第4章

Youmaynotlikethem，youknow:thegovernorisgettingtobeanoldman——perhapstoooldforyoungAmericans——butTHEYwilllikeYOU，andyoumustputupwiththat。MymotherandsistersknowMissMacyaswellasIdo，andwillmakeheroneofthefamily。”

Theconscientiousearnestnesswithwhichtheseapparentconventionalitieswereuttered，andsomeoccultqualityofquietconvictionintheyoungman\'smanner，broughtapleasantsparkletotheeyesofMrs。BradleyandLouise。

"But，"saidMrs。Bradley，gayly，"ourgoingtoEnglandisquitebeyondourpresentwildestdreams；nothingbutawindfall，anunexpectedriseintimber，oreventhetabooedhotelspeculation，couldmakeitpossible。”

"ButIshalltakethelibertyoftryingtopresentittoMr。

Bradleytonightinsomepracticalwaythatmayconvinceevenhiscriticaljudgment，"saidMainwaring，stillseriously。"Itwillbe，"headdedmorelightly，"thefamoustestimonialofmycurewhichIpromisedyou。”

"AndyouwillfindMr。Bradleysoscepticalthatyouwillbeobligedtodeferyourgoing，"saidMrs。Bradley，triumphantly。

"Come，Louise，wemustnotforgetthatwehavestillMr。

Mainwaring\'spresentcomforttolookafter；thatMintyhasbaselydesertedus，andthatweourselvesmustseethatthelastdaysofourguestbeneathourroofarenotrememberedfortheirprivation。”

SheledLouiseawaywithahalf-mischievoussuggestionofmaternalpropriety，andleftMainwaringoncemorealoneontheveranda。

Hehaddoneit!Certainlyshemusthaveunderstoodhismeaning，andtherewasnothingleftforhimtodobuttoacquaintBradleywithhisintentionsto-night，andpressherforafinalanswerinthemorning。Therewouldbenoindelicacytheninaskingherforaninterviewmorefreefrominterruptionthanthispublicveranda。

Withoutconceit，hedidnotdoubtwhattheanswerwouldbe。Hisindecision，hissuddenresolutiontoleaveher，hadbeenallbasedupontheuncertaintyofHISownfeelings，theproprietyofHIS

declaration，thepossibilityofsomepreviousexperienceofhersthatmightcompromiseHIM。Convincedbyherunembarrassedmannerofherinnocence，orrathersatisfiedofherindifferencetoRichardson\'sgossip，hehadbeenhurriedbyhisfeelingsintoanunexpectedavowal。Broughtupintheperfectsecurityofhisownsocialposition，andfamiliarlyconscious——withoutvanity——ofitsimportanceandpowerinsuchasituation，hebelieved，withoutundervaluingLouise\'scharmsorindependence，thathehadnooneelsethanhimselftoconsult。Eventheslightuneasinessthatstillpursuedhimwasmoreduetohishabitualconscientiousnessofhisownintentionthantoanyfearthatshewouldnotfullyrespondtoit。Indeed，withhisconservativeideasofproperfeminineself-restraint，Louise\'scalmpassivityandundemonstrativeattitudewereaproofofhersuperiority；hadsheblushedovermuch，cried，orthrownherselfintohisarms，hewouldhavedoubtedthewisdomofsoeasyaselection。Itwastruehehadknownherscarcelythreeweeks；ifhechosetobecontentwiththat，hisownaccessiblerecordofthreecenturiesshouldbesufficientforher，andcondoneanyirregularity。

Nevertheless，asanhourslippedawayandLouisedidnotmakeherappearance，eitherontheverandaorinthelittlesitting-roomoffthehall，Mainwaringbecamemoreuneasyastotheincompletenessoftheirinterview。Perhapsafaintsuspicionoftheinadequacyofherresponsebegantotroublehim；buthestillfatuouslyregardeditratherasowingtohisownhurriedandunfinisheddeclaration。

Itwastruethathehadn\'tsaidhalfwhatheintendedtosay；itwastruethatshemighthavemisunderstooditastheconventionalgallantryofthesituation，as——terriblethought!——thelightbanterofthehabituallove-makingAmerican，towhichshehadbeenaccustomed；perhapsevennowsherelegatedhimtothelevelofGreyson，andthisaccountedforhersingularimpassiveness——animpassivenessthatcertainlywassingularnowhereflecteduponit——

thatmighthavebeenevencontempt。Thelastthoughtprickedhisdeepconscientiousness；hewalkedhurriedlyupanddowntheveranda，andthen，suddenlyre-enteringhisroom，tookupasheetofnote-paper，andbegantowritetoher:——

"Canyougrantmeafewmoments\'interviewalone？IcannotbearyoushouldthinkthatwhatIwastryingtotellyouwhenwewereinterruptedwaspromptedbyanythingbutthedeepestsincerityandconviction，orthatIamwillingitshouldbepassedoverlightlybyyouorbeforgotten。Praygivemeachanceofprovingit，bysayingyouwillseeme。F。M。”

Buthowshouldheconveythistoher？HisdelicacyrevoltedagainsthandingittoherbehindMrs。Bradley\'sback，ortheprestidigitationofslippingitintoherlaporunderherplatebeforethematluncheon；hethoughtforaninstantoftheChinaman，butgentlemen——exceptinthat"mirrorofnature"thestage——usuallyhesitatetosubornotherpeople\'sservants，orentrustawoman\'ssecrettoherinferiors。HerememberedthatLouise\'sroomwasatthefartherendofthehouse，anditslowwindowgaveupontheveranda，andwasguardedatnightbyafilmofwhiteandbluecurtainsthatwerepartedduringtheday，toallowatriangularrevelationofapaleblueandwhitedrapedinterior。Mainwaringreflectedthatthelowinsidewindowledgewaseasilyaccessiblefromtheveranda，wouldaffordacapitallodgmentforthenote，andbequicklyseenbythefairoccupantoftheroomonentering。Hesaunteredslowlypastthewindow；theroomwasempty，themomentpropitious。Aslightbreezewasstirringtheblueribbonsofthecurtain；itwouldbenecessarytosecurethenotewithsomething；

hereturnedalongtheverandatothesteps，wherehehadnoticedasmallirregularstonelying，whichhadevidentlyescapedfromRichelieu\'sbagoftreasurespecimens，andhadbeenoverlookedbythatingenuouschild。Itwasofaprettypeacock-bluecolor，and，besidessecuringapaper，wouldbesuretoattractherattention。

Heplacedhisnoteontheinsideledge，andthebluestoneatop，andwentawaywithasenseofrelief。

Anotherhalfhourpassedwithoutincident。Hecouldhearthevoicesofthetwowomeninthekitchenanddining-room。Afterawhiletheyappearedtocease，andheheardthesoundofanopeningdoor。Itthenoccurredtohimthattheverandawasstilltooexposedforaconfidentialinterview，andheresolvedtodescendthesteps，passbeforethewindowsofthekitchenwhereLouisemightseehim，andpenetratetheshrubbery，whereshemightbeinducedtofollowhim。Theywouldnotbeinterruptednoroverheardthere。

ButhehadbarelylefttheverandabeforethefigureofRichelieu，whohadbeenpatientlywaitingforMainwaring\'sdisappearance，emergedstealthilyfromtheshrubbery。Hehaddiscoveredhislossonhandinghis"fireassays"tothegood-humoredBradleyforlaterexamination，andhehadretracedhisway，stepbystep，lookingeverywhereforhismissingstonewiththeunboundedhopefulness，lazypersistency，andloftydisregardfortimeandoccupationknownonlytothegenuineboy。Herememberedtohaveplacedhisknottedbagupontheveranda，and，slippingoffhisstiffbootsslowlyandsoftly，slidalongagainstthewallofthehouse，lookingcarefullyonthefloor，andyetpreservingastudiednegligenceofdemeanor，withonehandinhispocket，andhissmallmouthcontractedintoasingularlysoothingandalmostvoicelesswhistle——Richelieu\'sownpeculiaraccomplishment。Butnostoneappeared。Likemostofhisgenushewassuperstitious，andrepeatedtohimselfthecabalisticformula:"Losin\'sseekin\'s，findin\'skeepin\'s"——presumedtobeofgreatefficacyinsuchcases——withreligiousfervor。HehadlaboriouslyreachedtheendoftheverandawhenhenoticedtheopenwindowofLouise\'sroom，andstoppedasaperfunctorydutytolookin。AndthenRichelieuSharpestoodforaninstantutterlyconfoundedandaghastatthiscrowningproofoftheabsoluteinfamyandsickeningenormityofMan。

TherewasHISstone——HIS，RICHELIEU\'S，OWNSPECIMEN，carefullygatheredbyhimselfandnoneother——andnowstolen，abstracted，"skyugled，""smouged，""hooked"bythis"rotten，skunkified，long-

legged，splay-footed，hoss-laughin\'，nigger-toothed，or\'narydespot"And，worsethanall，actuallymadetodoinfamousdutyasalovetoken"——a"candy-gift!"——a"philanderin\'box"toHIS，Richelieu\'s，girl——forLouisebelongedtothatinnocentandvagueoutsideseraglioofRichelieu\'sboyishdreams——andputatopofalettertoher!andProvidencepermittedsuchanoutrage!"Wotwashe，Richelieu，senttoschoolfor，andorganizedwickednessintheshapeofgorillaInjinslikethisallowedtoridehighhorsesrampantoverCaliforney!"Helookedattheheavensinmuteappeal。

Andthen——Providencenotimmediatelyinterfering——hethrusthisownsmallarmintothewindow，regainedhispricelesstreasure，andfledswiftly。

Afatefulsilenceensued。Thewindslightlymovedthecurtainoutward，asifinaplayfulattempttofollowhim，andthensubsided。Amomentlater，apparentlyre-enforcedbyotherwinds，orsympathizingwithRichelieu，itlightlyliftedtheunluckymissiveandcastitsoftlyfromthewindow。Buthereanotherwind，lyinginwait，caughtitcleverly，andtossedit，inalongcurve，intotheabyss。Foraninstantitseemedtofloatlazily，asonthemirroredsurfaceofalake，until，turninguponitsside，itsuddenlydartedintoutteroblivion。

WhenMainwaringreturnedfromtheshrubbery，hewentsoftlytothewindow。Thedisappearanceoftheletterandstonesatisfiedhimofthesuccessofhisstratagem，andforthespaceofthreehoursrelievedhisanxiety。Butattheendofthattime，findingnoresponsefromLouise，hisformeruneasinessreturned。Wassheoffended，or——thefirstdoubtofheracceptanceofhimcrossedhismind!

Asuddenandinexplicablesenseofshamecameuponhim。Atthesamemoment，heheardhisnamecalledfromthesteps，turned——andbeheldMinty。

Herdarkeyeswereshiningwithapleasantlight，andherlipspartedonherwhiteteethwithafrank，happysmile。Sheadvancedandheldoutherhand。Hetookitwithaminglingofdisappointmentandembarrassment。

"You\'rewonderingwhyIkemonhere，arterIsentwordthismorningthatIkelkilatednottocome。Well，\'twixtthenandnowsuthin\'\'shappened。We\'vehadfinedoin\'soveratourhouse，youbet!

Popdon\'tknowwhichendhe\'sstandin\'on；andIreckonthatforabouttenminutesIdidn\'tknowmyownname。ButezsoonezIgotfairlyholdo\'thehullthing，andhaditputstraightinmymind，Iseztomyself，MintySharpe，sezI，thefirstthingforyoutodonow，istoputonyerbonnetandshawl，andtrapseovertoJimBradley\'sandhelpthemtwowomenfolksgetdinnerforthemselvesandthatsickstranger。And，"continuedMinty，throwingherselfintoachairandfanningherglowingfacewithherapron，"yerI

am!"

"ButyouhavenottoldmeWHAThashappened，"saidMainwaring，withaconstrainedsmile，andanuneasyglancetowardsthehouse。

"That\'sso，"saidMinty，withabrilliantlaugh。"Icleanforgotthehullgistofthething。Well，we\'rerichfolksnow——overthar\'

onBarrenLedge!Thatonerybrotherofmine，Richelieu，heztakensomeofhisspecimensovertoJimBradleytobetested。AndBradley，justtopleasethatchild，takes\'em；andnotanhouragoBradleycomesrunning，liketyswitch，overtoPoptotellhimtoputuphisnotices，forthehullofthatledgewheretheforgestandsisamineo\'silverandcopper。Aforeyeknewit，Lordy!

halfthefolksoutertheSummitandthemillwasscattereddowntharalloverit。Richardson——thatstrangerezknowsyou——kemthartoowithJim，andheallows，efBradley\'sessayisright，it\'sworthmorethanahundredthousanddollarsezitstands!"

"IsupposeImustcongratulateyou，MissSharpe，"saidMainwaringwithanattemptatinterest，buthisattentionstillpreoccupiedwiththeopendoorway。

"Oh，THEYknowallaboutit!"saidMinty，followingthedirectionofhisabstractedeyeswithaslightdarkeningofherown，"Ijestkemouto\'thekitchentheotherway，andJimsent\'emanote；butIallowedI\'dtellYOUmyself。Speciallyezyouaregoingawayto-morrow。”

"WhosaidIwasgoingawayto-morrow？"askedMainwaring，uneasily。

"LooMacy!"

"Ah——shedid？ButImaychangemymind，youknow!"hecontinued，withafaintsmile。

Mintyshookhercurlsdecisively。"IreckonSHEknows，"shesaiddryly，"she\'sgotlawandgospelforwotshesays。Butyershecomes。Askher!Lookyer，Loo，"sheadded，asthetwowomenappearedatthedoorway，withacertainexaggerationofcongratulatorymannerthatstruckMainwaringasbeingasartificialanddisturbedashisown，"didn\'tSirFrancisyersayhewasgoingto-morrow？"

"That\'swhatIunderstood!"returnedLouise，withcoldastonishment，lettingherclearindifferenteyesfalluponMainwaring。"Idonotknowthathehaschangedhismind。”

"Unless，asMissSharpeisagreatcapitalistnow，sheiswillingtouseherpowersofpersuasion，"addedMrs。Bradley，withaslightacidulouspointingofherusualprimplayfulness。

"IreckonMintySharpe\'sthesameezshealluswos，unlessmoreso，"returnedMinty，withanhonestegotismthatcarriedsomuchconvictiontothehearerastocondoneitsvanity。"ButIkemyertodoaday\'swork，gals，andIallowtopitchinanddoit，andnotsityerswoppin\'complimentsandkeepingHIMfrompackin\'hisduds。Onless，"shestopped，andlookedaroundattheuneasy，unsympatheticcirclewithafainttremulousnessoflipthatbeliedthebraveblackeyesaboveit，"onlessI\'minyerway。”

Thetwowomensprangforwardwithafemininebewilderingexcessofprotestation；andMainwaring，suddenlypiercedthroughhisouterselfishembarrassmenttohismorehonestdepths，stammeredquickly——

"Lookhere，MissSharpe，ifyouthinkofrunningawayagain，afterhavingcomeallthewayheretomakeussharetheknowledgeofyourgoodfortuneandyourbetterheart，byJove!I\'llgobackwithyou。”

Butherethetwowomeneffusivelyhurriedherawayfromthedangerousproximityofsuchsympathetichonesty，andamomentlaterMainwaringheardherlaughingvoice，asofold，ringinginthekitchen。Andthen，asifunconsciouslyrespondingtothesignificantcommonsensethatlayinherlastallusiontohim，hewenttohisroomandgrimlybeganhispacking。

HedidnotagainseeLouisealone。AttheirinformalluncheontheconversationturneduponthemoreabsorbingtopicoftheSharpes\'

discovery，itsextent，anditsprobableeffectuponthefortunesofthelocality。Henoticed，abstractedly，thatbothMrs。Bradleyandhercousinshowedarealorassumedscepticismofitsvalue。Thisdidnotdisturbhimgreatly，exceptforitsintendedcheckuponMinty\'senthusiasm。Hewasmoreconscious，perhaps，——withafainttouchofmortifiedvanity，——thathisowncontemplateddeparturewasoflesserimportancethanthislocalexcitement。Yetinhisgrowingconvictionthatallwasover——if，indeed，ithadeverbegun——betweenhimselfandLouise，hewasgratefultothisnaturaldiversionofincidentwhichsparedthembothanintervalofembarrassingcommonplaces。And，withthesuspicionofsomeindefinableinsincerity——eitherofhisownorLouise\'s——hauntinghim，Minty\'sfrankheartinessandoutspokenloyaltygavehimastrangerelief。Itseemedtohimasiftheclearcoolbreathoftheforesthadenteredwithherhomelygarments，andthesteadfasttruthofNaturewereincarnateinhershiningeyes。Howfarthispoeticfancywouldhavebeenconsistentorevencoexistentwithanygleamoftendernessorself-forgetfulnessinLouise\'sequallyprettyorbs，Ileavethesatiricalfemininereadertodetermine。

ItwaslatewhenBradleyatlastreturned，bringingfurtherandmorecompletecorroborationofthetruthofSharpe\'sgoodfortune。

Twoexpertshadarrived，onefromPineFlatandanotherfromtheSummit，anduponthisstatementRichardsonhadofferedtopurchaseaninterestinthediscoverythatwouldatonceenabletheblacksmithtodevelophismine。"Ishouldn\'twonder，Mainwaring，"

headdedcheerfully，"ifhe\'dputyouintoit，too，andmakeyoureternalfortune。”

"Withlarksfallingfromtheskiesallroundyou，it\'sapityYOU

couldn\'tgetputintosomething，"saidMrs。Bradley，straighteningherprettybrows。

"I\'mnotagold-miner，mydear，"saidBradley，pleasantly。

"Noragold-finder，"returnedhiswife，withacruellittledepressionofherpinknostrils，"butyoucanworkallnightinthatstupidmillandthen，"sheaddedinalowvoice，toescapeMinty\'sattention，"spendthewholeofthenextdayexaminingandfollowingupaboy\'sdiscoverythathisownrelationshadbeentoolazyandtooignoranttounderstandandprofitby。IsupposethatnextyouwillbehuntingupasiteontheOTHERSIDEoftheCanyon，wheresomebodyelsecanputupahotelandruinyourownprospects。”

AsensitiveshadowofpainquicklydimmedBradley\'sglance——notthefirstorlasttimeevidently，foritwasgraduallybringingoutabackgroundofsadnessinhisintelligenteyes。ButthenextmomentheturnedkindlytoMainwaring，andbegantodeplorethenecessityofhisearlydeparture，whichRichardsonhadalreadymadeknowntohimwithpracticalandsatisfyingreasons。

"Ihopeyouwon\'tforget，mydearfellow，thatyourmostreallyurgentbusinessistolookafteryourhealth；andif，hereafter，you\'llonlyremembertheoldLookoutenoughtoimpressthatfactuponyou，IshallfeelthatanypoorserviceIhaverenderedyouhasbeenamplyrepaid。”

Mainwaring，notwithstandingthathewincedslightlyatthisfatefulechoofLouise\'sadvice，returnedthegraspofhisfriend\'shandwithanhonestpressureequaltohisown。HelongednowonlyforthecomingofRichardson，tocompletehisschemeofgratefulbenefactiontohishost。

Thebankercamefortunatelyastheconversationbegantoflag；andMrs。Bradley\'shalf-coquettishill-humorofaprettywoman，andLouise\'sabstractedindifference，werebecomingsonoticeableastoevenimpressMintyintoathoughtfultaciturnity。ThegraciousnessofhisreceptionbyMrs。Bradleysomewhatrestoredhisformerostentatiousgallantry，andhisself-satisfied，domineeringmannerhadenoughmasculinepowerinittofavorablyaffectthethreewomen，who，itmustbeconfessed，werealittleboredbythefinerabstractionsofBradleyandMainwaring。Afterafewmoments，Mainwaringroseand，withasignificantglanceatRichardsontoremindhimofhisproposedconferencewithBradley，turnedtoleavetheroom。HewasobligedtopassLouise，whowassittingbythetable。Hisattentionwassuddenlyarrestedbysomethinginherhandwithwhichshewaslistlesslyplaying。Itwasthestonewhichhehadputonhislettertoher。

AshehadnotbeenpresentwhenBradleyarrived，hedidnotknowthatthisfatefulobjecthadbeenbroughthomebyhishost，who，afterreceivingitfromRichelieu，hadputitinhispockettoillustratehisstoryofthediscovery。Onthecontrary，itseemedthatLouise\'scarelessexposureofhisfoolishstratagemwasgratuitouslyandpurposelycruel。Nevertheless，hestoppedandlookedather。

"That\'saqueerstoneyouhavethere，"hesaid，inatonewhichsherecognizedascoldlyandostentatiouslycivil。

"Yes，"shereplied，withoutlookingup；"it\'stheoutcropofthatmine。”Shehandedittohimasiftoobviateanyfurtherremark。

"Ithoughtyouhadseenitbefore。”

"Theoutcrop，"herepeateddryly。"Thatis——it——it——itistheindicationorsignofsomethingimportantthat\'sbelowit——isn\'tit？"

Louiseshruggedhershoulderssceptically。"Itdon\'tfollow。It\'sjustaslikelytocoverrubbish，afteryou\'vetakenthetroubletolook。”

"Thanks，"hesaid，withmeasuredgentleness，andpassedquietlyoutoftheroom。

ThemoonhadalreadyrisenwhenBradley，withhisbrierwoodpipe，precededRichardsonupontheveranda。ThelatterthrewhislargeframeintoLouise\'srocking-chairneartheedgeoftheabyss；

Bradley，withhisownchairtiltedagainstthesideofthehouseafterthenationalfashion，waitedforhimtospeak。TheabsenceofMainwaringandthestimulusofMrs。Bradley\'sgraciousnesshadgiventhebankeracertaincondescendingfamiliarity，whichBradleyreceivedwithamusedandironicaltolerancethathistwinklingeyesmadepartlyvisibleinthedarkness。

"OneofthethingsIwantedtotalktoyouabout，Bradley，wasthatoldaffairoftheadvanceyouaskedforfromtheBank。Wedidnotquiteseeourwaytoitthen，and，speakingasabusinessman，itisn\'treallyamatterofbusinessnow；butithaslatelybeenputtomeinalightthatwouldmakethedoingofitpossible——youunderstand？Thefactofthematteristhis:SirRobertMainwaring，thefatheroftheyoungfellowyou\'vegotinyourhouse，isoneofourdirectorsandlargestshareholders，andIcantellyou——ifyoudon\'tsuspectitalready——you\'vebeenlucky，Bradley——deucedlylucky——tohavehadhiminyourhouseandtohaverenderedhimaservice。He\'stheheirtooneofthelargestlandedestatesinhiscountry，oneoftheoldestcountyfamilies，andwillstepintothetitlesomeday。But，ahem!"hecoughedpatronizingly，"youknewallthat!No？Well，thatcharmingwifeofyours，atleast，does；

forshe\'sbeentalkingaboutit。Gad，Bradley，ittakesthosewomentofindoutanythingofthatkind，eh？"

ThelightinBradley\'seyesandhispipewentslowlyouttogether。

"Thenwe\'llsaythataffairoftheadvanceisasgoodassettled。

It\'sSirRobert\'swish，youunderstand，andthisyoungfellow\'swish，——andifyou\'llcomedowntotheBanknextweekwe\'llarrangeitforyou；Ithinkyou\'lladmitthey\'redoingthehandsometoyouandyours。Andtherefore，"heloweredhisvoiceconfidentially，"you\'llsee，Bradley，thatitwillonlybethehonorablethinginyou，youknow，tolookupontheaffairasfinished，and，infact，todoallyoucan"——hedrewhischaircloser——"to——to——todropthisotherfoolishness。”

"Idon\'tthinkIquiteunderstandyou!"saidBradley，slowly。

"Butyourwifedoes，ifyoudon\'t，"returnedRichardson，bluntly；

"ImeanthisfoolishflirtationbetweenLouiseMacyandMainwaring，whichisutterlypreposterous。Why，man，itcan\'tpossiblycometoanything，anditcouldn\'tbeallowedforamoment。Lookathispositionandhers。Ishouldthink，asapracticalman，itwouldstrikeyou——"

"Onlyonethingstrikesme，Richardson，"interruptedBradley，inasingularlydistinctwhisper，rising，andmovingnearerthespeaker；

"itisthatyou\'resittingperilouslyneartheedgeofthisveranda。For，bythelivingGod，ifyoudon\'ttakeyourselfoutofthatchairandoutofthishouse，Iwon\'tbeanswerablefortheconsequences!"

"Holdonthereaminute，willyou？"saidMainwaring\'svoicefromthewindow。

Bothmenturnedtowardsit。AlonglegwasprotrudingfromMainwaring\'swindow；itwasquicklyfollowedbytheotherlegandbodyoftheoccupant，andthenextmomentMainwaringcometowardsthetwomen，withhishandsinhispockets。

"Notsoloud，"hesaid，lookingtowardsthehouse。

"Letthatmango，"saidBradley，inarepressedvoice。"YouandI，Mainwaring，canspeaktogetherafterwards。”

"ThatmanmuststayuntilhehearswhatIhavegottosay，"saidMainwaring，steppingbetweenthem。Hewasverywhiteandgraveinthemoonlight，butveryquiet；andhedidnottakehishandsfromhispockets。"I\'velistenedtowhathesaidbecausehecamehereonMYbusiness，whichwassimplytooffertodoyouaservice。

Thatwasall，Bradley，thatItoldhimtodo。Thisrotaboutwhatheexpectsofyouinreturnishisownimpertinence。Ifyou\'dpunchedhisheadwhenhebeganit，itwouldhavebeenallright。

Butsincehehasbegunit，beforehegoesIthinkheoughttohearmetellyouthatIhavealreadyOFFEREDmyselftoMissMacy，andshehasREFUSEDme!Ifshehadgivenmetheleastencouragement，I

shouldhavetoldyoubefore。Further，Iwanttosaythat，inspiteofthatman\'sinsinuations，IfirmlybelievethatnooneisawareofthecircumstanceexceptMissMacyandmyself。”

"Ihadnoideaofintimatingthatanythinghadhappenedthatwasnothighlyhonorableandcreditabletoyouandtheyounglady，"

beganRichardsonhurriedly。

"Idon\'tknowthatitwasnecessaryforyoutohaveanyideasonthesubjectatall，"saidMainwaring，sternly；"northat，havingbeenshownhowyouhaveinsultedthisgentlemanandmyself，youneedtroubleusaninstantlongerwithyourcompany。Youneednotcomeback。Iwillmanagemyotheraffairsmyself。”

"Verywell，Mr。Mainwaring——but——youmaybesurethatIshallcertainlytakethefirstopportunitytoexplainmyselftoSirRobert，"returnedRichardsonas，withanattemptatdignity，hestrodeaway。

Therewasanintervalofsilence。

"Don\'tbetooharduponafellow，Bradley，"saidMainwaringasBradleyremaineddarkandmotionlessintheshadow。"ItisapoorreturnI\'mmakingyouforyourkindness，butIswearIneverthoughtofanythinglike——like——this。”

"NordidI，"saidBradley，bitterly。

"Iknowit，andthat\'swhatmakesitsoinfernallybadforme。

Forgiveme，won\'tyou？Thinkofme，oldfellow，asthewretchedestassyouevermet，butnotsuchacadasthiswouldmakeme!"AsMainwaringsteppedoutfromthemoonlighttowardshimwithextendedhand，Bradleygraspeditwarmly。

"Thanks——there——thanks，oldfellow!And，Bradley——Isay——don\'tsayanythingtoyourwife，forIdon\'tthinksheknowsit。And，Bradley——lookhere——Ididn\'tliketobeanythingbutplainbeforethatfellow；butIdon\'tmindtellingYOU，nowthatit\'sallover，thatIreallythinkLouise——MissMacy——didn\'taltogetherunderstandmeeither。”

Withanothershakeofthehandtheyseparatedforthenight。ForalongtimeafterMainwaringhadgone，BradleyremainedgazingthoughtfullyintotheGreatCanyon。Hethoughtofthetimewhenhehadfirstcomethere，fulloflifeandenthusiasm，makinganidealworldofhispureandwholesomeeyrieontheledge。Whatelsehethoughtwill，probably，neverbeknownuntilthemisunderstandingofhonorableandchivalrousmenbyacharmingandillogicalsexshallincitetheaudaciouspenofsomemoredaringromancer。

Whenhereturnedtothehouse，hesaidkindlytohiswife，"Ihavebeenthinkingto-dayaboutyourhotelscheme，andIshallwritetoSacramentoto-nighttoacceptthatcapitalist\'soffer。”

CHAPTERV。

Thesunwasjustrising。Intwoyearsofmutationandchangeithadseenthelittlecottageclinginglikeaswallow\'snesttotherockycavesofagreatSierrancanyongivewaytoastraggling，many-galleriedhotel，andadozenblackenedchimneysriseabovethebarrentablelandwhereoncehadstoodthelonelyforge。TothatconservativeorboflightandheattheremusthavebeenapeculiarsatisfactioninlookingdownafewhoursearlieruponthebattlementsandgablesofOldenhurst，whosebasewasdeeplyembeddedinthematuredfoundationsandsettledtraditionsofanEnglishcounty。FortherisingsunhadfortencenturiesfoundOldenhurstinitsplace，fromtheheavystoneterracethatcoveredthedead-and-forgottenwall，whereaRomansentinelhadoncepaced，tothelittlegratinginthecloisteredquadrangle，whereithadseenaCistercianbrotherplacethemorningdole。Ithaddailywelcomedthegrowthofthisvastandpicturesqueexcrescenceofthetimes；ithadsmiledeverymorninguponthisformidableyetquaintincrustationofpowerandcustom，ignoring，asOldenhurstitselfhadignored，thegenerationswhopossessedit，themenwhobuiltit，themenwhocarrieditwithfireandsword，themenwhohadliedandcringedforit，theKingwhohadgivenittoafavorite，thefewbraveheartswhohaddiedforitinexile，andtheoneortwowhohadboughtandpaidforit。ForOldenhursthadabsorbedalltheseandmoreuntilithadbecomeastoryofthepast，incarnateinstone，greenwood，andflower；ithadevendrainedthelife-bloodfromadjacenthamlets，repayingthemwithtumuligrowthslikeitsown，intheshapeofpurposelesslodges，quaintlyincompetenthospitalsandschools，andchurcheswheretheinestimableblessingandknowledgeofitsgospelweretaughtandfostered。Norhaditdealtmorekindlywiththegentrywithinitswalls，sendingsometothescaffold，pilloryingothersininfamousoffice，reducingafewtopoverty，andhaltingitslaterguestswithgoutandparalysis。Ithadgiventheminexchangethedubiousimmortalityofaportraitgallery，fromwhichtheystaredwithstonyandequalresignation；ithadpreservedtheiruselessarmorandaccoutrements；ithadsetuptheirmarbleeffigiesinchurchesorlaidthemincross-leggedattitudestotripuptheunwary，untilindeath，asinlife，theygotbetweenthecongregationandtheTruththatwastaughtthere。IthadallowedanOldenhurstcrusader，withabrokennoselikeapugilist，onthestrengthofhishavingbeentwicetotheHolyLand，tohidethebeautifullyilluminatedWordfromthelowlierworshipperonthehumblerbenches；ithadsentaniconoclasticBishopoftheReformationtoanearerminstertoostentatiouslyoccupytheplaceoftheconsecratedimagehehadoverthrown。SmallwonderthatcrowdingtheOldenhurstretainersgraduallyintosmallerspace，withoccasionalSabbathglimpsesofthelivingrulersofOldenhurstalreadyinrailed-offexaltation，ithadforcedthemtoacceptOldenhurstasasynonymofeternity，andlefttheknowledgeofahigherPowertowhattimetheyshouldbeturnedouttotheirlongersleepunderthetendergrassofthebeautifulouterchurchyard。

Andevenso，whileeverystoneofthepileofOldenhurstandeverytreeinitsleafyparkmighthavebeeneloquentwiththestoryofvanity，selfishness，andunequaljustice，ithadbeenlefttotheinfinitemercyofNaturetosealtheirlipswithaspellofbeautythatleftmankindequallydumb；earth，air，andmoisturehadenteredintoagentleconspiracytosoften，mellow，andclotheitsexternalblemishesofbreachandaccident，itsirregulardesign，itsadditions，accretions，ruins，andlapseswithaharmoniouscharmofoutlineandcolor；poets，romancers，andhistorianshadequallyconspiredtoilluminatethedarkpassagesanduglierinconsistenciesofitsinteriorlifewiththeglamouroftheirownfancy。Thefragmentofmenacingkeep，withitschokedoubliettes，becameaboweroftenderivy；thegrimstoryofitscrimes，properlyeditedbyacontemporarybardofthefamily，passedintoacharmingballad。Eventhesuperstitiousdarknessofitsreligioushousehadescapedthroughfallenroofandshatteredwall，leavingonlythefoliatedandsun-piercedscreenoffront，withitsrose-

windowandpinnacleofcrossbehind。Pilgrimsfromalllandshadcometoseeit；fierceRepublicanshadcrossedtheseastogazeatitsmediaevaloutlines，andcopytheminwoodandstuccoontheiryoungersoil。Politicianshadequallypointedtoitasaconvincingevidenceoftheirownprinciplesandinrefutationofeachother；andithadsurvivedboth。Foritwasthisbeliefinitsownperpetuitythatwasitsstrengthandweakness。AndthatbeliefwasneverstrongerthanonthisbrightAugustmorning，whenitwasonthevergeofdissolution。AtelegrambroughttoSirRobertMainwaringhadeventhenascompletelyshatteredanddisintegratedOldenhurst，inallitwasandallitmeant，asifthebrown-paperenvelopehadbeenitselfchargedwiththeelectricfluid。