第2章

Harkuttremainedforamomentwithhisfacepressedagainsttheglass.Afteranintervalhethoughtheheardthefaintsplashofhoofsintheshallowsoftheroad;heopenedthedoorsoftlyandlookedout.

Thelighthaddisappearedfromthenearesthouse;onlyanuncertainbulkofshapelessshadowsremained.Otherremoterandmorevagueoutlinesnearthehorizonseemedtohaveafunerealsuggestionoftombsandgravemounds,andone——alowshedneartheroad——lookednotunlikeahaltedbier.Hehurriedlyputuptheshuttersinamomentarylullingofthewind,andre-enteringthestorebegantofastenthemfromwithin.

Whilethusengagedaninnerdoorbehindthecounteropenedsoftlyandcautiously,projectingabrighterlightintothedesertedapartmentfromsomesacreddomesticinteriorwiththewarmandwholesomeincenseofcooking.Itservedtointroducealsotheequallyagreeablepresenceofayounggirl,who,afterassuringherselfoftheabsenceofeveryonebuttheproprietor,idlyslippedintothestore,andplacingherroundedelbows,fromwhichhersleeveswereuprolled,uponthecounter,leanedlazilyuponthem,withbothhandssupportingherdimpledchin,andgazedindolentlyathim;soindolentlythat,withherprettyfaceoncefixedinthiscomfortableattitude,shewasconstrainedtofollowhismovementswithhereyesalone,andoftenatanuncomfortableangle.ItwasevidentthatsheofferedthefinalbutcharmingillustrationoftheenfeeblinglistlessnessofSidon.

"Sothoseloafershavegoneatlast,"shesaid,meditatively.

"They\'lltakerootheresomeday,pop.Theideaofthreestrongmenlikethatlazingroundfortwomortalhoursdoin\'nothin\'.

Well!"Asiftoemphasizeherdisgustshethrewherwholeweightuponthecounterbyswingingherfeetfromthefloortotouchtheshelvesbehindher.

Mr.Harkuttonlyrepliedbyaslightgruntashecontinuedtoscrewontheshutters.

"Wantmetohelpyou,dad?"shesaid,withoutmoving.

Mr.Harkuttmutteredsomethingunintelligible,which,however,seemedtoimplyanegative,andherattentionherefeeblywanderedtotherollofpaper,andshebeganslowlyandlazilytoreaditaloud.

"\'Forvaluereceived,Iherebysell,assign,andtransfertoDanielD.Harkuttallmyright,titlesandinterestin,andtotheundividedhalfof,QuarterSection4,Range5,TasajaraTownship\'——

hum——hum,"shemurmured,runninghereyestothebottomofthepage."Why,Lord!It\'sthat\'LigeCurtis!"shelaughed."TheideaofHIMhavingproperty!Why,dad,youain\'tbeenTHATsilly!"

"Putdownthatpaper,miss,"hesaid,aggrievedly;"bringthecandlehere,andhelpmetofindoneoftheseinfernalscrewsthat\'sdropped."

ThegirlindolentlydisengagedherselffromthecounterandElijahCurtis\'stransfer,andbroughtthecandletoherfather.Thescrewwaspresentlyfoundandthelastfasteningsecured."Suppergettin\'cold,dad,"shesaid,withaslightyawn.Herfathersympatheticallyrespondedbystretchinghimselffromhisstoopingposition,andthetwopassedthroughtheprivatedoorintoinnerdomesticity,leavingthealreadyforgottenpaperlyingwithotherarticlesofbarteronthecounter.

CHAPTERII.

Withtheclosingofthelittledoorbehindthemtheyseemedtohaveshutouttheturmoilandvibrationofthestorm.Thereasonbecameapparentwhen,afterafewpaces,theydescendedhalfadozenstepstoalowerlanding.ThisdisclosedthefactthatthedwellingpartoftheSidonGeneralStorewasquitebelowtheleveloftheshopandtheroad,andontheslopeofthesolitaryundulationoftheTasajaraplain,——alittleravinethatfellawaytoabrawlingstreambelow.TheonlyarboreousgrowthofTasajaraclotheditsbanksintheshapeofwillowsandaldersthatsetcompactlyaroundthequaint,irregulardwellingwhichstraggleddowntheravineandlookeduponaslopeofbrackenandfoliageoneitherside.Thetransitionfromtheblack,treeless,storm-sweptplaintothissheltereddeclivitywasstrikingandsuggestive.Fromtheoppositebankonemightfancythattheyouthfulandoriginaldwellinghadambitiouslymountedthecrest,but,appalledatthedrearyprospectbeyond,hadgonenofurther;whilefromtheroaditseemedasifthefastidiousproprietorhadtriedtodrawalinebetweenthevulgartrading-post,withwhichhewasobligedtofacethecoarsercivilizationoftheplace,andtheprivacyofhisdomesticlife.

Therealfact,however,wasthattheravinefurnishedwoodandwater;andasNaturealsoprovidedonewallofthehouse,——asinthewell-knownexampleofaboriginalcavedwellings,——itspeculiarconstructioncommendeditselftoSidononthegroundofinvolvinglittlelabor.

Howbeit,fromthetwoopenwindowsofthesitting-roomwhichtheyhadenteredonlythefaintpatteringofdrippingboughsandaslightmurmurfromtheswollenbrookindicatedthestormthatshooktheupperplain,andthecoolbreathoflaurel,syringa,andalderwaswaftedthroughtheneatapartment.Passingthroughthatpleasantruralatmospheretheyenteredthekitchen,amuchlargerroom,whichappearedtoserveoccasionallyasadining-room,andwheresupperwasalreadylaidout.Astout,comfortable-lookingwoman——whohad,however,asingularlypermanentexpressionofpainedsympathyuponherface——welcomedthemintonesofgentlecommiseration.

"Ah,thereyoube,youtwo!Nowsityerightdown,dears;DO.Youmustbetiredout;andyou,Phemie,love,drawupbyyourpoorfather.There——that\'sright.You\'llbebettersoon."

Therewascertainlynovisiblesignofsufferingorexhaustiononthepartofeitherfatherordaughter,northeslightestapparentearthlyreasonwhytheyshouldbeexpectedtoexhibitany.But,asalreadyintimated,itwaspartofMrs.Harkutt\'sgenerousidiosyncrasytolookuponallhumanityassufferingandtoiling;tobepetted,humored,condoledwith,andfed.Ithad,inthecourseofyears,impartedasingularlycaressingsadnesstohervoice,andgivenherthehabitofendinghersentenceswithamelancholycooingandanunintelligiblemurmurofagreement.Itwasundoubtedlysincereandsympathetic,butattimesinappropriateanddistressing.

IthadlostherthefriendshipoftheonehumoristofTasajara,whosebestjokesshehadreceivedwithsuchheartfeltcommiserationandsuchpainedappreciationoftheevidentlaborinvolvedastoreducehimtosilence.

AccustomedasMr.Harkuttwastohiswife\'speculiarity,hewasnotaboveassumingacertainslightlyfatiguedattitudebefittingit.

"Yes,"hesaid,withavaguesigh,"where\'sClemmie?"

"Lyin\'downsincedinner;shereckonedshewouldn\'tgetuptosupper,"shereturnedsoothingly."Phemie\'sgoin\'totakeherupsomesassandtea.Thepoordearchildwantsachange."

"Shewantstogoto\'Frisco,andsodoI,pop,"saidPhemie,leaningherelbowhalfoverherfather\'splate."Come,pop,saydo,——justforaweek."

"Onlyforaweek,"murmuredthecommiseratingMrs.Harkutt.

"Perhaps,"respondedHarkutt,withgloomysarcasm,"yewouldn\'tmindtellin\'mehowyou\'regoin\'togetthere,andwherethemoney\'scomin\'fromtotakeyou?There\'snoteamin\'overTasajaratilltherainstops,andnomoneycomin\'intilltheranchmencanmovetheirstuff.Thereain\'tahundreddollarsinallTasajara;

atleastthereain\'tbeenthefirstredcentofitpaidacrossmycounterforafortnit!Perhapsifyoudogoyouwouldn\'tmindtakin\'meandthestorealongwithye,andleavin\'usthere."

"Yes,dear,"saidMrs.Harkutt,withsympatheticbutshamelesstergiversation."Don\'tbotheryourpoorfather,Phemie,love;

don\'tyouseehe\'sjusttiredout?Andyou\'renoteatin\'anything,dad."

AsMr.Harkuttwasuneasilyconsciousthathehadbeeneatingheartilyinspiteofhisfinancialdifficulties,heturnedthesubjectabruptly."Where\'sJohnMilton?"

Mrs.Harkuttshadedhereyeswithherhand,andgazedmeditativelyonthefloorbeforethefireandinthechimneycornerforheronlyson,baptizedunderthathistorictitle."Hewashereaminitago,"shesaiddoubtfully."Ireallycan\'tthinkwherehe\'sgone.

But,"assuringly,"itain\'tfar."

"He\'sskippedwithoneo\'thosestory-bookshe\'sborrowed,"saidPhemie."He\'salwaysdoin\'it.Likeasnothe\'sreadingwithacandleinthewood-shed.We\'llallbeburntupsomenight."

"Buthe\'sgotthroughhischores,"interposedMrs.Harkuttdeprecatingly.

"Yes,"continuedHarkutt,aggrievedly,"butinsteadofgoin\'tobed,oraddin\'upbills,ortakin\'counto\'stock,orevendoin\'

sumsorsuthin\'useful,he\'sruinin\'hiseyesandwastin\'histimeovertrash."Heroseandwalkedslowlyintothesitting-room,followedbyhisdaughterandamurmurofcommiserationfromhiswife.ButMrs.Harkutt\'sministrationforthepresentdidnotpassbeyondherdomain,thekitchen.

"Ireckonyeain\'texpectin\'anybodytonight,Phemie?"saidMr.

Harkutt,sinkingintoachair,andplacinghisslipperedfeetagainstthewall.

"No,"saidPhemie,"unlesssomethingpossessesthatsappylittleParmleetomakeoneofhisvisitations.JohnMiltonsaysthatoutontheroaditblowssoyoucan\'tstandup.It\'sjustlikethatidiotParmleetobeblowninhere,andnothavestrengthofmindenoughtogetawayagain."

Mr.Harkuttsmiled.Itwasthatarchyetapproving,severeyetsatisfiedsmilewithwhichthedeceivedmaleparentusuallyreceivesanydepreciationoftheordinaryyoungmanbyhisdaughters.Euphemiawasnogiddythingtobecarriedawaybyyoungmen\'sattentions,——notshe!Sittingbackcomfortablyinhisrocking-chair,hesaid,"Playsomething."

Theyounggirlwenttotheclosetandtookfromthetopshelfanexcessivelyornamentedaccordion,——theopulentgiftofarecklessadmirer.Itwassoinordinatelydecorated,sogorgeousintheblazeofpapiermache,mother-of-pearl,andtortoise-shellonkeysandkeyboard,andsoostentatiouslyradiantinthepinksilkofitsbellowsthatitseemedtooverawetheplainlyfurnishedroomwithitssplendors."Yououghttokeepitonthetableinaglassvase,Phemie,"saidherfatheradmiringly.

"AndhaveHIMthinkIworshipedit!Notme,indeed!He\'sconceitedenoughalready,"shereturned,saucily.

Mr.Harkuttagainsmiledhisapprobation,thendeliberatelyclosedhiseyesandthrewhisheadbackincomfortableanticipationofthecomingstrains.

Itistoberegrettedthatinbrilliancy,finish,andevencheerfulnessofqualitytheywerenotuptothesuggestionsofthekeysandkeyboard.Themostdiscreetandcautiouseffortonthepartoftheyoungperformerseemedonlytoproducestartlinglyunexpected,butinstantlysuppressedcomplaintsfromtheinstrument,accompaniedbyimpatientinterjectionsof"No,no,"

fromthegirlherself.Nevertheless,withherprettyeyebrowsknittedinsomecharmingdistressofmemory,herlittlemouthhalfopenbetweenanapologeticsmileandtheexertionofworkingthebellows,withherwhite,roundedarmspartlyliftedupandwavingbeforeher,shewaspleasantlydistractingtotheeye.Gradually,asthescatteredstrainsweremarshaledintosomethinglikeanair,shebegantosingalso,glossingovertheinstrumentalweaknesses,fillingincertaindroppednotesandomissions,andotherwiseassistingtheineffectualaccordionwithayouthfulbutnotunmusicalvoice.Thesongwasalugubriousreligiouschant;underitsinfluencethehouseseemedtosinkintogreaterquiet,permittingintheintervalsthemurmuroftheswollencreektoappearmoredistinct,andeventhefarmoaningofthewindontheplaintobecomefaintlyaudible.Atlast,havingfairlymasteredtheinstrument,Phemiegotintothefullswingofthechant.

Unconstrainedbyanycriticism,carriedawaybythesoundofherownvoice,andperhapsayouthfulloveformereuproar,orpossiblydesiroustodrownherfather\'svoice,whichhadunexpectedlyjoinedinwithadiscomposingbass,theconjoinedutterancesseemedtothreatenthefrailstructureoftheirdwelling,evenasthegalehaddistendedthestorebehindthem.Whentheyceasedatlastitwasinanaccessionofdrippingfromtheapparentlystirredleavesoutside.Andthenavoice,evidentlyfromthemoistdepthsoftheabyssbelow,calledout,——

"Hullo,there!"

Phemieputdowntheaccordion,said,"Who\'sthatnow?"wenttothewindow,lazilyleanedherelbowsonthesill,andpeeredintothedarkness.Nothingwastobeseen;theopenspaceofdimlyoutlinedlandscapehadthatblank,uncommunicativeimpenetrabilitywithwhichNaturealwaysconfrontsandsurprisesusatsuchmoments.ItseemedtoPhemiethatshewastheonlyhumanbeingpresent.Yetafterthefeelinghadpassedshefanciedsheheardthewashofthecurrentagainstsomeobjectinthestream,halfstationaryandhalfresisting.

"Isanyonedownthere?Isthatyou,Mr.Parmlee?"shecalled.

Therewasapause.Someinvisibleauditorsaidtoanother,"It\'sayounglady."Thenthefirstvoiceroseagaininamoredeferentialtone:"AreweanywherenearSidon?"

"ThisisSidon,"answeredHarkutt,whohadrisen,andwasnowquiteobliteratinghisdaughter\'soutlineatthewindow.

"Thankyou,"saidthevoice."Canwelandanywherehere,onthisbank?"

"Rundown,pop;they\'restrangers,"saidthegirl,withexcited,almostchildisheagerness.

"Holdon,"calledoutHarkutt,"I\'llbetharinamoment!"Hehastilythrusthisfeetintoapairofhugeboots,clappedonanoilskinhatandwaterproof,anddisappearedthroughadoorthatledtoalowerstaircase.Phemie,stillatthewindow,albeitwithanewlyaddedsenseofself-consciousness,hungoutbreathlessly.

Presentlyabeamoflightfromthelowerdepthsofthehouseshotoutintothedarkness.Itwasherfatherwithabull\'s-eyelantern.Ashehelditupandclamberedcautiouslydownthebank,itsraysfellupontheturbidrushingstream,andwhatappearedtobearoughraftoflogsheldwithdifficultyagainstthebankbytwomenwithlongpoles.Initscentrewasarollofblankets,avaliseandsaddle-bags,andtheshiningbrassesofsomeodd-lookinginstruments.

AsMr.Harkutt,supportinghimselfbyawillowbranchthatoverhungthecurrent,heldupthelantern,thetwomenrapidlytransferredtheirfreightfromtherafttothebank,andleapedashore.Theactiongaveanimpulsetotheraft,which,nolongerheldinpositionbythepoles,swungbroadsidetothecurrentandwasinstantlysweptintothedarkness.

Notawordhadbeenspoken,butnowthevoicesofthemenrosefreelytogether.Phemielistenedwithintenseexpectation.Theexplanationwassimple.TheyweresurveyorswhohadbeencaughtbytheoverflowonTasajaraplain,hadabandonedtheirhorsesonthebankofTasajaraCreek,andwithahastilyconstructedrafthadintrustedthemselvesandtheirinstrumentstothecurrent."But,"

saidHarkuttquickly,"thereisnoconnectionbetweenTasajaraCreekandthisstream."

Thetwomenlaughed."ThereisNOW,"saidoneofthem.

"ButTasajaraCreekisapartofthebay,"saidtheastonishedHarkutt,"andthisstreamrisesinlandandonlyrunsintothebayfourmileslowerdown.AndIdon\'tseehow——

"You\'realmosttwelvefeetlowerherethanTasajaraCreek,"saidthefirstman,withacertainprofessionalauthority,"andthat\'sWHY.There\'smorewaterthanTasajaraCreekcancarry,andit\'sseekingthebaythisway.Look,"hecontinued,takingthelanternfromHarkutt\'shandandcastingitsraysonthestream,"that\'ssaltdriftfromtheupperbay,andpartofTasajaraCreek\'srunningbyyourhousenow!Don\'tbealarmed,"headdedreassuringly,glancingatthestaringstorekeeper."You\'reallrighthere;thisisonlytheoverflowandwillfinditslevelsoon."

ButMr.Harkuttremainedgazingabstractedlyatthesmilingspeaker.FromthewindowabovetheimpatientPhemiewaswonderingwhyhekeptthestrangerswaitingintherainwhilehetalkedaboutthingsthatwereperfectlyplain.Itwassolikeaman!

"Thenthere\'sawaterwaystraighttoTasajaraCreek?"hesaidslowly.

"Thereis,aslongasthisfloodlasts,"returnedthefirstspeakerpromptly;"andacuttingthroughthebankoftwoorthreehundredyardswouldmakeitpermanent.Well,what\'sthematterwiththat?"

"Nothin\',"saidHarkutthurriedly."Iamonlyconsiderin\'!Butcomein,dryyourselves,andtakesuthin\'."

Thelightovertherushingwaterwaswithdrawn,andthewholeprospectsankbackintoprofounddarkness.Mr.Harkutthaddisappearedwithhisguests.Thentherewasthefamiliarshuffleofhisfeetonthestaircase,followedbyothermorecautiousfootstepsthatgrewdelicatelyandevencourteouslydeliberateastheyapproached.Atwhichtheyounggirl,insomenewsenseofdecorum,drewinherprettyhead,glancedaroundtheroomquickly,resetthetidyonherfather\'schair,placedtheresplendentaccordionlikeanornamentintheexactcentreofthetable,andthenvanishedintothehallasMr.Harkuttenteredwiththestrangers.

Theywerebothofthesameageandappearance,buttheprincipalspeakerwasevidentlythesuperiorofhiscompanion,andalthoughtheirattitudetoeachotherwasequalandfamiliar,itcouldbeeasilyseenthathewastheleader.Hehadasmooth,beardlessface,withacriticalexpressionofeyeandmouththatmighthavebeenfastidiousandsuperciliousbutforthekindly,humorousperceptionthattemperedit.Hisquickeyeswepttheapartmentandthenfixeditselfupontheaccordion,butasmilelituphisfaceashesaidquietly,——

"Ihopewehaven\'tfrightenedthemusicianaway.Itwasbadenoughtohaveinterruptedtheyounglady."

"No,no,"saidMr.Harkutt,whoseemedtohavelosthisabstractioninthenervousnessofhospitality."Ireckonshe\'sonlylookin\'

afterhersicksister.Butcomeintothekitchen,bothofyou,straightoff,andwhileyou\'redryin\'yourclothes,mother\'llfixyousuthin\'hot."

"Weonlyneedtochangeourbootsandstockings;we\'vesomedryonesinourpackdownstairs,"saidthefirstspeakerhesitatingly.

"I\'llfetch\'emupandyoucanchangeinthekitchen.Theoldwomanwon\'tmind,"saidHarkuttreassuringly."Comealong."Heledthewaytothekitchen;thetwostrangersexchangedaglanceofhumorousperplexityandfollowed.

Thequietofthelittleroomwasoncemoreunbroken.Afar-offcommiseratingmurmurindicatedthatMrs.Harkuttwasreceivingherguests.Thecoolbreathofthewetleaveswithoutslightlystirredthewhitedimitycurtains,andsomewherefromthedarkenedeavestherewasastill,somnolentdrip.Presentlyahurriedwhisperandahalf-laughappearedtobesuppressedintheouterpassageorhall.Therewasanothermomentofhesitationandthedooropenedsuddenlyandostentatiously,disclosingPhemie,withatallerandslighteryoungwoman,hereldersister,atherside.Perceivingthattheroomwasempty,theybothsaid"Oh!"yetwithacertainartificialityofmannerthatwasevidentlyalingeringtraceofsomepreviousformalattitudetheyhadassumed.Thenwithoutfurtherspeechtheyeachselectedachairandaposition,havingfirstshakenouttheirdresses,andgazedsilentlyateachother.

Itmaybesaidbrieflythatsittingthus——inspiteoftheirunnaturalattitude,orperhapsratherbecauseofitssuggestionofaphotographicpose——theymadeastrikingpicture,andstronglyaccentedtheirseparatepeculiarities.Theywerebothpretty,butthetallergirl,apparentlytheelder,hadanidealrefinementandregularityoffeaturewhichwasnotonlyunlikePhemie,butgratuitouslyunliketherestofherfamily,andashopelesslyandevenwantonlyinconsistentwithhersurroundingsaswastheelaboratelyornamentedaccordiononthecentre-table.Shewasoneofthoseoccasionalcreatures,episodicalintheSouthandWest,whomighthavebeenstampedwithsomevagueante-natalimpressionofamothergiventoover-sentimentalcontemplationofbooksofbeautyandalbumsratherthanthefamilyfeatures;offspringoftypicalmenandwomen,andyetthemselvesincongruoustoanyknownlocalorevengeneraltype.Thelongswan-likeneck,tendriledhair,swimmingeyes,andsmallpatricianhead,hadneverlivedormovedbeforeinTasajaraortheWest,norperhapsevenexistedexceptasapersonified"Constancy,""Meditation,"orthe"Baron\'sBride,"inmezzotintorcopperplate.Eventhegirl\'scommonpinkprintdresswithitshighsleevesandshoulderscouldnotconventionalizetheseoriginaloutlines;andthehandthatrestedstifflyonthebackofherchair,albeitneitherover-whitenorwellkept,lookedasifithadneverheldanythingbutalyre,arose,oragoodbook.Eventhefewspraysofwildjessaminewhichshehadplacedinthecoilsofherwavinghair,althoughalocalfashion,becameherasaspecialornament.

Thetwogirlskepttheirconstrainedandartificiallyelaboratedattitudeforafewmoments,accompaniedbythemurmurofvoicesinthekitchen,themonotonousdripoftheeavesbeforethewindow,andthefar-offsoughofthewind.ThenPhemiesuddenlybrokeintoaconstrainedgiggle,whichshehoweverquicklysmotheredasshehadtheaccordion,andwiththesamelookofmischievousdistress.

"I\'mastonishedatyou,Phemie,"saidClementinainadeepcontraltovoice,whichseemedevendeeperfromitsrestraint."Youdon\'tseemtohaveanysense.Anybody\'dthinkyouneverhadseenastrangerbefore."

"Sawhimbeforeyoudid,"retortedPhemiepertly.Buthereapushingofchairsandshufflingoffeetinthekitchencheckedher.

Clementinafixedanabstractedgazeontheceiling;Phemieregardedaleafonthewindowsillwithphotographicrigidityasthedooropenedtothestrangersandherfather.

Thelookofundisguisedsatisfactionwhichlittheyoungmen\'sfacesrelievedMr.Harkutt\'sawkwardintroductionofanyembarrassment,andalmostbeforePhemiewasfullyawareofit,shefoundherselftalkingrapidlyandinahighkeywithMr.LawrenceGrant,thesurveyor,whilehersisterwasequally,althoughmoresedately,occupiedwithMr.StephenRice,hisassistant.Buttheenthusiasmofthestrangers,andthedesiretopleaseandbepleasedwassogenuineandcontagiousthatpresentlytheaccordionwasbroughtintorequisition,andMr.GrantexhibitedasurprisingfacultyofaccompanimenttoMr.Rice\'stenor,inwhichboththegirlsjoined.

Thenagameofcardswithpartnersfollowed,intowhichtherivalpartiesintroducedsuchdelightfulandshamelessobviousnessofcheating,anddisplayedsuchfascinatingandexaggeratedpartisanshipthatthegameresolveditselfintoahilariousmelee,towhichpeacewasrestoredonlybyanexhibitionoftricksoflegerdemainwiththecardsbytheyoungsurveyor.AllofwhichMr.Harkuttsupervisedpatronizingly,withoccasionalfitsofabstraction,fromhisrocking-chair;andlaterMrs.Harkuttfromherkitchenthreshold,wipingherarmsonherapronandcommiseratinglyobservingthatshe"declared,theyoungfolkslookedbetteralready."

ButitwashereamoredangerouselementofmysteryandsuggestionwasaddedbyMr.LawrenceGrantinthetellingofMissEuphemia\'sfortunefromthecardsbeforehim,andthatyounglady,pinkwithexcitement,flutteredherlittlehandsnotunliketimidbirdsoverthecardstobedrawn,takingthemfromhimwithanaudibletwitterofanxietyandgreatdoubtswhetheracertain"fair-hairedgentleman"wasinheartsordiamonds.