下载辰思小说免费APP
WherethegreathighwayoftheSierrasnearsthesummit，andthepinesbegintoshowsterilereachesofrockandwasteintheirdrawn-upfiles，therearesignsofoccasionaldeparturesfromthemainroad，asifthewearytravellerhadattimessuccumbedtothelongascent，andturnedasideforrestandbreathagain。Thetiredeyesofmanyadustypassengerontheoldoverlandcoachhavegazedwistfullyonthosesylvanopenings，andimaginedrecessesofprimevalshadeandvirginwildernessintheirdimperspectives。
Hadhedescended，however，andfollowedoneofthesedivergingpaths，hewouldhavecomeuponsomerudewagontrack，or"logslide，"
leadingfromaclearingontheslope，ortheominoussaw-mill，halfhiddenintheforestitwasslowlydecimating。Thewoodlandhushmighthavebeenbrokenbythesoundofwaterpassingoversomeunseendaminthehollow，orthehissofescapingsteamandthrobofaninvisibleengineinthecovert。
Such，atleast，wastheexperienceofayoungfellowoffive-and-
twenty，who，knapsackonbackandstickinhand，hadturnedasidefromthehighwayandenteredthewoodsonepleasantafternooninJuly。Buthewasevidentlyadeliberatepedestrian，andnotarecentdepositoftheproceedingstage-coach；andalthoughhisstoutwalking-shoeswerecoveredwithdust，hehadneitherthehabitualslouchandslovenlinessofthetramp，northehurriedfatigueandgrowingnegligenceofaninvoluntarywayfarer。Hisclothes，whichwerestrongandserviceable，werebetterfittedfortheirpresentusagethantheordinarygarmentsoftheCaliforniantravellers，whichweretooapttobeeitheraboveorbelowtheirrequirements。Butperhapsthestranger\'sgreatestclaimtooriginalitywas
theabsenceofanyweaponinhisequipment。Hecarriedneitherriflenorguninhishand，andhisnarrowleathernbeltwasemptyofeitherknifeorrevolver。
Ahalf-milefromthemainroad，whichseemedtohimtohavedroppedoutofsightthemomenthehadleftit，hecameuponahalf-clearedarea，wherethehastily-cutstumpsofpines，ofirregularheight，boreanoddresemblancetothebrokencolumnsofsomevastandruinedtemple。Afewfallenshafts，denudedoftheirbarkandtessellatedbranches，sawnintosymmetricalcylinders，laybesidethestumps，andlentthemselvestotheillusion。Butthefreshly-
cutchips，sodampthattheystillclunginlayerstoeachotherastheyhadfallenfromtheaxe，andthestumpsthemselves，stillwetandviscousfromtheirdrainedlife-blood，wereredolentofanodorofyouthandfreshness。
Theyoungmanseatedhimselfononeofthelogsanddeeplyinhaledthesharpbalsamicfragrance——albeitwithaslightcoughandalaterhurriedrespiration。This，andacertaindrawnlookabouthisupperlip，seemedtoindicate，inspiteofhisstrengthandcolor，somepulmonaryweakness。He，however，roseafteramoment\'srestwithundiminishedenergyandcheerfulness，readjustedhisknapsack，andbegantolightlypickhiswayacrossthefallentimber。Afewpaceson，themuffledwhirofmachinerybecamemoreaudible，withthelazy，monotonouscommandof"Geethar，"fromsomeunseenox-driver。Presently，theslow，deliberately-swayingheadsofateamofoxenemergedfromthebushes，followedbytheclankingchainofthe"skids"ofsawnplanks，whichtheywereponderouslydraggingwiththatostentatioussubmissivenesspeculiartotheirspecies。Theyhadnearlypassedhimwhentherewasasuddenhitchintheprocession。Fromwherehestoodhecouldseethataprojectingplankhadstruckapileofchipsandbecomepartlyimbeddedinit。Toruntotheobstructionand，withafewdexterousstrokesandtheleverageofhisstoutstick，dislodgetheplankwastheworknotonlyofthemomentbutofanevidentlyenergetichand。Theteamsterlookedbackandmerelynoddedhisappreciation，andwitha"Geeup!Outofthat，now!"theskidsmovedon。
"Muchobliged，there!"saidaheartyvoice，asifsupplementingtheteamster\'simperfectacknowledgment。
Thestrangerlookedup。Thevoicecamefromtheopen，sashless，shutterlesswindowofarudebuilding——amereshellofboardsandbeamshalfhiddeninthestillleafycovertbeforehim。Hehadcompletelyoverlookeditinhisapproach，evenashehadignoredthenearerthrobbingofthemachinery，whichwassoviolentastoimpartadecidedtremortotheslightedifice，andtoshakethespeakersostronglythathewasobligedwhilespeakingtosteadyhimselfbythesashlessframeofthewindowatwhichhestood。Hehadafaceofgood-naturedandalertintelligence，amaster\'sindependenceandauthorityofmanner，inspiteofhisbluejeanoverallsandflannelshirt。
"Don\'tmentionit，"saidthestranger，smilingwithequalbutmoredeliberategood-humor。Then，seeingthathisinterlocutorstilllingeredahospitablemomentinspiteofhisquickeyesandthejarringimpatienceofthemachinery，headdedhesitatingly，"I
fancyI\'vewanderedoffthetrackabit。DoyouknowaMr。
Bradley——somewherehere？"
Thestranger\'shesitationseemedtobemorefromsomehabitualconscientiousnessofstatementthanawkwardness。Themaninthewindowreplied，"I\'mBradley。”
"Ah!Thankyou:I\'vealetterforyou——somewhere。Hereitis。”Heproducedanotefromhisbreast-pocket。Bradleystoopedtoasittingpostureinthewindow。"Pitchitup。”Itwasthrownandcaughtcleverly。Bradleyopenedit，readithastily，smiledandnodded，glancedbehindhimasiftoimplorefurtherdelayfromtheimpatientmachinery，leanedperilouslyfromthewindow，andsaid，——
"Lookhere!Doyouseethatsilver-firstraightahead？"
"Yes。”
"Alittletotheleftthere\'satrail。Followitandskirtalongtheedgeofthecanyonuntilyouseemyhouse。Askformywife——
that\'sMrs。Bradley——andgiveheryourletter。Stop!"Hedrewacarpenter\'spencilfromhispocket，scrawledtwoorthreewordsacrosstheopensheetandtosseditbacktothestranger。"Seeyouattea!Excuseme——Mr。Mainwaring——we\'reshort-handed——and——theengine——"Butherehedisappearedsuddenly。
Withoutglancingatthenoteagain，thestrangerquietlyreplaceditinhispocket，andstruckoutacrossthefallentrunkstowardsthesilver-fir。HequicklyfoundthetrailindicatedbyBradley，althoughitwasfaintandapparentlywornbyasinglepairoffeetasashorterandprivatecutfromsomemoretravelledpath。Itwaswellforthestrangerthathehadakeeneyeorhewouldhavelostit；itwasequallyfortunatethathehadamountaineeringinstinct，forasuddenprofounddeepeningofthebluemistseendimlythroughtheleavesbeforehimcausedhimtoslackenhissteps。Thetrailbentabruptlytotheright；agulffullytwothousandfeetdeepwasathisfeet!ItwastheGreatCanyon。
Atthefirstglanceitseemedsonarrowthatarifle-shotcouldhavecrosseditstranquildepths；butasecondlookatthecomparativesizeofthetreesontheoppositemountainconvincedhimofhiserror。Anearersurveyoftheabyssalsoshowedhimthatinsteadofitswallsbeingperpendiculartheyweremadeofsuccessiveledgesorterracestothevalleybelow。Yettheairwassostill，andtheoutlinessoclearlycut，thattheymighthavebeenonlythereflectionsofthemountainsaroundhimcastupontheplacidmirrorofalake。Thespectaclearrestedhim，asitarrestedallmen，bysomeoccultpowerbeyondthemereattractionofbeautyormagnitude；eventheteamsterneverpasseditwithoutthetributeofastoneorbrokentwigtossedintoitsimmeasurableprofundity。
Reluctantlyleavingthespot，thestrangerturnedwiththetrailthatnowbegantoskirtitsedge。Thiswasnoeasymatter，astheundergrowthwasverythick，andthefoliagedensetotheperilousbrinkoftheprecipice。Hewalkedon，however，wonderingwhyBradleyhadchosensocircuitousanddangerousaroutetohishouse，whichnaturallywouldbesomedistancebackfromthecanyon。
Attheendoftenminutes\'strugglingthroughthe"brush，"thetrailbecamevague，and，toallappearances，ended。Hadhearrived？Thethicketwasasdenseasbefore；throughtheintersticesofleafandsprayhecouldseethebluevoidofthecanyonathisside，andheevenfanciedthatthefoliageaheadofhimwasmoresymmetricalandlessirregular，andwastouchedhereandtherewithfaintbitsofcolor。Tocompletehisuttermystification，awoman\'svoice，veryfresh，veryyouthful，andbynomeansunmusical，roseapparentlyfromthecircumambientair。Helookedhurriedlytotherightandleft，andevenhopelesslyintothetreesabovehim。
"Yes，"saidthevoice，asifrenewingasuspendedconversation，"itwastoofunnyforanything。TherewerethetwoMissourigirlsfromSkinner\'s，withtheirauburnhairringleted，mydear，liketheold\'BooksofBeauty\'——inwhitefrocksandsashesofanunripegreenishyellow，thatpuckeredupyourmouthlikepersimmons。Oneofthemwasspeechlessfromgoodbehavior，andtheother——well!theotherwassoenergeticshecalledoutthefiguresbeforethefiddlerdid，andshriekedtomyvis-a-vistodanceuptotheentirestranger——
meaningME，ifyouplease。”
Thevoiceappearedtocomefromthefoliagethatoverhungthecanyon，andthestrangerevenfanciedhecoulddetectthroughtheshimmeringleafyveilsomethingthatmovedmonotonouslytoandfro。
Mystifiedandimpatient，hemadeahurriedstrideforward，hisfootstruckawoodenstep，andthenextmomentthemysterywasmadeclear。Hehadalmoststumbledupontheendofalongverandathatprojectedovertheabyssbeforealow，moderndwelling，tilltheninvisible，nestlingonitsverybrink。Thesymmetrically-trimmedfoliagehehadnoticedweretheluxuriantMadeiravinesthathidtherudepillarsoftheveranda；themovingobjectwasarocking-
chair，withitsbacktowardstheintruder，thatdisclosedonlythebrownhairabove，andthewhiteskirtsandsmallslipperedfeetbelow，ofaseatedfemalefigure。Inthemeantime，asecondvoicefromtheinteriorofthehousehadrepliedtothefigureinthechair，whowasevidentlythefirstspeaker:——
"Itmusthavebeenveryfunny；butaslongasJimisalwaysbringingsomebodyoverfromthemill，Idon\'tseehowIcangotothoseplaces。Youwerelucky，mydear，toescapefromthenewDivisionSuperintendentlastnight；hewasinsufferabletoJimwithhistalkofhisfriendtheSanFranciscomillionaire，andtomewithhischeapsocietyairs。Idohateaprovincialfinegentleman。”
Thesituationwasbecomingembarrassingtotheintruder。Attheapparitionofthewoman，theunaffectedandsimpledirectnesshehadpreviouslyshowninhisequallyabruptcontactwithBradleyhadfledutterly；confusedbytheawkwardnessofhisarrival，andshockedattheideaofoverhearingaprivateconversation，hesteppedhurriedlyontheveranda。
"Well？goon!"saidthesecondvoiceimpatiently。"Well，whoelsewasthere？WHATdidyousay？Idon\'thearyou。What\'sthematter？"
Theseatedfigurehadrisenfromherchair，andturnedayoungandprettyfacesomewhatsuperciliouslytowardsthestranger，asshesaidinalowtonetoherunseenauditor，"Hush!thereissomebodyhere。”
Theyoungmancameforwardwithanawkwardnessthatwasmoreboyishthanrustic。Hisembarrassmentwasnotlessenedbythesimultaneousentrancefromtheopendoorofasecondwoman，apparentlyasyoungasandprettierthanthefirst。
"Itrustyou\'llexcusemefor——for——beingsowretchedlystupid，"hestammered，"butIreallythought，youknow，that——that——Iwasfollowingthetrailto——to——thefrontofthehouse，whenIstumbledin——inhere。”
Longbeforehehadfinished，bothwomen，bysomesimplefeminineintuition，wererelievedandevenprepossessedbyhisvoiceandmanner。Theysmiledgraciously。Thelater-comerpointedtotheemptychair。Butwithhishabitofpertinaciousconscientiousnessthestrangercontinued，"Itwasregularlystupid，wasn\'tit？——andI
oughttohaveknownbetter。IshouldhaveturnedbackandgoneawaywhenIfoundoutwhatanassIwaslikelytobe，butIwas——
afraid——youknow，ofalarmingyoubythenoise。”
"Won\'tyousitdown？"saidthesecondlady，pleasantly。
"Oh，thanks!I\'vealetterhere——I"——hetransferredhisstickandhattohislefthandashefeltinhisbreast-pocketwithhisright。
Buttheactionwassoawkwardthatthestickdroppedontheveranda。
Bothwomenmadeamovementtorestoreittoitsembarrassedowner，who，however，quicklyanticipatedthem。"Praydon\'tmindit，"hecontinued，withacceleratedbreathandheightenedcolor。"Ah，here\'stheletter!"HeproducedthenoteBradleyhadreturnedtohim。"It\'smine，infact——thatis，IbroughtittoMr。Bradley。HesaidIwastogiveitto——to——to——Mrs。Bradley。”Hepaused，glancingembarrassedlyfromtheonetotheother。
"I\'mMrs。Bradley，"saidtheprettiestone，withalaugh。Hehandedhertheletter。Itranasfollows:——
"DEARBRADLEY——PutMr。Mainwaringthroughasfarashewantstogo，orhanghimupatTheLookout，justashelikes。TheBank\'sbehindhim，andhishat\'schalkedallovertheRoad；buthedon\'tcaremuchaboutbeingonvelvet。Thatain\'thisstyle——andyou\'lllikehim。He\'ssomebody\'ssoninEngland。B。”
Mrs。Bradleyglancedsimplyatthefirstsentence。"Praysitdown，Mr。Mainwaring，"shesaidgently；"or，rather，letmefirstintroducemycousin——MissMacy。”
"Thanks，"saidMainwaring，withabowtoMissMacy，"butI——I——I——
think，"headdedconscientiously，"youdidnotnoticethatyourhusbandhadwrittensomethingacrossthepaper。”
Mrs。Bradleysmiled，andglancedatherhusband\'sindorsement——"Allright。Wadein。”"It\'snothingbutJim\'sslang，"shesaid，withalaughandaslightlyheightenedcolor。"Heoughtnottohavesentyoubythatshortcut；it\'sabother，andevendangerousforastranger。IfyouhadcomedirectlytoUSbytheroad，withoutmakingyourfirstcallatthemill，"sheadded，withatouchofcoquetry，"youwouldhavehadapleasanterwalk，andseenUS
sooner。Isuppose，however，yougotoffthestageatthemill？"
"Iwasnotonthecoach，"saidMainwaring，unfasteningthestrapofhisknapsack。"IwalkedoverfromLonePineFlat。”
"Walked!"echoedbothwomeninsimultaneousastonishment。
"Yes，"returnedMainwaringsimply，layingasidehisburdenandtakingtheprofferedseat。"It\'saveryfinebitofcountry。”
"Why，it\'sfifteenmiles，"saidMrs。Bradley，glancinghorror-
strickenathercousin。"Howdreadful!AndtothinkJimcouldhavesentyouahorsetoLonePine。Why，youmustbedead!"
"Thanks，I\'mallright!Iratherenjoyedit，youknow。”
"But，"saidMissMacy，glancingwonderinglyathisknapsack，"youmustwantsomething，achange——orsomerefreshment——afterfifteenmiles。”
"Praydon\'tdisturbyourself，"saidMainwaring，risinghastily，butnotquicklyenoughtopreventtheyounggirlfromslippingpasthimintothehouse，whencesherapidlyreturnedwithadecanterandglasses。
"PerhapsMr。MainwaringwouldprefertogointoJim\'sroomandwashhishandsandputonapairofslippers？"saidMrs。Bradley，withgentleconcern。
"Thanks，no。Ireallyamnottired。IsentsomeluggageyesterdaybythecoachtotheSummitHotel，"hesaid，observingthewomen\'seyesstillfixeduponhisknapsack。"IdaresayIcangetthemifIwantthem。I\'vegotachangehere，"hecontinued，liftingtheknapsackasifwithasuddensenseofitsincongruitywithitssurroundings，anddepositingitontheendoftheveranda。
"Doletitremainwhereitis，"saidMrs。Bradley，greatlyamused，"andpraysitstillandtakesomerefreshment。You\'llmakeyourselfillafteryourexertions，"sheadded，withacharmingassumptionofmatronlysolicitude。
"ButI\'mnotatalldeservingofyoursympathy，"saidMainwaring，withalaugh。"I\'mawfullyfondofwalking，andmyusualconstitutionalisn\'tmuchunderthis。”
"Perhapsyouwerestrongerthanyouarenow，"saidMrs。Bradley，gazingathimwithafrankcuriositythat，however，broughtafaintdeepeningofcolortohischeek。
"Idaresayyou\'reright，"hesaidsuddenly，withanapologeticsmile。"IquiteforgotthatI\'masortofaninvalid，youknow，travellingformyhealth。I\'mnotverystronghere，"headded，lightlytappinghischest，thatnow，relievedofthebandsofhisknapsack，appearedsomewhatthinandhollowinspiteofhisbroadshoulders。Hisvoice，too，hadbecomelessclearanddistinct。
Mrs。Bradley，whowasstillwatchinghim，hererosepotentially。
"Yououghttotakemorecareofyourself，"shesaid。"Youshouldbeginbyeatingthisbiscuit，drinkingthatglassofwhiskey，andmakingyourselfmorecomfortableinJim\'sroomuntilwecangetthespareroomfixedalittle。”
"ButIamnottobesenttobed——amI？"askedMainwaring，inhalf-
real，half-amusedconsternation。
"I\'mnotsosureofthat，"saidMrs。Bradley，withplayfulprecision。
"Butforthepresentwe\'llletyouoffwithagoodwashandanapafterwardsinthatrocking-chair，whilemycousinandImakesomelittledomesticpreparations。Yousee，"sheaddedwithacertainproudhumility，"we\'vegotonlyoneservant——aChinaman，andtherearemanythingswecan\'tleavetohim。”
ThecoloragainroseinMainwaring\'scheek，buthehadtactenoughtoreflectthatanyprotestorhesitationonhispartatthatmomentwouldonlyincreasethedifficultiesofhisgentleentertainers。HeallowedhimselftobeusheredintothehousebyMrs。Bradley，andshowntoherhusband\'sroom，withoutperceivingthatMissMacyhadavailedherselfofhisabsencetoruntotheendoftheveranda，mischievouslytrytoliftthediscardedknapsacktoherownprettyshoulder，but，failing，heroicallystaggerwithitintothepassageandsoftlydeposititathisdoor。Thisdone，shepantinglyrejoinedhercousininthekitchen。
"Well，"saidMrs。Bradley，emphatically。"DIDyouever？Walkingfifteenmilesforpleasure——andwithsuchlungs!"
"Andthatknapsack!"addedLouiseMacy，pointingtothemarkinherlittlepalmwherethestraphadimbeddeditselfinthesoftflesh。
"He\'snice，though；isn\'the？"saidMrs。Bradley，tentatively。
"Yes，"saidMissMacy，"heisn\'t，certainly，oneofthoseprovincialfinegentlemenyouobjectto。ButDIDyouseehisshoes？Isupposetheymakethemilesgoquickly，orseemtomeasurelessbycomparison。”
"They\'reprobablymoreserviceablethanthosehigh-heeledthingsthatCaptainGreysonhopsaboutin。”
"ButtheCaptainalwaysrides——andridesverywell——youknow，"saidLouise，reflectively。Therewasamoment\'spause。
"IsupposeJimwilltellusallabouthim，"saidMrs。Bradley，dismissingthesubject，assheturnedhersleevesbackoverherwhitearms，preparatorytograpplingcertainculinarydifficulties。
"Jim，"observedMissMacy，shortly，"inmyopinion，knowsnothingmorethanhisnotesays。That\'slikeJim。”
"There\'snothingmoretoknow，really，"saidMrs。Bradley，withasuperiorair。"He\'sundoubtedlythesonofsomeEnglishmanoffortune，sentouthereforhishealth。”
"Hush!"
MissMacyhadheardastepinthepassage。Ithaltedatlast，halfirresolutely，beforetheopendoorofthekitchen，andthestrangerappearedwithanembarrassedair。
Butinhisbriefabsenceheseemedtohavecompletelygroomedhimself，andstoodthere，theimpersonationofclose-cropped，clean，andwholesomeEnglishyoungmanhood。Thetwowomenappreciateditwithcat-likefastidiousness。
"Ibegyourpardon；butreallyyou\'regoingtoletafellowdosomethingforyou，"hesaid，"justtokeephimfromlookinglikeafool。Ireallycandonoendofthings，youknow，ifyou\'lltryme。I\'vedonesomecamping-out，andcancookaswellasthenextman。
Thetwowomenmadeamovementofsmilingremonstrance，halfcoquettish，andhalfsuperior，untilMrs。Bradley，becomingconsciousofherbarearmsandthestranger\'swanderingeyes，coloredfaintly，andsaidwithmoredecision:——
"Certainlynot。You\'donlybeintheway。Besides，youneedrestmorethanwedo。Putyourselfintherocking-chairintheveranda，andgotosleepuntilMr。Bradleycomes。”
Mainwaringsawthatshewasserious，andwithdrew，alittleashamedathisfamiliarityintowhichhisboyishnesshadbetrayedhim。Buthehadscarcelyseatedhimselfintherocking-chairbeforeMissMacyappeared，carryingwithbothhandsalargetinbasinofunshelledpeas。
"There，"shesaidpantingly，placingherburdeninhislap，"ifyoureallywanttohelp，there\'ssomethingtodothatisn\'tveryfatiguing。Youmayshellthesepeas。”
"SHELLthem——Ibegpardon，buthow？"heasked，withsmilingearnestness。
"How？Why，I\'llshowyou——look。”
Shefranklysteppedbesidehim，soclosethatherfull-skirteddresshalfencompassedhimandthebasininadeliciousconfusion，and，leaningoverhislap，withherlefthandpickedupapea-cod，which，withasinglemovementofhercharminglittlerightthumb，shebrokeattheend，andstrippedthegreenshallowofitstinytreasures。
Hewatchedherwithsmilingeyes；herown，lookingdownonhim，wereverybrightandluminous。"There；that\'seasyenough，"shesaid，andturnedaway。
"But——onemoment，Miss——Miss——？"
"Macy，"saidlouise。
"WhereamItoputtheshells？"
"Oh!throwthemdownthere——there\'sroomenough。”
Shewaspointingtothecanyonbelow。Theverandaactuallyprojectedoveritsbrink，andseemedtohanginmidairaboveit。
Mainwaringalmostmechanicallythrewhisarmouttocatchtheincautiousgirl，whohadsteppedheedlesslytoitsextremeedge。
"Howodd!Don\'tyoufinditratherdangeroushere？"hecouldnothelpsaying。"Imean——youmighthavehadarailingthatwouldn\'tintercepttheviewandyetbesafe？"
"It\'safancyofMr。Bradley\'s，"returnedtheyounggirlcarelessly。"It\'salllikethis。Thehousewasbuiltonaledgeagainstthesideoftheprecipice，andtheroadsuddenlydropsdowntoit。”
"It\'stremendouslypretty，allthesame，youknow，"saidtheyoungmanthoughtfully，gazing，however，atthegirl\'sroundedchinabovehim。
"Yes，"sherepliedcurtly。"Butthisisn\'tworking。ImustgobacktoJenny。YoucanshellthepeasuntilMr。Bradleycomeshome。Hewon\'tbelong。”
Sheturnedaway，andre-enteredthehouse。Withoutknowingwhy，hethoughtherwithdrawalabrupt，andhewasagainfeelinghisreadycolorrisewiththesuspicionofeitherhavingbeenbetrayedbytheyounggirl\'sinnocentfearlessnessintosomeunpardonablefamiliarity，whichshehadquietlyresented，oroffeelinganeaseandfreedominthecompanyofthesetwowomenthatwereinconsistentwithrespect，andshouldberestrained。
He，however，begantoapplyhimselftothetaskgiventohimwithhisusualconscientiousnessofduty，andpresentlyacquiredacertainmanualdexterityintheoperation。Itwas"goodfun"tothrowthecast-offhusksintothemightyunfathomablevoidbeforehim，andwatchthemlingerwithsuspendedgravityinmidairforamoment——apparentlymotionless——untiltheyeitherlostthemselves，amerevanishingblackspotinthethinether，orslidsuddenlyatasharpangleintounknownshadow。Howdeucedoddforhimtobesittinghereinthisfashion!Itwouldbesomethingtotalkofhereafter，andyet，——hestopped——itwasnotatallinthelineofthatcharacteristicadventure，uncivilizednovelty，andbarbarousfreedomwhichforthelastmonthhehadsoughtandexperienced。Itwasnotatalllikehismeetingwiththegrizzlylastweekwhilewanderinginalonelycanyon；notabitinthelineofhischanceacquaintancewiththatnotoriousruffian，SpanishJack，orhiswitnessingwithhisowneyesthatactuallynchingaffairatAngels。
No!Norwasitatallcharacteristic，accordingtohispreviousideasoffrontierruralseclusion——asforinstancethePikeCountycabinofthefamilywherehestayedonenight，andwherethehandsomedaughteraskedhimwhathisChristiannamewas。No!
Thesetwoyoungwomenwereveryunlikeher；theyseemedreallyquitetheequalsofhisfamilyandfriendsinEngland，——perhapsmoreattractive，——andyet，yes，itwasthisveryattractivenessthatalarmedhisinbredsocialconservatismregardingwomen。Withamanitwasverydifferent；thatalert，active，intelligenthusband，instinctwiththethrobbinglifeofhissaw-mill，creatorandworkerinone，challengedhisunqualifiedtrustandadmiration。
Hehadbecomeconsciousforthelastminuteortwoofthinkingrapidlyandbecomingfeverishlyexcited；ofbreathingwithgreaterdifficulty，andarenewedtendencytocough。Thetendencyincreaseduntilheinstinctivelyputasidethepanfromhislapandhalfrose。Buteventhatslightexertionbroughtonanaccessionofcoughing。Heputhishandkerchieftohislips，partlytokeepthesoundfromdisturbingthewomeninthekitchen，partlybecauseofacertainsignificanttasteinhismouthwhichheunpleasantlyremembered。Whenheremovedthehandkerchiefitwas，asheexpected，spottedwithblood。Heturnedquicklyandre-enteredthehousesoftly，regainingthebedroomwithoutattractingattention。
Anincreasingfaintnesshereobligedhimtoliedownonthebeduntilitshouldpass。
Everythingwasquiet。Hehopedtheywouldnotdiscoverhisabsencefromtheverandauntilhewasbetter；itwasdeucedlyawkwardthatheshouldhavehadthisattackjustnow——andafterhehadmadesolightofhispreviousexertions。Theywouldthinkhimaneffeminatefraud，thesetwobright，activewomenandthatalert，energeticman。Afaintcolorcameintohischeekattheidea，andanuneasysensethathehadbeeninsomewayfoolishlyimprudentabouthishealth。Again，theymightbealarmedatmissinghimfromtheveranda；perhapshehadbetterhaveremainedthere；perhapsheoughttotellthemthathehadconcludedtotaketheiradviceandliedown。Hetriedtorise，butthedeepbluechasmbeforethewindowseemedtobeswellinguptomeethim，thebedslowlysinkingintoitsobliviousprofundity。Heknewnomore。
Hecametowiththesmellandtasteofsomepowerfulvolatilespirit，andthevaguevisionofMr。Bradleystillstandingatthewindowofthemillandvibratingwiththemachinery；thischangedpresentlytoapleasantlassitudeandlazycuriosityasheperceivedMr。Bradleysmileandapparentlyslipfromthewindowofthemilltohisbedside。"You\'reallrightnow，"saidBradley，cheerfully。
HewasfeelingMainwaring\'spulse。HadhereallybeenillandwasBradleyadoctor？
Bradleyevidentlysawwhatwaspassinginhismind。"Don\'tbealarmed，"hesaidgayly。"I\'mnotadoctor，butIpractisealittlemedicineandsurgeryonaccountofthemenatthemill，andaccidents，youknow。You\'reallrightnow；you\'velostalittleblood:butinacoupleofweeksinthisairwe\'llhavethattuberclehealed，andyou\'llbeasrightasatrivet。”
"Inacoupleofweeks!"echoedMainwaring，infaintastonishment。
"Why，Ileavehereto-morrow。”
"You\'lldonothingofthekind"saidMrs。Bradley，withsmilingperemptoriness，suddenlyslippingoutfrombehindherhusband。
"Everythingisallperfectlyarranged。Jimhassentoffmessengerstoyourfriends，sothatifyoucan\'tcometothem，theycancometoyou。Youseeyoucan\'thelpyourself!IfyouWILLwalkfifteenmileswithsuchlungs，andthenfrightenpeopletodeath，youmustabidebytheconsequences。”
"Youseetheoldladyhasfixedyou，"saidBradley，smiling；"andshe\'sthemasterhere。Come，Mainwaring，youcansendanyothermessageyoulike，andhavewhoandwhatyouwanthere；butHEREyoumuststopforawhile。”
"ButdidIfrightenyoureally？"stammeredMainwaring，faintly，toMrs。Bradley。
"Frightenus!"saidMrs。Bradley。"Well，lookthere!"
Shepointedtothewindow，whichcommandedaviewoftheveranda。
MissMacyhaddroppedintothevacantchair，withherlittlefeetstretchedoutbeforeher，hercheeksburningwithheatandfire，hereyespartlyclosed，herstrawhathangingbyaribbonroundherneck，herbrownhairclingingtoherearsandforeheadindamptendrils，andanenormouspalm-leaffanineachhandviolentlyplayinguponthischarmingpictureofexhaustionandabandonment。
"Shecametearingdowntothemill，bare-backedonourhalf-brokenmustang，abouthalfanhourago，tocallme\'tohelpyou，\'"
explainedBradley。"Heavenknowshowshemanagedtodoit!"
CHAPTERII。
ThemedicationofthewoodswasnotoverestimatedbyBradley。
TherewassurelysomeocculthealingpropertyinthatvastreservoirofbalmyandresinousodorsoverwhichTheLookoutbeetledandclung，andfromwhichattimesthepureexhalationsoftheterracedvalleyseemedtorise。Underitsremedialinfluenceandaconscientiousadherencetotherulesofabsoluterestandreposelaiddownforhim，Mainwaringhadnoreturnofthehemorrhage。Thenearestprofessionalmedicalauthority，hastilysummoned，sawnoreasonforchangingorforsupplementingBradley\'sintelligentandsimpletreatment，althoughastoundedthatthepatienthadbeenundernomoreradicalorsystematiccurethantravelandexercise。ThewomenespeciallywereamazedthatMainwaringhadtaken"nothingforit，"intheirhabitualexperienceofanunfetteredpill-and-elixir-consumingdemocracy。Intheirknowledgeofthethousand"panaceas"thatfilledtheshelvesofthegeneralstore，thissingularabstentionoftheirguestseemedtoindicateanationalpeculiarity。
Hisbedwasmovedbesidethelowwindow，fromwhichhecouldnotonlyviewtheverandabutconverseattimeswithitsoccupants，andevenlistentothebookwhichMissMacy，seatedwithout，readaloudtohim。IntheeveningBradleywouldlingerbyhiscouchuntillate，beguilingthetediumofhisconvalescencewithcharacteristicstoriesandinformationwhichhethoughtmightpleasetheinvalid。
ForMainwaring，whohadbeenearlystruckwithBradley\'sreadyandcultivatedintelligence，endedbyshylyavoidingthediscussionofmoreserioustopics，partlybecauseBradleyimpressedhimwithasuspicionofhisowninferiority，andpartlybecauseMainwaringquestionedthetasteofBradley\'sapparentexhibitionofhismanifestsuperiority。Helearnedaccidentallythatthismill-ownerandbackwoodsmanwasacollege-bredman；butthepracticalapplicationofthateducationtotheordinaryaffairsoflifewasnewtotheyoungEnglishman\'straditions，andgratedalittleharshlyonhisfeelings。HewouldhavebeenquitecontentifBradleyhad，likehimselfandfellowsheknew，undervaluedhistraining，andkepthisgiftsconservativelyimpractical。Theknowledgealsothathishost\'seducationnaturallycamefromsomeprovincialinstitutionunlikeOxfordandCambridgemayhaveunconsciouslyaffectedhisgeneralestimate。Isayunconsciously，forhisstrictconscientiousnesswouldhaverejectedanysuchformalproposition。
Anothertrifleannoyedhim。HecouldnothelpnoticingalsothatalthoughBradley\'smannerandsympathywereconfidentialandalmostbrotherly，henevermadeanyallusiontoMainwaring\'sownfamilyorconnections，and，infact，gavenoindicationofwhathebelievedwasthenationalcuriosityinregardtostrangers。Somewhatembarrassedbythisindifference，MainwaringmadetheoccasionofwritingsomelettershomeanopportunityforlaughinglyalludingtothefactthathehadmadehismotherandhissistersfullyawareofthegreatdebttheyowedthehouseholdofTheLookout。
"They\'llprobablyallsendyouaroundrobinofthanks，except，perhaps，mynextbrother，Bob。”
Bradleycontentedhimselfwithagestureofgeneraldeprecation，anddidnotaskWHYMainwaring\'syoungbrothershouldcontemplatehisdeathwithsatisfaction。Nevertheless，sometimeafterwardsMissMacyremarkedthatitseemedhardthatthehappinessofonememberofafamilyshoulddependuponacalamitytoanother。"Asforinstance？"askedMainwaring，whohadalreadyforgottenthecircumstance。"Why，ifyouhaddiedandyouryoungerbrothersucceededtothebaronetcy，andbecomeSirRobertMainwaring，"
respondedMissMacy，withprecision。Thiswasthefirstandonlyallusiontohisfamilyandprospectiverank。Ontheotherhand，hehad——throughnaiveandboyishinquiries，whichseemedtoamusehisentertainers——acquired，ashebelieved，afullknowledgeofthehistoryandantecedentsoftheBradleyhousehold。HeknewhowBradleyhadbroughthisyoungwifeandhercousintoCaliforniaandabandonedalucrativelawpracticeinSanFranciscototakepossessionofthismountainmillandwoodland，whichhehadacquiredthroughsomeprofessionalservice。
"Thenyouareabarristerreally？"saidMainwaring，gravely。
Bradleylaughed。"I\'mafraidI\'vehadmorepractice——thoughnotaslucrativeaone——assurgeonordoctor。”
"Butyou\'reregularlyontherolls，youknow；you\'reenteredasCounsel，andallthatsortofthing？"continuedMainwaring，withgreatseriousness。
"Well，yes，"repliedBradley，muchamused。"I\'mafraidImustpleadguiltytothat。”
"It\'snotabadsortofthing，"saidMainwaring，naively，ignoringBradley\'samusement。"I\'vegotacousinwho\'sgoneinforthelaw。
Gotoutofthearmytodoit——too。He\'sasharpfellow。”
"ThenyouDOallowamantotrymanytrades——overthere，"saidMissMacy，demurely。
"Yes，sometimes，"saidMainwaring，graciously，butbynomeanscertainthatthecasewasatallanalogous。
Nevertheless，asifrelievedofcertaindoubtsoftheconventionalqualityofhishost\'sattainments，henowgavehimselfuptoaveryheartyandhonestadmirationofBradley。"Youknowit\'sawfullykindofhimtotalktoafellowlikemewhojustpulledthrough，andnevergotanyprizesatOxford，anddon\'tunderstandthehalfofthesethings，"heremarkedconfidentiallytoMrs。Bradley。"HeknowsmoreaboutthethingsweusedtogoinforatOxfordthanlotsofourmen，andhe\'sneverbeenthere。He\'suncommonlyclever。”
"Jimwasalwaysverybrilliant，"returnedMrs。Bradley，indifferently，andwithmorethanevenconventionallypolitewifelydeprecation；"Iwishheweremorepractical。”
"Practical!Oh，Isay，Mrs。Bradley!Why，afellowthatcangoinamongalotofworkmenandtellthemjustwhattodo——anall-roundchapthatcanbeindependentofhisvalet，hisdoctor，andhis——
banker!ByJove——THAT\'Spractical!"
"Imean，"saidMrs。Bradley，coldly，"thattherearesomethingsthatagentlemanoughtnottobepracticalaboutnorindependentof。Mr。Bradleywouldhavedonebettertohaveusedhistalentsinsomemorelegitimateandestablishedway。”
Mainwaringlookedatheringenuinesurprise。TohisinexperiencedobservationBradley\'sintelligentenergyand，aboveall，hisoriginality，oughttohavebeenpricelessintheeyesofhiswife——
theAmericanfemaleofhisspecies。Hefeltthatslightshockwhichmostloyalorlogicalmenfeelwhenfirstbroughtfacetofacewiththeeasydisloyaltyandincomprehensiblelogicofthefeminineaffections。Herewasafellow，byJove，thatanywomanoughttobeproudof，and——and——hestoppedblankly。HewonderedifMissMacysympathizedwithhercousin。
Howbeit，thisdidnotaffectthecharmoftheiridylliclifeatTheLookout。Theprecipiceoverwhichtheyhungwasascharmingaseverinitspoeticillusionsofspaceanddepthandcolor；theisolationoftheircomfortableexistenceinthetastefulyetaudacioushabitation，thepleasantroutineofdailytasksandamusements，alltendedtomaketheenforcedquietandinactionofhisconvalescencealazyrecreation。Hewasreallyimproving；morethanthat，hewasconsciousofacertainsatisfactioninthispassiveobservationofnoveltythatwashealthierandperhapsTRUER
thanhispreviouspassionforadventureandthatfebriledesireforchangeandexcitementwhichhenowfeltwasapartofhisdisease。
Norwereincidentandvarietyentirelyabsentfromthistranquilexperience。HewasonedayastonishedatbeingpresentedbyBradleywithcopiesofthelatestEnglishnewspapers，procuredfromSacramento，andheequallyastonishedhishost，afterprofuselythankinghim，byonlylistlesslyglancingattheircolumns。Heestoppedaproposedvisitfromoneofhisinfluentialcountrymen；
intheabsenceofhisfairentertainersattheirdomesticduties，heextractedinfinitesatisfactionfromFoo-Yup，theChineseservant，whowasparticularlydetachedforhisservice。Fromhisinvalidcoignofvantageatthewindowhewasobservantofallthatpassedupontheveranda，thatal-frescoaudience-roomofTheLookout，andhewasgood-humoredlyconsciousthatagreatmanyeccentricandpeculiarvisitorswereinvariablydraggedthitherbyMissMacy，andgoadedintocharacteristicexhibitionwithinsightandhearingofherguest，withatooevidentview，undertheostentatiousexcuseofextendinghisknowledgeofnationalcharacterormischievouslyshockinghim。
"WhenyouarestrongenoughtostandCaptainGashweiler\'sopinionsoftheEstablishedChurchandChinamen，"saidMissMacy，afteroneoftheserevelations，"I\'llgetJimtobringhimhere，forreallyheswearssooutrageouslythateveninthebroadestinterestsofinternationalunderstandingandgood-willneitherMrs。Bradleynormyselfcouldbepresent。”
Onanotheroccasionsheprovokinglylingeredbeforehiswindowforamomentwitharifleslungjauntilyoverhershoulder。"Ifyouhearashotortwodon\'texciteyourself，andbelievewe\'rehavingalynchingcaseinthewoods。Itwillbeonlyme。There\'ssomecreature——confess，youexpectedmetosay\'critter\'——hangingroundthebarn。Itmaybeabear。Good-by。”Shemissedthecreature，——
whichhappenedtobereallyabear，——muchtoMainwaring\'sillogicalsatisfaction。"Iwonderwhy，"hereflected，withvagueuneasiness，"shedoesn\'tleaveallthatsortofthingtogirlslikethattow-
headedgirlattheblacksmith\'s。”
Itchanced，however，thatthisblacksmith\'stow-headeddaughter，who，itmaybeincidentallyremarked，hadtheadditionaleccentricitiesoflargeblackeyesandlargewhiteteeth，cametotheforeinquiteanotherfashion。Shortlyafterthis，Mainwaringbeingabletoleavehisroomandjointhefamilyboard，Mrs。
Bradleyfounditnecessarytoenlargeherdomesticservice，andarrangedwithhernearestneighbor，theblacksmith，toallowhisdaughtertocometoTheLookoutforafewdaysto"dothechores"
andassistinthehousekeeping，asshehadonpreviousoccasions。
ThedayofheradventBradleyenteredMainwaring\'sroom，and，closingthedoormysteriously，fixedhisblueeyes，kindlingwithmischief，ontheyoungEnglishman。
"Youareaware，mydearboy，"hebeganwithaffectedgravity，"thatyouarenowlivinginalandofliberty，wheremereartificialdistinctionsarenotknown，andwhereFreedomfromhermountainheightsgenerallylevelsallsocialpositions。Ithinkyouhavegraciouslyadmittedthatfact。”
"IknowI\'vebeentakingatremendouslotoffreedomwithyouandyours，oldman，andit\'sadeucedshame，"interruptedMainwaring，withafaintsmile。
"Andthatnowhere，"continuedBradley，withimmovablefeatures，"doesequalityexistasperfectlyasaboveyonderunfathomableabyss，whereyouhavealso，doubtless，observedtheAmericaneagleproudlysoarsandscreamsdefiance。”
"Thenthatwasthefellowthatkeptmeawakethismorning，andmademewonderifIwasstrongenoughtoholdagunagain。”
"Thatwouldn\'thavesettledthematter，"continuedBradley，imperturbably。"Thecaseissimplythis:MissMintySharpe，thatblacksmith\'sdaughter，hasonceortwiceconsented，foraslightemolument，toassistinourdomesticserviceforadayortwo，andshecomesbackagainto-day。Now，undertheaegisofthatnoblebirdwhomyournationalinstinctstemptyoutodestroy，shehasonallpreviousoccasionstakenhermealswithus，atthesametable，ontermsofperfectequality。Shewillnaturallyexpecttodothesamenow。Mrs。Bradleythoughtitproper，therefore，towarnyou，that，incaseyourhealthwasnotquiteequaltothisdemocraticsimplicity，youcouldstilldineinyourroom。”
"Itwouldbegreatfun——ifMissSharpewon\'tobjecttomypresence。”
"Butitmustnotbe\'greatfun，\'"returnedBradley，moreseriously；
"forMissMinty\'sperceptionofhumorisprobablyaskeenasyours，andshewouldbequicktonoticeit。And，sofarfromhavinganyobjectiontoyou，Iaminclinedtothinkthatweoweherconsenttocometoherdesireofmakingyouracquaintance。”
"Shewillfindmyconductmostexemplary，"saidMainwaring，earnestly。
"Letushopeso，"concludedBradley，withunabatedgravity。"And，nowthatyouhaveconsented，letmeaddfrommyownexperiencethatMissMinty\'slemon-piesaloneareworthyofanyconcession。
Thedinner-hourcame。Mainwaring，alittlepaleandinteresting，leaningonthearmofBradley，crossedthehall，andforthefirsttimeenteredthedining-roomofthehousewherehehadlodgedforthreeweeks。Itwasabright，cheerfulapartment，givinguponthelaurelsoftherockyhillside，andpermeated，liketherestofthehouse，withthewholesomespiceofthevalley——anodorthat，initspuredesiccatingproperty，seemedtoobliterateallflavorofalienhumanhabitation，andeventodominateandetherealizetheappetizingsmelloftheviandsbeforethem。Thebare，shining，planed，boardedwallsappearedtoresentanydecorationthatmighthavesavoredofdust，decay，ormoisture。Thefourlargewindowsandlong，opendoor，setinscantystripsoftheplainestspotlessmuslin，framedinthemselvespicturesofwoodsandrockandskyoflimitlessdepth，color，anddistance，thatmadeallotheradornmentimpertinent。Nature，invadingtheroomateveryopening，hadbanishedArtfromthoseneutralwalls。
"It\'slikeapicnic，withcomfort，"saidMainwaring，glancingroundhimwithboyishappreciation。MissMintywasnotyetthere；theChinamanwasaloneinattendance。Mainwaringcouldnothelpwhispering，halfmischievously，toLouise，"YoudrawthelineatChinamen，Isuppose？"
