"Goodfriends,\"saidFatherFelipe,whohadbythistimerecoveredhimself,takingouthissnuff—boxportentously,\"itwouldseemtruly,fromthedocumentwhichthisdiscreetcaballerohasspokenof,thattheerrorsofourdearDonJoseareratherofmethodthanintent,andthatwhilewemayfreelyaccepttheone\"——
\"Pardon,\"interruptedColonelParkerwithblandpersistence,\"butI
mustpointouttoyouthatwhatwecallinlaw’aconsideration’isnecessarytothelegalityofaconveyance,eventhoughthatconsiderationbefrivolousandcalculatedtoimpairthevalidityofthedocument。\"
\"Truly,\"returnedthegoodpadreinsinuatingly;\"butifadiscreetadvocateweretosuggestthesubstitutionofsomemorepiousandreasonableconsideration\"——
\"Butthatwouldbemakingitaperfectlysaneandgratuitousdocument,notonlyglaringlyinconsistentwithyourcharges,mygoodfriends,withDonJose’sattitudetowardsyouandhisflightfromhome,butopentothegravestsuspicioninlaw。Infact,itsapparentproprietyinthefaceofthesefactswouldimplyimproperinfluence。\"
Thecountenancesofthecompanyfell。Thelawyer’sface,however,becamestillmoregood—humoredandsympathizing。\"Thecaseissimplythis。IfintheopinionofjudgeandjuryDonJoseisdeclaredinsane,thedocumentisworthlessexceptasaproofofthatfactorapossibleindicationoftheundueinfluenceofhisrelations,whichmightcompelthecourttoselecthisguardiansandtrusteeselsewherethanamongthem。\"
\"FriendAbogado,\"saidFatherFelipewithextraordinarydeliberation,\"thedocumentthouhastjustdescribedsoeloquentlyconvincesmebeyondalldoubtthatDonJoseisnotonlyperfectlysanebutendowedwithasingulardiscretion。Iconsideritasadelicateandhigh—spiritedintimationtous,hisfriendsandkinsmen,ofhisunalterableandlogicallyjustdevotiontohisfamilyandreligion,whatevermayseemtobehispoeticalandimaginativemannerofdeclaringit。Ithinkthereisnotonehere,\"continuedthepadre,lookingaroundhimimpressively,\"whoisnotentirelysatisfiedofDonJose’sreasonandcompetencytoarrangehisownaffairs。\"
\"Entirely,\"\"truly,\"\"perfectly,\"eagerlyrespondedtheotherswithaffectingspontaneity。
\"Nay,more。Topreventanymisconception,weshalldeemitourdutytotakeeveryopportunityofmakingourbeliefpubliclyknown,\"addedFatherFelipe。
ThepadreandColonelParkergazedlongandgravelyintoeachother’seyes。Itmayhavebeenaninnocenttouchofthesunlightthroughthewindow,butafaintgleamseemedtostealintothepupiloftheaffablelawyeratthesamemomentthat,probablyfromthelikecause,therewasaslightnervouscontractionofthelefteyelidofthepiousfather。Butitpassed,andthenextinstantthedooropenedtoadmitDonJoseSepulvida。
Hewasatonceseizedandeffusivelyembracedbytheentirecompanywitheveryprotestofaffectionandrespect。notonlyMr。HamlinandMr。Jenkinson,whoaccompaniedhimasinvitedguests,butRoberto,inanewsuitofclothesandguiltlessofstainortraceofdissipation,sharedinthepronouncedfriendlinessofthekinsmen。PadreFelipetooksnuff,ColonelParkerblewhisnosegently。
Norweretheylessdemonstrativeoftheirnewconvictionslateratthebanquet。DonJose,withJenkinsonandthepadreonhisrightandleft,preservedhisgentleandhalf—melancholydignityinthemidstofthenoisyfraternization。EvenPadreFelipe,inabriefspeechorexhortationproposingthehealthoftheirhost,lenthimselfinhisowntonguetothispolitecongeniality。\"Wehavehadalso,myfriendsandbrothers,\"hesaidinperoration,\"apleasingexampleofthecomplimentofimitationshownbyourbelovedDonJose。NoonewhohasknownhimduringhisfriendlysojourninthiscommunitybutwillbestruckwiththeconvictionthathehasacquiredthatmostmarvelousfacultyofyourgreatAmericannation,theexhibitionofhumorandofthepracticaljoke。\"
EveryeyewasturnedupontheimperturbablefaceofDonJoseasheslowlyrosetoreply。\"Inbiddingyoutothisfete,myfriendsandkinsmen,\"hebegancalmly,\"itwaswiththeintentionofformallyembracingthehabits,customs,andspiritofAmericaninstitutionsbycertainmethodsofrenunciationofthepast,asbecameacaballeroofhonorandresolution。Thosemethodsmaypossiblybeknowntosomeofyou。\"Hepausedforamomentasiftoallowthemembersofhisfamilytolookunconscious。\"Sincethen,inthewisdomofGod,ithasoccurredtomethatmypurposemaybeashonorablyeffectedbyadiscreetblendingofthepastandthepresent——inaword,bythejudiciouscombinationoftheinterestsofmynativepeopleandtheAmericannation。Inconsiderationofthatpurpose,friendsandkinsmen,IaskyoutojoinmeindrinkingthegoodhealthofmyhostSenorJenkinson,myfuturefather—in—
law,fromwhomIhaveto—dayhadthehonortodemandthehandofthepeerlessPolly,hisdaughter,asthefuturemistressoftheRanchooftheBlessedInnocents。\"
Themarriagetookplaceshortlyafter。NorwasthefreewillandindependenceofDonJoseSepulvidaintheleastopposedbyhisrelations。Whethertheyfelttheyhadalreadycommittedthemselves,orhadhopesinthefuture,didnottranspire。Enoughthattheescapadeofaweekwastacitlyforgotten。Theonlyallusionevermadetothebridegroom’speculiaritieswasdrawnfromthedemurelipsofthebrideherselfonherinstallationatthe\"BlessedInnocents。\"
\"Andwhat,littleone,didstthoufindinmetoadmire?\"DonJosehadaskedtenderly。
\"Oh,youseemedtobesomuchlikethatdearoldDonQuixote,youknow,\"sheanswereddemurely。
\"DonQuixote,\"repeatedDonJosewithgentlegravity。\"But,mychild,thatwasonlyamerefiction——aromance,ofoneCervantes。
Believeme,ofatruththereneverwasanysuchperson!\"
ASECRETOFTELEGRAPHHILL
I。
AsMr。HerbertBlyglancedforthefirsttimeatthehousewhichwastobehisfutureabodeinSanFrancisco,hewassomewhatstartled。Inthatearlyperiodoffeverishcivicimprovementthestreetbeforeithadbeenrepeatedlygradedandlowereduntilthedwelling——originallyapioneersuburbanvillapercheduponaslopeofTelegraphHill——nowstoodsixtyfeetabovethesidewalk,superposedlikesomeSwisschaletonsuccessivegalleriesbuiltinthesand—hill,andconnectedbyahalf—dozendistinctzigzagflightsofwoodenstaircase。Stimulated,however,bythethoughtthattheviewfromthetopwouldbeafineone,andthatexistencetherewouldhaveallthequaintoriginalityofRobinsonCrusoe’stree—dwelling,Mr。Blybegancheerfullytomountthesteps。Itshouldbepremisedthat,althougharecentlyappointedclerkinalargebankinghouse,Mr。Blywassomewhatyouthfulandimaginative,andregardedtheascentaspartofthat\"Excelsior\"climbingpointedoutbyagreatpoetasapraiseworthyfunctionofambitiousyouth。
Reachingatlasttheleveloftheveranda,heturnedtotheview。
ThedistantwoodedshoreofContraCosta,thetossingwhite—capsanddancingsailsofthebaybetween,andtheforegroundathisfeetofwharvesandpiers,withtheirreed—likejunglesofmastsandcordage,madeupabright,ifsomewhatmaterial,picture。Tohisrightrosethecrestofthehill,historicandmemorableasthesiteoftheoldsemaphorictelegraph,thetossingofwhosegauntarmsformerlythrilledthecitizenswithtidingsfromthesea。
Turningtothehouse,herecognizedtheprevailingstyleoflightcottagearchitecture,althoughincongruouslyconfinedtonarrowbuildingplotsandthecivicregularityofaprecisestreetfrontage。Thusadozenothervillas,formerlyscatteredovertheslope,hadbeenlaboriouslydisplacedandmovedtotherigorousparadelinedrawnbythestreetsurveyor,nomatterhowirregularandindependenttheirdesignandstructure。Happily,thefewscrub—oaksandlowbusheswhichformedthescantvegetationofthisvastsandduneofferednoobstacleandsuggestednoincongruity。
BesidethehousebeforewhichMr。Blynowstood,aprolificMadeiravine,quickenedbythesixmonths’sunshine,hadalonesurvivedthedisplacementofitsfoundations,andinitsuntrimmedluxuriancehalfhidtheupperverandafromhisview。
Stillglowingwithhisexertion,theyoungmanrangthebellandwasadmittedintoafair—sizeddrawing—room,whosetastefulandwell—arrangedfurnitureatonceprepossessedhim。Anopenpiano,asheetofmusiccarelesslyleftonthestool,anovellyingfacedownwardsonthetablebesideaskeinofsilk,andthedistantrustleofavanishedskirtthroughaninnerdoor,gaveasuggestionofrefineddomesticitytotheroomthattouchedthefancyofthehomelessandnomadicBly。Hewasstillenjoying,inhalfembarrassment,thatvagueandindescribableatmosphereofarefinedwoman’shabitualpresence,whenthedooropenedandthemistressofthehouseformallypresentedherself。
Shewasafadedbutstillhandsomewoman。Yetsheworethatpeculiarlong,limp,formlesshouse—shawlwhichincertainphasesofAnglo—Saxonspinsterandwidowhoodassumesthefunctionsoftherecluse’sveilandannouncestherenunciationofworldlyvanitiesandaresignedindifferencetoexternalfemininecontour。Themostaudaciousmasculinearmwouldshrinkfromclaspingthatshapelessvoidinwhichtheflatnessofasceticismortheheavingsofpassionmightalikelieburied。Shehadalsoinsomemysteriouswayimportedintothefreshandpleasantroomacertainbombazinyshadowofthepast,andasuggestionofthatappallingreminiscenceknownas\"betterdays。\"Thoughwhyitshouldbealwaysrepresentedbyashenmemories,orwhybetterdaysinthepastshouldbesupposedtofixtheirfittingsymbolindepressioninthepresent,Mr。Blywastooyoungandtoopreoccupiedatthemomenttodetermine。Heonlyknewthathewasalittlefrightenedofher,andfixedhisgazewithahopelessfascinationonaletterwhichshesomewhatportentouslycarriedundertheshawl,andwhichseemedalreadytohaveyellowedinitsarcticshade。
\"Mr。Carstonehaswrittentomethatyouwouldcall,\"saidMrs。
Brookswithlanguidformality。\"Mr。Carstonewasavaluedfriendofmylatehusband,andIsupposehastoldyouthecircumstances——
theonlycircumstances——whichadmitofmyentertaininghispropositionoftakinganybody,eventemporarily,undermyroof。
TheabsenceofmydearsonforsixmonthsatPortland,Oregon,enablesmetoplacehisroomatthedisposalofMr。Carstone’syoungprotege,who,Mr。Carstonetellsme,andIhaveeveryreasontobelieve,is,ifperhapsnotsoseriouslyinclinednoryetachurchcommunicant,stillofacharacterandreputationnotunworthytofollowmydearTappingtoninourlittlefamilycircleashehasathisdeskinthebank。\"
ThesensitiveBly,strugglingpainfullyoutofanabstractionastohowhewasevertooffertheweeklyrentofhislodgingstosucharemoteandrespectableperson,andalsosomewhatembarrassedatbeingappealedtointhethirdperson,herestartedandbowed。
\"ThenameofBlyisnotunfamiliartome,\"continuedMrs。Brooks,pointingtoachairandsinkingresignedlyintoanother,whereherbalefulshawlatonceassumedtheappearanceofadust—cover;\"someofmydearestfriendswereintimatewiththeBlysofPhiladelphia。
TheywereabranchoftheMarylandBlysoftheeasternshore,ofwhommyUncleJamesmarried。Perhapsyouaredistantlyrelated?\"
Mrs。BrookswasperfectlyawarethathervisitorwasofunknownWesternorigin,andapoorbutcleverprotegeoftherichbanker;
butshewasoneofacertainclassofAmericanwomenwho,inthemidstofafiercedemocracy,aremoreorlesscat—likeconservatorsoffamilyprideandlineage,andmoreorlessfelinelyinconsistentandtreacheroustorepublicanprinciples。Bly,whohadjustsettledinhismindtosendhertherentanonymously——asaweeklyvalentine——recoveredhimselfandhisspiritsinhisusualboyishfashion。
\"Iamafraid,Mrs。Brooks,\"hesaidgayly,\"Icannotlayclaimtoanydistinguishedrelationship,eventothat’NellyBly’who,youremember,’winkedhereyewhenshewenttosleep。’\"Hestoppedinconsternation。Theterribleconvictionflasheduponhimthatthisquotationfromapopularnegro—minstrelsongcouldnotpossiblyberememberedbyaladyasrefinedashishostess,orevenknowntohersuperiorson。TheconvictionwasintensifiedbyMrs。Brooksrisingwithasmilelessface,slightlysheddingthepossiblevulgaritywithashakeofhershawl,andremarkingthatshewouldshowhimherson’sroom,ledthewayupstairstotheapartmentrecentlyvacatedbytheperfectTappington。
Precededbythesamedistantflutterofunseenskirtsinthepassagewhichhehadfirstnoticedonenteringthedrawing—room,andwhichevidentlydidnotproceedfromhiscompanion,whoseself—
composedcerementswouldhaverepressedanysuchindecorousagitation,Mr。Blysteppedtimidlyintotheroom。Itwasaveryprettyapartment,suggestingthesametouchesoftastefulrefinementinitsfurnitureandappointments,andwithalsofeminineinitsneatnessandregularity,that,consciousofhisfrontierhabitsandexperience,hefeltatoncerepulsivelyincongruous。\"Icannotexpect,Mr。Bly,\"saidMrs。Brooksresignedly,\"thatyoucansharemyson’sextremesensitivenesstodisorderandirregularity;butImustbegyoutoavoidasmuchaspossibledisturbingthearrangementofthebook—shelves,which,youobserve,comprisehisbooksofseriousreference,theBiblicalcommentaries,andthesermonswhichwerehishabitualstudy。I
mustbegyoutoexercisethesamecareinreferencetothevaluableofferingsfromhisSabbath—schoolscholarswhichareuponthemantel。Theembroideredbook—marker,thegiftoftheyoungladiesofhisBible—classinDr。Stout’schurch,isalso,youperceive,keptforornamentandaffectionateremembrance。Theharmonium——
evenifyouarenotyourselfgiventosacredsong——Itrustyouwillnotfindinyourway,norobjecttomydaughtercontinuingherpracticeduringyourdailyabsence。Thankyou。Thedooryouarelookingatleadsbyaflightofstepstothesidestreet。\"
\"Averyconvenientarrangement,\"saidBlyhopefully,whosawachanceforanoccasionalunostentatiousescapefromatooprotractedcontemplationofTappington’sperfections。\"Imean,\"headdedhurriedly,\"toavoiddisturbingyouatnight。\"
\"Ibelievemysonhadneitherthenecessitynordesiretouseitforthatpurpose,\"returnedMrs。Brooksseverely;\"althoughhefounditsometimesaconvenientshortcuttochurchonSabbathwhenhewaslate。\"
Bly,whoinhisboyishsensitivenesstoexternalimpressionshadbythistimeconcludedthatalifedividedbetweenthepastperfectionsofTappingtonandthepresentrenunciationsofMrs。
Brookswouldbeintolerable,andwasagainabstractedlyinventingsomedelicateexcuseforwithdrawingwithoutcommittinghimselffurther,washeresuddenlyattractedbyarepetitionoftherustlingoftheunseenskirt。Thistimeitwasnearer,andthistimeitseemedtostrikeevenMrs。Brooks’sremotepreoccupation。
\"Mydaughter,whoisdeeplydevotedtoherbrother,\"shesaid,slightlyraisinghervoice,\"willtakeuponherselfthecareoflookingafterTappington’spreciousmementoes,andspareyouthetrouble。Cherry,dear!thisway。ThisistheyounggentlemanspokenofbyMr。Carstone,yourpapa’sfriend。MydaughterCherubina,Mr。Bly。\"
Thefairowneroftherustlingskirt,whichturnedouttobeaprettyFrenchprint,hadappearedatthedoorway。Shewasatall,slimblonde,withashy,startledmanner,asofapenitentnunwhowassufferingforsomeconventualtransgression——aresemblancethatwasheightenedbyhershort—cuthair,thatmighthavebeencroppedasifforpunishment。Acertainlikenesstohermothersuggestedthatshewasqualifyingforthatsaint’sasceticshawl——subject,however,torebelliousintervals,indicatedintheoccasionalsidelongfiresofhergrayeyes。Yetthevagueimpressionthatsheknewmoreoftheworldthanhermother,andthatshedidnotlookatallasifhernamewasCherubina,struckBlyinthesamemomentaryglance。
\"Mr。BlyisnaturallypleasedwithwhathehasseenofourdearTappington’sappointments;andasIgatherfromMr。Carstone’sletterthatheisanxioustoenteratonceandmakethemostofthedearboy’sabsence,youwillsee,mydearCherry,thatEllenhaseverythingreadyforhim?\"
BeforetheunfortunateBlycouldexplainorprotest,theyounggirlliftedhergrayeyestohis。Whethershehadperceivedandunderstoodhisperplexityhecouldnottell;buttheswiftshyglancewasatonceappealing,assuring,andintelligent。Shewascertainlyunlikehermotherandbrother。Actingwithhisusualimpulsiveness,heforgothispreviousresolution,andbeforehelefthadengagedtobeginhisoccupationoftheroomonthefollowingday。
Thenextafternoonfoundhiminstalled。Yet,afterhehadunpackedhismodestpossessionsandputthemaway,afterhehadplacedhisfewbooksontheshelves,wheretheylookedglaringlytrivialandfrivolousbesidethelatetenant’sseverestudies;afterhehadsetouthisscantytreasuresinthewayofphotographsandsomecuriousmementoesofhiswanderinglife,andthenquicklyputthembackagainwithasuddenangryprideatexposingthemtotheunsympatheticincongruityoftheotherornaments,he,nevertheless,feltillatease。Heglancedinvainaroundtheprettyroom。Itwasnotthedelicatelyfloweredwall—paper;itwasnotthewhiteandbluemuslinwindow—curtainsgracefullytiedupwithblueandwhiteribbons;itwasnotthespotlessbed,withitsblueandwhitefestoonedmosquito—netandflouncedvalances,anditsmedallionportraitofanunknownbishopattheback;itwasnotthefewtastefullyframedengravingsofcertaincardinalvirtues,\"TheRockofAges,\"and\"TheGuardianAngel\";itwasnotthecastsinreliefof\"Night\"and\"Morning\";itwascertainlynotthecosydimity—
coveredarm—chairsandsofa,noryettheclean—sweptpolishedgratewithitscheerfulfiresparklingagainstthechillafternoonsea—
fogswithout;neitherwasitthemerefemininesuggestion,forthattouchedasympatheticchordinhisimpulsivenature;northereligiousandasceticinfluence,forhehadoccupiedamonasticcellinaschoolofthepadresatanoldmission,andsleptprofoundly;——itwasnoneofthose,andyetapartofall。Mosthabitationsretainacastorshelloftheirprevioustenantthat,fittingtightlyorloosely,isstillabletoadjustitselftothenewcomer;inmostoccupiedapartmentsthereisstillashadowysuggestionoftheowner’sindividuality;therewasnothingherethatfittedBly——norwasthereeither,strangetosay,anyevidenceofthepastproprietorinthisinhospitalityofsensation。ItdidnotstrikehimatthetimethatitwasthisveryLACKofindividualitywhichmadeitweirdandunreal,thatitwasstrangeonlybecauseitwasARTIFICIAL,andthataREALTappingtonhadneverinhabitedit。
Hewalkedtothewindow——thatnever—failingresourceoftheunquietmind——andlookedout。Hewasalittlesurprisedtofind,that,owingtothegradingofthehouse,thescrub—oaksandbushesofthehillwerenearlyonthelevelofhiswindow,asalsowastheadjoiningsidestreetonwhichhisseconddooractuallygave。
Openingthis,thesuddeninvasionofthesea—fogandthefigureofapedestriancasuallypassingalongthedisusedandabandonedpavementnotadozenfeetfromwherehehadbeencomfortablyseated,presentedsuchastrikingcontrasttothestudiousquietandcosinessofhissecludedapartmentthathehurriedlyclosedthedooragainwithasenseofindiscreetexposure。Returningtothewindow,heglancedtotheleft,andfoundthathewasoverlookedbythesideverandaofanothervillaintherear,evidentlyonitswaytotakepositiononthelineofthestreet。Althoughinactualanddeliberatetransitonrollersacrossthebackyardandstilloccultingapartoftheview,itremained,aftertherecklessfashionoftheperiod,inhabited。Certainly,withadoorfrontingathoroughfare,andaneighborgraduallyapproachinghim,hewouldnotfeellonelyorlackexcitement。
Hedrewhisarm—chairtothefireandtriedtorealizetheall—
pervadingyetevasiveTappington。Therewasnoportraitofhiminthehouse,andalthoughMrs。Brookshadsaidthathe\"favored\"hissister,Blyhad,withoutknowingwhy,instinctivelyresentedit。
Hehadeventimidlyaskedhisemployer,andhadreceivedthevaguereplythathewas\"good—lookingenough,\"andthepracticalbutdiscomposingretort,\"Whatdoyouwanttoknowfor?\"Ashereallydidnotknowwhy,theinquiryhaddropped。Hestaredatthemonumentalcrystalink—standhalffullofink,yetspotlessandfreefromstains,thatstoodonthetable,andtriedtopictureTappingtondaintilydippingintoittothankthefairdonors——
\"daughtersofRebecca。\"Whowerethey?andwhatsortofmanwouldtheynaturallyfeelgratefulto?
Whatwasthat?
Heturnedtothewindow,whichhadjustresoundedtoaslighttaporblow,asifsomethingsofthadstruckit。Withaninstinctivesuspicionofthepropinquityoftheadjoiningstreetherose,butasingleglancefromthewindowsatisfiedhimthatnomissilewouldhavereacheditfromthence。Hescannedthelowbushesonthelevelbeforehim;certainlynoonecouldbehidingthere。Heliftedhiseyestowardthehouseontheleft;thecurtainsofthenearestwindowappearedtobedrawnsuddenlyatthesamemoment。
Couldithavecomefromthere?Lookingdownuponthewindow—ledge,therelaythemysteriousmissile——alittlemisshapenball。Heopenedthewindowandtookitup。Itwasasmallhandkerchieftiedintoasoftknot,anddampenedwithwatertogiveitthenecessaryweightasaprojectile。
Wasitapparentlythetrickofamischievouschild?or——
Buthereafaintknockonthedoorleadingintothehallcheckedhisinquiry。Heopeneditsharplyinhisexcitement,andwasembarrassedtofindthedaughterofhishostessstandingthere,shy,startled,andevidentlyequallyembarrassedbyhisabruptresponse。
\"MotheronlywantedmetoaskyouifEllenhadputeverythingtorights,\"shesaid,makingastepbackwards。
\"Oh,thankyou。Perfectly,\"saidHerbertwitheffusion。\"Nothingcouldbebetterdone。Infact\"——
\"You’requitesureshehasn’tforgottenanything?orthatthereisn’tanythingyouwouldlikechanged?\"shecontinued,withhereyesleveledonthefloor。
\"Nothing,Iassureyou,\"hesaid,lookingatherdowncastlashes。
Asshestillremainedmotionless,hecontinuedcheerfully,\"Wouldyou——wouldyou——caretolookroundandsee?\"
\"No;Ithankyou。\"
Therewasanawkwardpause。Hestillcontinuedtoholdthedooropen。Suddenlyshemovedforwardwithaschool—girlstride,enteredtheroom,andgoingtotheharmonium,satdownuponthemusic—stoolbesideit,slightlybendingforward,withonelong,slim,whitehandontopoftheother,restingoverhercrossedknees。
Herbertwasalittlepuzzled。Itwastheawkwardandbrusqueactofaveryyoungperson,andyetnothingnowcouldbemoregentleandself—composedthanherfigureandattitude。
\"Yes,\"hecontinued,smilingly;\"IamonlyafraidthatImaynotbeabletolivequiteuptotheneatnessandregularityoftheexampleIfindhereeverywhere。YouknowIamdreadfullycarelessandnotatallorderly。Ishuddertothinkwhatmayhappen;butyouandyourmother,MissBrooks,Itrust,willmakeupyourmindstooverlookandforgiveagooddeal。IshalldomybesttobeworthyofMr。Tap——ofmypredecessor——buteventhenIamafraidyou’llfindmeagreatbother。\"
Sheraisedhershyeyelids。Thefaintestghostofalong—burieddimplecameintoherpalecheekasshesaidsoftly,tohisutterconsternation:
\"Rats!\"
HadsheutteredanoathhecouldnothavebeenmorestartledthanhewasbythischoicegemofWesternsaloon—slangfromthepurelipsofthisEvangeline—likefigurebeforehim。Hesatgazingatherwithawildhystericdesiretolaugh。Sheliftedhereyesagain,swepthimwithaslightlyterrifiedglance,andsaid:
\"Tapsaysyouallsaythatwhenanyonemakes—believepolitenesstoyou。\"
\"Oh,yourBROTHERsaysthat,doeshe?\"saidHerbert,laughing。
\"Yes,andsometimes’Oldrats。’But,\"shecontinuedhurriedly,\"HE
doesn’tsayit;hesaysYOUalldo。Mybrotherisveryparticular,andverygood。DoctorStoutloveshim。HeisthoughtverymuchofinallChristiancircles。Thatbook—markwasgiventohimbyoneofhisclasses。\"
Everytraceofherdimpleshadvanished。Shelookedsosweetlygrave,andwithalsomaidenly,sittingthereslightlysmoothingthelengthsofherpinkfingers,thatHerbertwassomewhatembarrassed。
\"ButIassureyou,MissBrooks,Iwasnotmaking—believe。Iamreallyverycareless,andeverythingissoproper——Imeansoneatandpretty——here,thatI\"——hestopped,and,observingthesamebackwardwanderingofhereyeasofafillyabouttoshy,quicklychangedthesubject。\"Youhave,orareabouttohave,neighbors?\"
hesaid,glancingtowardsthewindowsasherecalledtheincidentofamomentbefore。
\"Yes;andthey’renotatallnicepeople。TheyarefromPikeCounty,andveryqueer。Theycameacrosstheplainsin’50。Theysay’Stranger’;themenarevulgar,andthegirlsveryforward。
Tapforbidsmyevergoingtothewindowandlookingatthem。
They’requitewhatyouwouldcall’offcolor。’\"
Herbert,whodidnotdaretosaythatheneverwouldhavedreamedofusingsuchanexpressioninanyyounggirl’spresence,wasplungedinsilentconsternation。
\"Thenyourbrotherdoesn’tapproveofthem?\"hesaid,atlast,awkwardly。
\"Oh,notatall。Heeventalkedofhavingground—glassputinallthesewindows,onlyitwouldmakethelightbad。\"
Herbertfeltveryembarrassed。Ifthemysteriousmissilecamefromtheseobjectionableyoungpersons,itwasevidentlybecausetheythoughttheyhaddetectedamoreaccessibleandsympathizingindividualinthestrangerwhonowoccupiedtheroom。Heconcludedhehadbetternotsayanythingaboutit。
MissBrooks’sgoldeneyelasheswerebenttowardsthefloor。\"Doyouplaysacredmusic,Mr。Bly?\"shesaid,withoutraisingthem。
\"Iamafraidnot。\"
\"Perhapsyouknowonlynegro—minstrelsongs?\"
\"Iamafraid——yes。\"
\"Iknowone。\"Thedimplesfaintlycamebackagain。\"It’scalled’TheHam—fatMan。’Somedaywhenmotherisn’tinI’llplayitforyou。\"
Thenthedimplesfledagain,andsheimmediatelylookedsodistressedthatHerbertcametoherassistance。