第9章

Buthecouldnotbeartotellthistohiswifewhenheclimbedthehillthatnight,andheinventedsomeexcuseforbringinghisworkhome.Theinvalidnevernoticedanychangeinhisusualbuoyancy,andindeedIfear,whenhewasfairlyinstalledwithhiswritingmaterialsatthefootofherbed,hehadquiteforgottentheepisode.Hewasrecalledtoitbyafaintsigh.

"Whatisit,dear?"hesaidlookingup.

"Iliketoseeyouwriting,Milty.Youalwayslooksohappy."

"Alwayssohappy,dear?"

"Yes.Youarehappy,areyounot?"

"Always."Hegotupandkissedher.Nevertheless,whenhesatdowntohisworkagain,hisfacewasturnedalittlemoretothewindow.

Anotherseriousincident——tobealsokeptfromtheinvalid——shortlyfollowed.Thearticleinthe"Clarion"hadborneitsfruit.Thethirddayafterhisresignationarivalpapersharplyretorted.

"Thecowardlyinsinuationsagainsttherecordofajustlyhonoredcapitalist,"saidthe"Pioneer,""althoughquiteinkeepingwiththebrazen\'Clarion,\'mightattracttheattentionsoftheslanderedparty,ifitwerenotknowntohisfriendsaswellashimselfthatitmaybetracedalmostdirectlytoacast-offmemberofhisownfamily,who,itseems,isreducedtohauntingthebackdoorsofcertainblatantjournalstodisposeofhischeapwares.Theslandererissecurefrompublicexposureinthesuperiordecencyofhisrelations,whorefrainfromairingtheirfamilylinenuponeditoriallines."

ThiswasthejournaltowhichJohnMiltonhadhopefullyturnedforwork.Whenhereaditthereseemedbutonethingforhimtodo——

andhedidit.Gentleandoptimisticaswashisnature,hehadbeenbroughtupinacommunitywheresinceredirectnessofpersonaloffensewasfollowedbyequallysinceredirectnessofpersonalredress,and——hechallengedtheeditor.ThebearerofhiscartelwasoneJackHamlin,Igrievetosayagamblerbyprofession,butbetweenwhomandJohnMiltonhadsprungupanoddfriendshipofwhichthebestthatcanbesaidisthatitwastoeachequallyandunselfishlyunprofitable.Thechallengewasaccepted,thepreliminariesarranged."Isuppose,"saidJackcarelessly,"astheoldmanoughttodosomethingforyourwifeincaseofaccident,you\'vemadesomesortofawill?"

"I\'vethoughtofthat,"saidJohnMilton,dubiously,"butI\'mafraidit\'snouse.Yousee"——hehesitated——"I\'mnotofage."

"MayIaskhowoldyouare,sonny?"saidJackwithgreatgravity.

"I\'malmosttwenty,"saidJohnMilton,coloring.

"Itisn\'texactlyvingt-et-un,butI\'dstandonit;ifIwereyouI

wouldn\'tdrawtosuchahand,"saidJack,coolly.

Theyounghusbandhadarrangedtobeabsentfromhishomethatnight,andearlymorningfoundhim,withJack,grave,butcourageous,inalittlehollowbehindtheMissionHills.Tothempresentlyapproachedhisantagonist,jauntilyaccompaniedbyColonelStarbottle,hissecond.Theyhalted,butaftertheformalsalutationwereinstantlyjoinedbyJackHamlin.ForafewmomentsJohnMiltonremainedawkwardlyalone——pendingaconversationwhichevenatthatsuprememomenthefeltasbeinglikethegeneralattitudeofhisfriendstowardshim,initscompleteignoringofhimself.Thenextmomentthethreemensteppedtowardshim."Wehavecome,sir,"saidColonelStarbottleinhisprecisestspeechbuthisjauntiestmanner,"toofferyouafullandampleapology——apersonalapology——whichonlysupplementsthatfullpublicapologythatmyprincipal,sir,thisgentleman,"indicatingtheeditorofthe"Pioneer,""hasthismorningmadeinthecolumnsofhispaper,asyouwillobserve,"producinganewspaper."Wehave,sir,"

continuedthecolonelloftily,"onlywithinthelasttwelvehoursbecomeawareofthe——er——REALcircumstancesofthecase.Wewouldregretthattheaffairhadgonesofaralready,ifithadnotgivenus,sir,theopportunityoftestifyingtoyourgallantry.Wedosogladly;andif——er——er——aFEWYEARSLATER,Mr.Harcourt,youshouldeverneed——afriendinanymatterofthiskind,Iam,sir,atyourservice."JohnMiltongazedhalfinquiringly,halfuneasilyatJack.

"It\'sallright,Milt,"hesaidsottovoce."Shakehandsallroundandlet\'sgotobreakfast.AndIratherthinkthateditorwantstoemployyouHIMSELF."

Itwastrue,forwhenthatnightheclimbedeagerlythesteephomewardhillhecarriedwithhimthewrittenofferofanengagementonthe"Pioneer."Asheenteredthedoorhiswife\'snurseandcompanionmethimwithaseriousface.Therehadbeenastrangeandunexpectedchangeinthepatient\'scondition,andthedoctorhadalreadybeentheretwice.Asheputasidehiscoatandhatandenteredherroom,itseemedtohimthathehadforeverputasideallelseofessayandambitionbeyondthosefourwalls.Andwiththethoughtagreatpeacecameuponhim.Itseemedgoodtohimtoliveforheralone.

Itwasnotforlong.Aseachmonotonousdaybroughtthemorningmistandeveningfogregularlytothelittlehilltopwherehiswholebeingwasnowcentred,sheseemedtogrowdailyweaker,andthelittlecircleofherlifenarroweddaybyday.Onemorningwhentheusualmistappearedtohavebeenwithheldandthesunhadrisenwithastrangeandcruelbrightness;whenthewavesdancedandsparkledonthebaybelowandlightglancedfromdazzlingsails,andeventhewhitetombsonLoneMountainglitteredkeenly;

whencheeryvoiceshailingeachotheronthehillsidecametohimclearlybutwithoutsenseormeaning;whenearth,sky,andseaseemedquiveringwithlifeandmotion,——heopenedthedoorofthatonelittlehouseonwhichtheonlyshadowseemedtohavefallen,andwentforthagainintotheworldalone.

CHAPTERVII.

Mr.DanielHarcourt\'stownmansionwasalsoonaneminence,butitwasthatgentleracclivityoffashionknownasRinconHill,andsunneditselfonasouthernslopeofluxury.Ithadbeendescribedas"princely"and"fairy-like,"byagratefulreporter;touristsandtravelershadsungitspraisesinletterstotheirfriendsandinprivatereminiscences,forithaddispensedhospitalitytomostofthecelebritieswhohadvisitedthecoast.NeverthelessitscharmwasmainlyduetotherulingtasteofMissClementinaHarcourt,whohadastonishedherfatherbyhermarvelousintuitionofthenicerequirementsandelegantresponsibilitiesoftheirposition;andhadthrownhermotherintothepainedperplexityofamatronlyhen,who,amongtheducks\'eggsintrustedtoherfosteringcare,hadunwittinglyhatchedagracefulbutdiscomposingcygnet.

Indeed,afterholdingoutfeeblyagainstthesiegeofwealthatTasajaraandSanFrancisco,Mrs.Harcourthadabandonedherselfhopelesslytothehorrorsofitsinvasion;hadallowedherselftobedraggedfromherkitchenbyherexultantdaughtersandsetupinblacksilkinacertainconventionalrespectabilityinthedrawing-

room.Strangetosay,hercommiseratinghospitality,orhospital-

likeministration,notonlygaveherpopularity,butacertainkindofdistinction.Anexaltationsosorrowfullydeprecatedbyitspossessorwasfelttobeasignofsuperiority.Shewasspokenofas"motherly,"evenbythosewhovaguelyknewthattherewassomewhereadiscardedsonstrugglinginpovertywithahelplesswife,andthatshehadsidedwithherhusbandindisinheritingadaughterwhohadmarriedunwisely.Shewassentimentallyspokenofasa"truewife,"whileneveropposingasinglemeannessofherhusband,suggestingasingleactivevirtue,norquestioningherrighttosacrificeherselfandherfamilyforhissake.Withnothingshecaredtoaffect,shewasquitefreefromaffectation,andeventhecriticalLawrenceGrantwasstruckwiththedignitywhichhernarrowsimplicity,thathadseemedsmalleveninSidon,attainedinherpalatialhallinSanFrancisco.Itappearedtobeaperfectlylogicalconclusionthatwhensuchunaffectednessandsimplicitywereforcedtoassumeahostileattitudetoanybody,thelattermustbetoblame.

SincethefestivalofTasajaraMr.GranthadbeenafrequentvisitoratHarcourt\'s,andwasaguestontheeveofhisdeparturefromSanFrancisco.ThedistinguishedpositionofeachmadetheirrelationsappearquitenaturalwithoutincitinggossipastoanyattractioninHarcourt\'sdaughters.ItwaslateoneafternoonashewaspassingthedoorofHarcourt\'sstudythathishostcalledhimin.Hefoundhimsittingathisdeskwithsomepapersbeforehimandafoldedcopyofthe"Clarion."Withhisbacktothefadinglightofthewindowhisfacewaspartlyinshadow.

"Bytheway,Grant,"hebegan,withanassumptionofcarelessnesssomewhatinconsistentwiththefactthathehadjustcalledhimin,"itmaybenecessaryformetopullupthosefellowswhoareblackguardingmeinthe\'Clarion.\'"

"Why,theyhaven\'tbeensayinganythingnew?"askedGrant,laughingly,asheglancedtowardsthepaper.

"No——thatis——onlyarehashofwhattheysaidbefore,"returnedHarcourtwithoutopeningthepaper.

"Well,"saidGrantplayfully,"youdon\'tmindtheirsayingthatyou\'reNOTtheoriginalpioneerofTasajara,forit\'strue;northatthatfellow\'LigeCurtisdisappearedsuddenly,forhedid,ifIrememberrightly.Butthere\'snothinginthattoinvalidateyourrightstoTasajara,tosaynothingofyourfiveyears\'undisputedpossession."

"Ofcoursethere\'snoLEGALquestion,"saidHarcourtalmostsharply.

"Butasamatterofabsurdreport,Imaywanttocontradicttheirinsinuations.AndYOUrememberallthecircumstances,don\'tyou?"

"Ishouldthinkso!Why,mydearfellow,I\'vetolditeverywhere!——

here,inNewYork,Newport,andinLondon;byJove,it\'soneofmybeststories!Howacompanysentmeoutwithasurveyortolookuparailroadandagriculturalpossibilitiesinthewilderness;howjustasIfoundthem——andaratherbigthingtheymade,too——Iwassetafloatbyafloodandaraft,anddriftedashoreonyourbank,andpracticallydemonstratedtoyouwhatyoudidn\'tknowanddidn\'tdaretohopefor——thattherecouldbeawaterwaystraighttoSidonfromtheembarcadero.I\'vetoldwhatacharmingeveningwehadwithyouandyourdaughtersintheoldhouse,andhowIreturnedyourhospitalitybygivingyouatipabouttherailroad;andhowyouslippedoutwhilewewereplayingcards,toclinchthebargainforthelandwiththatdrunkenfellow,\'LigeCurtis"——

"What\'sthat?"interruptedHarcourt,quickly.

ItwaswellthattheshadowhidfromGranttheexpressionofHarcourt\'sface,orhisreplymighthavebeensharper.Asitwas,heansweredalittlestiffly:——

"Ibegyourpardon"——

Harcourtrecoveredhimself."You\'reallwrong!"hesaid,"thatbargainwasmadelongBEFORE;Ineversaw\'LigeCurtisafteryoucametothehouse.Itwasbeforethat,intheafternoon,"hewentonhurriedly,"thathewaslastinmystore.Icanproveit."

Neverthelesshewassoshockedandindignantatbeingconfrontedinhisownsuppressionsandfalsehoodsbyanevengreaterandmoreastoundingmisconceptionoffact,thatforamomenthefelthelpless.What,hereflected,ifitwereallegedthat\'Ligehadreturnedagainaftertheloafershadgone,orhadneverleftthestoreashadbeensaid?Nonsense!TherewasJohnMilton,whohadbeentherereadingallthetime,andwhocoulddisproveit.Yes,butJohnMiltonwashisdiscardedson,——hisenemy,——perhapsevenhisveryslanderer!

"But,"saidGrantquietly,"don\'tyourememberthatyourdaughterEuphemiasaidsomethingthateveningaboutthelandLigehadOFFEREDyou,andyousnappeduptheyoungladyrathersharplyforlettingoutsecrets,andTHENyouwentout?Atleastthat\'smyimpression."

Itwas,however,morethananimpression;withGrant\'sscientificmemoryforcharacteristicdetailshehadnoticedthatparticularcircumstanceaspartofthesocialphenomena.

"Idon\'tknowwhatPhemieSAID,"returnedHarcourt,impatiently.

"IKNOWtherewasnoofferpending;thelandhadbeensoldtomebeforeIeversawyou.Why——youmusthavethoughtmeuptoprettysharppracticewithCurtis——eh?"headded,withaforcedlaugh.

Grantsmiled;hehadbeenaccustomedtohearofsuchsharppracticeamonghisbusinessacquaintance,althoughhehimselfbynatureandprofessionwasincapableofit,buthehadnotdeemedHarcourtmorescrupulousthanothers."Perhapsso,"hesaidlightly,"butforHeaven\'ssakedon\'taskmetospoilmyreputationasaraconteurforthesakeofamerefactortwo.Iassureyouit\'samightytakingstoryasItellit——anditdon\'thurtyouinabusinessway.

You\'retheheroofit——hangitall!"

"Yes,"saidHarcourt,withoutnoticingGrant\'shalfcynicalsuperiority,butyou\'llobligemeifyouwon\'ttellitagainIN

THATWAY.Therearemenheremeanenoughtomaketheworstofit.

It\'snothingtome,ofcourse,butmyfamily——thegirls,youknow——

arerathersensitive."

"Ihadnoideatheyevenknewit,——muchlesscaredforit,"saidGrant,withsuddenseriousness."Idaresayifthosefellowsinthe"Clarion"knewthattheywereannoyingtheladiesthey\'ddropit.Who\'stheeditor?Lookhere——leaveittome;I\'lllookintoit.Betterthatyoushouldn\'tappearinthematteratall."

"Youunderstandthatifitwasareallyseriousmatter,Grant,"

saidHarcourtwithaslightattitude,"Ishouldn\'tallowanyonetotakemyplace."

"Mydearfellow,there\'llbenobody\'calledout\'andno\'shootingatsight,\'whateveristheresultofmyinterference,"returnedGrant,lightly."It\'llbeallright."Hewasquiteawareofthepowerofhisownindependentpositionandthefactthathehadbeenoftenappealedtobeforeindelicatearbitration.

Harcourtwasequallyconsciousofthis,butbyastrangeinconsistencynowfeltrelievedatthecoolnesswithwhichGranthadacceptedthemisconceptionwhichhadatfirstseemedsodangerous.IfhewerereadytocondonewhathethoughtwasSHARP

PRACTICE,hecouldnotbelesslenientwiththerealfactsthatmightcomeout,——ofcoursealwaysexceptingthatinterpolatedconsiderationinthebillofsale,which,however,noonebutthemissingCurtiscouldeverdiscover.ThefactthatamanofGrant\'ssecurepositionhadinterestedhimselfinthismatterwouldsecurehimfromtheworkingofthatpersonalvulgarjealousywhichhishumblerantecedentshadprovoked.Andif,ashefancied,GrantreallycaredforClementina——

"Asyoulike,"hesaid,withhalf-affectedlightness,"andnowletustalkofsomethingelse.ClementinahasbeenthinkingofgettinguparidingpartytoSanMateoforMrs.Ashwood.Wemustshowthemsomecivility,andthatBostonbrotherofhers,Mr.Shipley,willhavetobeinvitedalso.Ican\'tgetaway,andmywife,ofcourse,willonlybeabletojointhematSanMateointhecarriage.I

reckonitwouldbeeasierforClementinaifyoutookmyplace,andhelpedherlookaftertheridingparty.Itwillneedaman,andI

thinkshe\'dpreferyou——asyouknowshe\'sratherparticular——

unless,ofcourse,you\'dbewantedforMrs.AshwoodorPhemie,orsomebodyelse."

FromhisshadowedcornerhecouldseethatapleasantlighthadsprungintoGrant\'seyes,althoughhisreplywasinhisordinaryeasybanter."IshallbeonlytoogladtoactasMissClementina\'svaquero,andlassoherrunaways,orkeepstragglersintheroad."

Thereseemedtobesmallnecessity,however,forthisactiveco-

operation,forwhenthecheerfulcavalcadestartedfromthehouseafewmorningslater,Mr.LawrenceGrant\'sonerousdutiesseemedtobesimplyconfinedtothoseofanordinarycavalieratthesideofMissClementina,afewpacesintherearoftheparty.Butthissafedistancegavethemtheopportunityofconversingwithoutbeingoverheard,——anapparentlydiscreetprecaution.

"YourfatherwassoexceedinglyaffabletometheotherdaythatifIhadn\'tgivenyoumypromisetosaynothing,IthinkIwouldhavefallenonmykneestohimthenandthere,revealedmyfeelings,askedforyourhandandhisblessing——orwhateveronedoesatsuchatime.Buthowlongdoyouintendtokeepmeinthissuspense?"

Clementinaturnedhercleareyeshalfabstractedlyuponhim,asifimperfectlyrecallingsomeforgottensituation."Youforget,"shesaid,"thatpartofyourpromisewasthatyouwouldn\'tevenspeakofittomeagainwithoutmypermission."

"Butmytimeissoshortnow.GivemesomedefinitehopebeforeI

go.LetmebelievethatwhenwemeetinNewYork"——

"Youwillfindmejustthesameasnow!Yes,IthinkIcanpromiseTHAT.Letthatsuffice.YousaidtheotherdayyoulikedmebecauseIhadnotchangedforfiveyears.YoucansurelytrustthatIwillnotalterinasmanymonths."

"IfIonlyknew"——

"Ah,ifIonlyknew,——ifWEALLonlyknew.Butwedon\'t.Come,Mr.Grant,letitrestasitis.UnlessyouwanttogostillfurtherbackandhaveitasitWAS,atSidon.ThereIthinkyoufanciedEuphemiamost."

"Clementina!"

"Thatismyname,andthosepeopleaheadofusknowitalready."

"YouarecalledCLEMENTINA,——butyouarenotmerciful!"

"Youareverywrong,foryoumightseethatMr.Shipleyhastwicecheckedhishorsethathemighthearwhatyouaresaying,andPhemieisalwaysshowingMrs.Ashwoodsomethinginthelandscapebehindus."

AllthiswasthemorehopelessandexasperatingtoGrantsinceintheyounggirl\'sspeechandmannertherewasnottheslightesttraceofcoquetryorplayfulness.Hecouldnothelpsayingalittlebitterly:"Idon\'tthinkthatanyonewouldimaginefromyourmannerthatyouwerereceivingadeclaration."

"Buttheymightimaginefromyoursthatyouhadtherighttoquarrelwithme,——whichwouldbeworse."

"Wecannotpartlikethis!Itistoocrueltome."

"Wecannotpartotherwisewithouttheriskofgreatercruelty."

"Butsayatleast,Clementina,thatIhavenorival.Thereisnoothermorefavoredsuitor?"

"Thatissolikeaman——andyetsounliketheproudoneIbelievedyoutobe.Whyshouldamanlikeyouevenconsidersuchapossibility?IfIwereamanIknowIcouldn\'t."Sheturneduponhimaglancesoclearanduntroubledbyeitherconsciousvanityorevasionthathewashopelesslyconvincedofthetruthofherstatement,andshewentoninaslightlyloweredtone,"Youhavenorighttoaskmesuchaquestion,——butperhapsforthatreasonIamwillingtoansweryou.Thereisnone.Hush!Foragoodrideryouaresettingapoorexampletotheothers,bycrowdingmetowardsthebank.GoforwardandtalktoPhemie,andtellhernottoworryMrs.Ashwood\'shorsenorracewithher;Idon\'tthinkhe\'squitesafe,andMrs.Ashwoodisn\'taccustomedtousingtheSpanishbit.

IsupposeImustsaysomethingtoMr.Shipley,whodoesn\'tseemtounderstandthatI\'Mactingaschaperon,andYOUascaptainoftheparty."