第8章

Cissy\'scurlsswungroundwiththeothers。ButshewassurprisedtoseethatMr。Braggswasseatedinoneofthebenchesnearthedoor，andfromthefactofhisholdingahandkerchieftohismouth，andbeinggazedatbyhisneighbors，itwasevidentthatitwashewhohadcoughed。PerhapshehadcometoWestWoodlandstotalktoheraunt!Withthepreacherbeforeher，andherprobablesuitorbehindher，shefeltherselfagainblushing。

BrotherSeabrightcontinued。Yes，hewasWRONG，fortherebeforehim，inthedepthsoftheforest，weretwochildren。Theywerelookingatabushof"pizonberries，"——thedeadlynightshade，asitwasfitlycalled，——andonewaswarningtheotherofitsdangerousqualities。

"Buthowdoyouknowit\'sthe\'pizonberry\'？"askedtheother。

"Becauseit\'slarger，andnicer，andbigger，andeasiertogetthantherealgoodones，"returnedtheother。

Anditwasso。Thuswasthetruthrevealedfromthemouthsofbabesandsucklings；eventheywereconsciousoftemptationandsin!Butheretherewasanotherinterruptionfromthebackbenches，whichproved，however，tobeonlythesuppressedgiggleofaboy——evidentlytheyouthfulherooftheillustration，surprisedintonervoushilarity。

Thepreacherthenpassedtothe"ConvictionofSin"initsmorefamiliarphases。ManybrothersconfoundedthiswithDISCOVERYAND

PUBLICITY。Itwasnottheirownsin"findingthemout，"butothersdiscoveringit。Untilthathappened，theyfanciedthemselvessafe，stillingtheirconsciences，confoundingtheblindedeyeoftheworldwiththeall-seeingeyeoftheLord。Butweretheysafeeventhen？Didnotsoonerorlatertheseadeliverupitsdead，theearthwhatwasburiedinit，thewildwoodswhatitsdepthshadhidden？Wasnotthefoolishsecret，theguiltysecret，theforgottensin，suretobedisclosed？TheniftheycouldnotflyfromthetestimonyofHisworks，iftheycouldnotevadeeventheirfellow-man，whydidtheynotfirstturntoHim？Why，fromthepenitentchildathismother\'skneetothemurdereronthescaffold，didtheyonlyatTHELASTconfessuntoHim？

Hisvoiceandmannerhadsuddenlychanged。Fromtheroughnoteofaccusationandchallengeithadpassedintotheequallyrough，butbrokenandsympathetic，accentsofappeal。Whydidtheyhesitatelongertoconfesstheirsin——nottoman——butuntoHim？Whydidtheydelay？Now——thatevening!Thatverymoment!Thiswastheappointedtime!Heentreatedtheminthenameofreligiousfaith，inthenameofahumanbrotherlylove。Hisdeliverywasnownolongerdeliberate，buthurriedandpanting；hisspeechnownolongerchosen，butmadeupofreiterationsandrepetitions，ejaculations，andevenincoherentepithets。Hisgesturesandlongintonationswhichbegantotaketheplaceofeventhatinterruptedspeechaffectedthemmorethanhisreasoning!Shortsighsescapedthem；theyswayedtoandfrowiththerhythmofhisvoiceandmovements。Theyhadbeguntocomprehendthisexacerbationofemotion——thisparoxysmalrhapsody。Thiswasthedithyrambicexaltationtheyhadardentlywaitedfor。Theyrespondedquickly。

Firstwithgroans，equallyinarticulatemurmursofassent，shoutsof"Glory，"andtherecklessinvocationofsacrednames。Thenawaveofhysteriaseemedtomovethewholemass，andbrokeintotearsandsobsamongthewomen。InherownexcitedconsciousnessitseemedtoCissythatsomeactualstrugglebetweengoodandevil——

likeuntothecastingoutofdevils——wasshakingthelittlebuilding。ShecastahurriedglancebehindherandsawMr。Braggssittingerect，whiteandscornful。Sheknewthatshetoowasshrinkingfromthespeaker，——notfromanysenseofconviction，butbecausehewasirritatinganddisturbingherinnatesenseoffitnessandharmony，——andshewaspainedthatMr。Braggsshouldseehimthus。Meantimetheweird，invisiblestrugglecontinued，heightenedand，itseemedtoher，incitedbythepartisangroansandexultantactionsofthosearoundher，untilsuddenlyawilddespairingcryaroseabovetheconflict。Avaguefearseizedher——

thevoicewasfamiliar!SheturnedintimetoseethefigureofauntVashtiriseinherseatwithahystericaloutburst，andfallconvulsivelyforwarduponherknees!Shewouldhaverushedtoherside，butthefrenziedwomanwasinstantlycaughtbyDeaconShadwellandsurroundedbyagroupofherownsexandbecamehidden。AndwhenCissyrecoveredherselfshewasastonishedtofindBrotherSeabright——witheverytraceofhispastemotionvanishedfromhishard-setface——calmlytakinguphiscoherentdiscourseinhisordinaryleveltones。Thefuriousstruggleofthemomentbeforewasover；thechapelanditscongregationhadfallenbackintoanexhaustedandapatheticsilence!Thenthepreachergaveoutthehymn——thewordsweresingularlyjubilantamongthatusuallymournfulcollectioninthebookbeforeher——andCissybeganitwithatremulousvoice。Butitgainedstrength，clearness，andvolumeasshewenton，andshefeltthrilledthroughoutwithanewhumansympathyshehadneverknownbefore。Thepreacher\'sbasssupportedhernowforthefirsttimenotunmusically——andtheservicewasover。

Relieved，sheturnedquicklytojoinheraunt，butahandwaslaidgentlyuponhershoulder。ItwasBrotherSeabright，whohadjuststeppedfromtheplatform。Thecongregation，knowinghertobethenieceofthehystericwoman，passedoutwithoutdisturbingthem。

"Youhave，indeed，improvedyourgift，SisterCecilia，"hesaidgravely。"Youmusthavepracticedmuch。”

"Yes——thatis，no!——onlyalittle，"stammeredCissy。

"But，excuseme，Imustlookafterauntie，"sheadded，drawingtimidlyaway。

"Yourauntisbetter，andhasgoneonwithSisterShadwell。Sheisnotinneedofyourhelp，andreallywoulddobetterwithoutyoujustnow。Ishallseehermyselfpresently。”

"ButYOUmadehersickalready，"saidCissy，withasudden，half-

nervousaudacity。"YouevenfrightenedME。”

"Frightenedyou？"repeatedSeabright，lookingatherquickly。

"Yes，"saidCissy，meetinghisgazewithbrown，truthfuleyes。

"Yes，whenyou——whenyou——madethosefaces。Iliketohearyoutalk，but"——shestopped。

BrotherSeabright\'sraresmileagainlightenedhisface。Butitseemedsadderthanwhenshehadfirstseenit。

"ThenyouhavebeenpracticingagainattheMission？"hesaidquietly；"andyoustillpreferit？"

"Yes，"saidCissy。ShewantedtoappearasloyaltotheMissioninBrotherSeabright\'spresenceasshewasfaithfultoWestWoodlandsinMr。Braggs\'s。Shehadnoideathatthiswasdangerouslyneartocoquetry。Soshesaidalittlearchly，"Idon\'tseewhyYOUdon\'tliketheMission。You\'reamissionaryyourself。TheoldpadrescameheretospreadtheWord。Sodoyou。”

"Butnotinthatway，"hesaidcurtly。"I\'veseenenoughofthemwhenIwasknockingroundtheworldaseafaringmanandasinner。

Iknewthem——receiversoftheill-gottengainsofadventurers，fools，andscoundrels。Iknewthem——enrichedbythespoilsofpersecutionandoppression；gatheringundertheirwallsoutlawsandfugitivesfromjustice，andflinginganindulgencehereandanabsolutionthere，astheywerepaidforit。Don\'ttalktomeofTHEM——Iknowthem。”

Theywerepassingoutofthechapeltogether，andhemadeanimpatientgestureasifdismissingthesubject。AccustomedthoughshewastothesweepingcriticismofherCatholicfriendsbyherWestWoodlandsassociates，shewasneverthelesshurtbyhisbrusqueness。Shedroppedalittlebehind，andtheyseparatedattheporch。Notwithstandingheranxietytoseeheraunt，shefeltshecouldnotnowgotoDeaconShadwell\'swithoutseemingtofollowhim——andafterhehadassuredherthatherhelpwasnotrequired!

Sheturnedasideandmadeherwayslowlytowardsherhome。

Thereshefoundthatheraunthadnotreturned，gatheringfromherunclethatshewasrecoveringfromafitof"highstrikes"

(hysterics)，andwouldbebetteralone。Whetherheunderratedhercomplaint，orhadaconsciousnessofhismasculinehelplessnessinsuchdisorders，heevidentlymadelightofit。AndwhenCissy，afterwards，alittleashamedthatshehadallowedhermomentarypiqueagainstBrotherSeabrighttostandinthewayofherduty，determinedtogotoheraunt，insteadofreturningtothechapelthatevening，hedidnotopposeit。ShelearnedalsothatMr。

Braggshadcalledinthemorning，but，findingthatherauntVashtiwasatchapel，hehadfollowedherthere，intendingtoreturnwithher。Buthehadnotbeenseensincetheservice，andhadevidentlyreturnedtotheMission。

ButwhenshereachedDeaconShadwell\'shouseshewasreceivedbyMrs。Shadwellonly。Heraunt，saidthatlady，wasphysicallybetter，butBrotherSeabrighthadleft"partklerword"thatshewastoseenobody。Itwasanextraordinarycaseof"findin\'theLord，"

thelikeofwhichhadneverbeenknownbeforeinWestWoodlands，andshe(Cissy)wouldyetbeproudofoneofher"fammerlybeingspeshallyselectedforgrace。”Butthe"workin\'so\'salvationwasnottobefinickedawayonworldlythingsoreventheaffectionsoftheflesh；"andifCissyreallylovedheraunt，"shewouldn\'tinterferewithherwhileshewas，sotospeak，stillonthemourners\'bench，wrastlin\'withtheSperretintheirbacksittin\'-

room。”ButshemightwaituntilBrotherSeabright\'sreturnfromeveningchapelafterservice。

Cissywaited。Nineo\'clockcame，butBrotherSeabrightdidnotreturn。Thenasmallbutinconsequentdignitytookpossessionofher，andsheslightlytossedherlongcurlsfromhershoulders。

Shewasnotgoingtowaitforanyman\'spermissiontoseeherownaunt。Ifauntiedidnotwanttoseeher，thatwasenough。Shecouldgohomealone。Shedidn\'twantanyonetogowithher。

Liftedandsustainedbytheseloftyconsiderations，withanerectheadandslightlyruffledmane，wellenwrappedinabecomingwhitemerino"cloud，"theyounggirlsteppedoutonherhomewardjourney。

Shehadcertainlyenoughtooccupyhermindand，perhaps，justifyherindependence。TohaveasuitorforherhandinthepersonofthesuperiorandwealthyMr。Braggs，——forthatwaswhathisvisitthatmorningtoWestWoodlandsmeant，——andtobepersonallycomplimentedonherimprovementbythefamousBrotherSeabright，allwithintwelvehours，wassomethingtobeproudof，evenalthoughitwasmitigatedbyheraunt\'sillness，hersuitor\'sabruptdeparture，andBrotherSeabright\'smomentarycoldnessandimpatience。Oddlyenough，thislastandapparentlytrivialcircumstanceoccupiedherthoughtsmorethantheothers。Shefoundherselflookingoutforhiminthewindingsofthemoonlitroad，andwhen，atlast，shereachedtheturningtowardsthelittlewoodandchapel，hersmallfeetunconsciouslylingereduntilshefeltherselfblushingunderherfleecy"cloud。”Shelookeddownthelane。Fromthepointwhereshewasstandingthelightsofthechapelshouldhavebeenplainlyvisible；butnowallwasdark。Itwasnearlyteno\'clock，andhemusthavegonehomebyanotherroad。

Thenaspiritofadventureseizedher。Shehadthekeyofthechapelinherpocket。SherememberedshehadleftasmallblackSpanishfan——aformergiftofMr。Braggslyingontheharmonium。

Shewouldgoandbringitaway，andsatisfyherselfthatBrotherSeabrightwasnottherestill。Itwasbutastep，andintheclearmoonlight。

Thelanewoundbeforeherlikeasilverstream，exceptwhereitwasinterruptedandbridgedoverbyjaggedblackshadows。Thechapelitselfwasblack，theclusteringtreesarounditwereblackalso；

theporchseemedtocoveraninkywellofshadow；thewindowswereraylessanddead，andinthechancelonestillleftopenshowedayawningvaultofobscuritywithin。Nevertheless，sheopenedthedoorsoftly，glidedintothedarkdepths，andmadeherwaytotheharmonium。Butherethesoundoffootstepswithoutstartledher；

sheglancedhurriedlythroughtheopenwindow，andsawthefigureofElishaBraggssuddenlyrevealedinthemoonlightashecrossedthepathbehindthechapel。Hewascloselyfollowedbytwopeons，whomsherecognizedashisservantsattheMission，andtheyeachcarriedapickaxe。Fromtheirmanneritwasevidentthattheyhadnosuspicionofherpresenceinthechapel。Buttheyhadstoppedandwerelistening。Herheartbeatquickly；withasuddeninstinctsheranandboltedthedoor。Butitwasevidentlyanotherintrudertheywerewatching，forshepresentlysawBrotherSeabrightquietlycrossthelaneandapproachthechapel。Thethreemenhaddisappeared；buttherewasasuddenshout，thesoundofscuffling，thedeepvoiceofBrotherSeabrightsaying，"Back，there，willyou!

Handsoff!"andapause。Shecouldseenothing；shelistenedineverypulse。ThenthevoiceofBrotherSeabrightaroseagainquiteclearly，slowly，andasdeliberatelyasifithadrisenfromtheplatforminthechapel。

"LishBarker!Ithoughtasmuch!LishBarker，firstmateoftheTamalpais，whowassaidtohavegonedownwithaboat\'screwandtheship\'streasureaftershestruck。ITHOUGHTIknewthatfacetoday。”

"Yes，"saidthevoiceofhimwhomshehadknownasElishaBraggs，——

"yes，andIknewYOURface，JimSeabright，ex-whaler，slaver，pirate，andbo\'s\'noftheHighflyer，maroonedintheSouthPacific，whereyoufoundtheLord——ha!ha!——andbecamethepsalm-singing，convertedAmericansailorpreacher!"

"Iamnotashamedbeforemenofmypast，whicheveryoneknows，"

returnedSeabrightslowly。"ButwhatofYOURS，ElishaBarker——

YOURSthathasmadeyoushamdeathitselftohideitfromthem？

WhatofYOURS——spentintheslothofyourill-gottengains!Turn，sinner，turn!Turn，ElishaBraggs，whilethereisyettime!"

"Belaythere，BrotherSeabright；we\'renotINSIDEyourgospel-shopjustnow!Keepyourpalaverforthosethatneedit。Letmepass，beforeIhavetoteachyouthatyouhaven\'ttodealwithagangofhystericaloldwomento-night。”

"Butnotuntilyouknowthatoneofthosewomen，——VashtiWhite，——

byGod\'sgraceconvertedofhersins，hasconfessedhersecretandyours，ElishaBarker!Yes!Shehastoldmehowhersister\'shusband——thefatheroftheyounggirlyouaretryingtolureaway——

helpedyouoffthatnightwithyourbooty，tookhismiserablerewardandlivedanddiedinexilewiththerestofyourwretchedcrew，——afraidtoreturntohishomeandcountry——whilstyou——

shamelessandimpenitent——livedinslothfuleaseattheMission!"

"Liar!Letmepass!"

"NotuntilIknowyourpurposehereto-night。”

"Thentaketheconsequences!Here，Pedro!Ramon!Seizehim。Tiehimheadandheelstogether，andtosshiminthebush!"

Thesoundofscufflingrecommenced。Thestruggleseemedfierceandlong，withnobreathwastedinuselessoutcry。Thentherewasabrightflash，amuffledreport，andthestingingandfireofgunpowderatthewindow。

Transfixedwithfear，Cissycastadespairingglancearoundher。

Ah，thebell-rope!Inanotherinstantshehadgraspeditfranticallyinherhands。

Allthefear，indignation，horror，sympathy，andwildappealforhelpthathadarisenhelplesslyinherthroatandyetremainedunuttered，nowseemedtothrillthroughherfingersandthetightenedrope，andbrokeintofranticvoiceintheclangingmetalaboveher。Thewholechapel，thewholewoodland，theclear，moonlitskyabovewasfilledwithitsalarmingaccents。Itshrieked，implored，protested，summoned，andthreatened，inoneceaselessoutcry，seemingtorolloverandover——as，indeed，itdid——inleapsandboundsthatshookthebelfry。Neverbefore，evenintheblowsofthestrikingsurges，hadthebelloftheTamalpaisclamoredlikethat!Oncesheheardabovetheturmoiltheshakingofthedooragainsttheboltthatstillheldfirmly；onceshethoughtsheheardSeabright\'svoicecallingtoher；onceshethoughtshesmelledthestrongsmokeofburninggrass。Butshekepton，untilthewindowwassuddenlydarkenedbyafigure，andBrotherSeabright，leapingin，caughtherinhisarmsasshewasreelingfainting，butstillclingingtotherope。Buthisstrongpresenceandsomepowerfulmagnetisminhistouchrestoredher。

"Youhaveheardall!"hesaid。

"Yes。”

"Thenforyouraunt\'ssake，foryourdeadfather\'ssake，FORGET

all!Thatwretchedmanhasfledwithhiswoundedhirelings——lethissingowithhim。Butthevillageisalarmed——thebrethrenmaybehereanymoment!NeitherquestionnordenywhatIshalltellthem。Fearnothing。GodwillforgivethesilencethatleavesthevengeancetoHishandsalone!"Voicesandfootstepswereheardapproachingthechapel。BrotherSeabrightsignificantlypressedherhandandstrodetowardsthedoor。DeaconShadwellwasfirsttoenter。

"Youhere——BrotherSeabright!Whathashappened？"

"Godbepraised!"saidBrotherSeabrightcheerfully，"nothingofconsequence!Thedangerisover!Yet，butforthecourageandpresenceofmindofSisterApplebyaseriousevilmighthavebeendone。”Hepaused，andwithanothervoiceturnedhalf-

interrogativelytowardsher。"Somechildren，orapassingtramp，hadcarelesslythrownmatchesintheunderbrush，andtheywereignitedbesidethechapel。SisterAppleby，chancingtoreturnherefor"——

"Formyfan，"saidCissywithatimidtruthfulnessofaccent。

"Foundherselfunabletocopewithit，anditoccurredtohertogivethealarmyouheard。Ihappenedtobepassingandwasfirsttorespond。Happilytheflameshadmadebutlittleheadway，andwerequicklybeatendown。Itisallovernow。Butletushopethatthespeedyclearingoutoftheunderbrushandtheopeningofthewoodsaroundthechapelwillpreventanyrecurrenceofthealarmofto-night。”……

ThatthelessonthusreiteratedbyBrotherSeabrightwaseffective，thefollowingextract，fromthecolumnsofthe"WhalePointGazette，"maynotonlybeofferedasevidence，butmayevengivethecautiousreaderfurtherlightontheepisodeitself:——

STRANGEDISCOVERYATWESTWOODLANDS——THETAMALPAISMYSTERYAGAIN。

TheimprovementsintheclearingaroundtheSidonChapelatWestWoodlands，undertakenbytheRev。JamesSeabright，havedisclosedanotherlinkinthemysterywhichsurroundedthelossoftheTamalpaissomeyearsagoatWhaleMouthPoint。ItwillberememberedthattheboatcontainingAdams&Co。\'streasure，theTamalpais\'firstofficer，andacrewoffourmenwaslostontherocksshortlyafterleavingtheill-fatedvessel。Noneofthebodieswereeverrecovered，andthetreasureitselfcompletelybaffledthesearchofdiversandsalvers。AlidlessboxbearingthemarkofAdams&Co。，ofthekindinwhichtheirtreasurewasusuallyshipped，wasyesterdayfoundinthewoodsbehindthechapel，halfburiedinbrush，bark，andwindfalls。Therewerenootherindications，exceptthetracesofacamp-fireatsomeremoteperiod，probablylongbeforethebuildingofthechapel。Buthowandwhentheboxwastransportedtotheupland，andbywhoseagency，stillremainsamatterofconjecture。OurreporterwhovisitedtheRev。Mr。Seabright，whohaslatelyacceptedtheregularministryofthechapel，wasofferedeveryfacilityforinformation，butitwasevidentthattheearlysettlerswhowerecognizantofthefact——iftherewereany——areeitherdeadorhaveleftthevicinity。

THEHOME-COMINGOFJIMWILKES。

I。

Formanyminutestherehadbeennosoundbutthemonotonousdrummingoftherainontheroofofthecoach，theswishingofwheelsthroughthegravellymud，andthemomentaryclatterofhoofsuponsomerockyoutcropintheroad。Conversationhadceased；thelight-heartedyoungeditorinthefrontseat，morethansuspectedofdangerouslevity，hadrelapsedintosilencesincetheheavymaninthemiddleseathadtakentoregardingtheceilingwithostentatiousresignation，andthethinfemalebesidehimhadavertedherrespectablebonnet。Anoccasionallurchofthecoachbroughtdownafringeofraindropsfromitseavesthatfilmedthewindowsandshutoutthesoddenprospectalreadydarkeningintonight。TherehadbeenamomentaryreliefintheirhurrieddashthroughSummitSprings，andthespectacleofcertainnewlyarrivedCountyDelegatescrowdingtheverandaofitsonehotel；butthatwasnowthreemilesbehind。Theyoungeditor\'ssoleresourcewastooccasionallystealaglanceatthefaceoftheonepassengerwhoseemedtobeinsympathywithhim，butwhowastoofarawayforeasyconversation。Itwasthehalf-amused，half-perplexedfaceofayoungmanwhohadbeenforsometimeregardinghimfromaremotecornerofthecoachwithanoddminglingofadmiringyetcogitatinginterest，which，however，hadneverextendedtoanyfurtherencouragementthanafaintsadsmile。Eventhisatlastfadedoutinthegrowingdarkness；thepowerfulcoachlampsoneithersidethatflashedonthewaysideobjectsgavenolighttotheinterior。

Everybodywasslowlyfallingasleep。Suddenlyeverybodywokeuptofindthatthecoachwasapparentlystandingstill!Whenithadstoppednooneknew!Theyoungeditorloweredhiswindow。Thecoachlamponthatsidewasmissing，butnothingwastobeseen。

Inthedistancethereappearedtobeafaintsplashing。

"Well，"calledoutanimpatientvoicefromtheboxabove；"whatdoyoumakeit？"ItwastheauthoritativeaccentsofYubaBill，thedriver，andeverybodylistenedeagerlyforthereply。

Itcamefaintlyfromthedistanceandthesplashing。"Almostfourfeethere，anddeepeningasyougo。”

"Deadwater？"

"No——backwaterfromtheFork。”

Therewasageneralmovementtowardsthedoorsandwindows。Thesplashingcamenearer。Thenalightflashedonthetrees，thewindows，and——twofeetofyellowwaterpeacefullyflowingbeneaththem!Thethinfemalegaveaslightscream。

"There\'snodanger，"saidtheExpressman，nowwadingtowardsthemwiththecoachlampinhishand。"Butwe\'llhavetopullroundoutofitandgobacktotheSprings。There\'snogettingpastthisbreakto-night。”

"Whydidn\'tyouletusknowthisbefore，"saidtheheavymanindignantlyfromthewindow。

"Jim，"saidthedriverwiththatslowdeliberationwhichinstantlyenforcedcompleteattention。

"Yes，Bill。”

"Haveyougotasparecopyofthatreg\'larbulletinthattheStageKempanyissooseverytenminutestoeachpassengertotell\'emwhereweare，howfaritistothenextplace，andwotsthestateo\'theweathergin\'rally？"

"No!"saidtheExpressmangrimly，asheclimbedtothebox，"there\'snotoneleft。Why？"

"CostheEmperorofChiny\'sinsidewantin\'one!Hoop!Keepyourseatsdownthere!G\'lang!"thewhipcracked，therewasadesperatesplashing，abackwardandforwardjoltingofthecoach，theglisteningwetflanksandtossingheadsoftheleadersseenforamomentoppositethewindows，asickeningswirlofthewholebodyofthevehicleasifpartingfromitsaxles，alongstraightdraggingpull，and——presentlythewelcomesoundofhoofsoncemorebeatingthefirmerground。

"Hi!Holdup——driver!"

Itwastheeditor\'squietfriendwhowasleaningfromthewindow。

"Isn\'tWilkes\'sranchjustoffhere？"

"Yes，halfamilealongtheridge，Ireckon，"returnedthedrivershortly。

"Well，ifyou\'renotgoingonto-night，I\'dgetoffandstopthere。”

"Ireckonyourhead\'slevel，stranger，"saidBillapprovingly；"forthey\'reaboutchockfullattheSprings\'House。”

Todescend，thepassengerwasobligedtopassoutbythemiddleseatandbeforetheyoungeditor。Ashedidsohecastashylookonhimand，leaningover，saidhesitatingly，inalowervoice:"I

don\'tthinkyouwillbeabletogetinattheSpringsHotel。If——

if——youcaretocomewithmeto——to——theranch，Icantakecareofyou。”

Theyoungeditor——amanofaction——pausedforaninstantonly。

Thenseizinghisbag，hesaidpromptly:"Thankyou，"andfollowedhisnewly-foundfriendtotheground。Thewhipcracked，thecoachrolledaway。

"YouknowWilkes？"hesaid。

"Ye-ee-s。He\'smyfather。”

"Ah，"saidtheeditorcheerfully，"thenyou\'regoinghome？"

"Yes。”

Itwasquitelightintheopen，andthestranger，afteramoment\'ssurveyoftheprospect，——asurveythat，however，seemedtobecharacterizedbyhisprevioushesitation，——said:"Thisway，"

crossedtheroad，andbegantofollowaquiteplainbutlongdisusedwagontrackalongtheslope。Hismannerwasstillsoembarrassedthattheyoungeditor，aftergaylyrepeatinghisthanksforhiscompanion\'sthoughtfulcourtesy，followedhiminsilence。

Attheendoftenminutestheyhadreachedsomecultivatedfieldsandorchards；thestrangerbrightened，althoughstillwithapreoccupiedair，quickenedhispace，andthensuddenlystopped。

Whentheeditorreachedhissidehewasgazingwithapparentlystillgreaterperplexityuponthelevel，halfobliterated，andblackenedfoundationsofwhathadbeenalargefarmhouse。

"Why，it\'sbeenburntdown!"hesaidthoughtfully。

Theeditorstaredathim!Burntdownitcertainlyhadbeen，butbynomeansrecently。Grasseswerealreadyspringingupfromthecharredbeamsinthecellar，vinesweretrailingoverthefallenchimneys，excavations，alreadyold，hadbeenmadeamongtheruins。

"Whenwereyouherelast？"theeditoraskedabruptly。

"Fiveyearsago，"saidthestrangerabstractedly。

"Fiveyears!——andyouknewnothingofTHIS？"

"No。IwasinTahiti，Australia，Japan，andChinaallthetime。”

"Andyouneverheardfromhome？"

"No。YouseeIquo\'ledwiththeoldman，andranaway。”

"Andyoudidn\'twritetotellthemyouwerecoming？"

"No。”Hehesitated，andthenadded:"Neverthoughto\'comingtillIsawYOU。”

"Me!"

"Yes；youand——thehighwater。”

"Doyoumeantosay，"saidtheyoungeditorsharply，"thatyoubroughtME——anutterstrangertoyou——outofthatcoachtoclaimthehospitalityofafatheryouhadquarreledwith——hadn\'tseenforfiveyearsanddidn\'tknowifhewouldreceiveyou？"

"Yes，——youseethat\'sjustWHYIdidit。Yousee，Ireckonedmychanceswouldbebettertoseehimalongwithacheerful，chipperfellowlikeyou。Ididn\'t，ofcourse，kalkilateonthis，"headded，pointingdejectedlytotheruins。

Theeditorgasped；thenasuddenconceptionoftheunrivaledabsurdityofthesituationflasheduponhim，——ofhispassivelyfollowingtheamiableidiotathissideinordertocontemplate，bythefallingrainandlonelynight，aheapofsoddenruins，whilethecoachwasspeedingtoSummitSpringsandshelter，and，aboveall，thereasonWHYhewasinvited，——until，puttingdownhisbag，heleaneduponhisstick，andlaugheduntilthetearscametohiseyes。

Atwhichhiscompanionvisiblybrightened。"Itoldyouso，"hesaidcheerfully；"Iknewyou\'dbeabletotakeit——andtheoldman——

inTHATWAY，andthatwouldhavefetchedhimround。”

"ForHeaven\'ssake!don\'ttalkanymore，"saidtheeditor，wipinghiseyes，"buttrytorememberifyoueverhadanyneighborsaboutherewherewecanstaytonight。Wecan\'twalktoSummitSprings，andwecan\'tcampoutontheseruins。”

"Theredidn\'tusetobeanybodynearerthantheSprings。”

"Butthatwasfiveyearsago，yousay，"saidtheeditorimpatiently；"andalthoughyourfatherprobablymovedawayafterthehouseburneddown，thecountry\'sbeenthicklysettledsincethen。Thatfieldhasbeenlatelyplanted。Theremustbeanotherhousebeyond。Let\'sfollowthetrailalittlefarther。”

Theytrampedalonginsilence，thistimetheeditorleading。

Presentlyhestopped。"There\'sahouse——inthere——amongthetrees，"hesaid，pointing。"Whoseisit？"

Thestrangershookhisheaddubiously。Althoughapparentlyunaffectedbyanysentimentalconsiderationofhisfather\'smisfortune，thespectacleoftheblackenedruinsofthehomesteadhadevidentlyshakenhispreconceivedplans。"Itwasn\'tthereinMYtime，"hesaidmusingly。

"ButitISthereinOURtime，"respondedtheeditorbriskly，"andI

proposetogothere。Fromwhatyouhavetoldmeofyourfather——

evenifhishousewerestillstanding——ourchancesofgettingsupperandabedfromhimwouldbedoubtful!Isuppose，"hecontinuedastheymovedontogether，"youlefthiminanger——fiveyearsago？"

"Ye-es。”

"Didhesayanythingasyouleft？"

"Idon\'trememberanythingparticularthatheSAID。”

"Well，whatdidheDO？"

"Shotatmefromthewindow!"

"Ah!"saidtheyoungeditorsoftly。Neverthelesstheywalkedonforsometimeinsilence。Graduallyawhitepicketfencecameintoviewatrightangleswiththetrail，andamanappearedwalkingleisurelyalongwhatseemedtobetheregularlytraveledroad，besideit。Theeditor，whohadtakenmattersinhisownhands，withoutspeakingtohiscompanion，ranquicklyforwardandaccostedthestranger，brieflystatingthathehadleftthestage-coachwithacompanion，becauseitwasstoppedbyhighwater，andasked，withoutenteringintofurtherdetails，tobedirectedtosomeplacewheretheycouldpassthenight。Themanquiteasbrieflydirectedhimtothehouseamongthetrees，whichhesaidwashisown，andthenleisurelypursuedhiswayalongtheroad。Theyoungeditorranbacktohiscompanion，whohadhaltedinthedrippingshadowofasycamore，andrecountedhisgoodfortune。

"Ididn\'t，"headded，"sayanythingaboutyourfather。Youcanmakeinquiriesyourselflater。”

"Ireckontherewon\'tbemuchneedofthat，"returnedhiscompanion。"Youdidn\'ttakemuchnoteo\'thatman，didyou？"

"Notmuch，"saidtheeditor。

"Well，THAT\'SMYFATHER，andIreckonthatnewhousemustbehis。”

II。

Theyoungeditorwasalittlestartled。Themanhehadjustquittedcertainlywasnotdangerouslooking，andyet，rememberingwhathissonhadsaid，thereWEREhomicidalpossibilities。"Lookhere，"hesaidquickly，"he\'snotthereNOW。Whydon\'tyouseizetheopportunitytoslipintothehouse，makepeacewithyourmotherandsisters，andgetthemtointercedewithyourfatherwhenhereturns？"

"Tharain\'tanymother；shediedaforeIleft。MysisterAlmiry\'salittlegirl——thoughthat\'sfouryearsagoandmebbeeshe\'sgrowed。Mybrothersandmedidn\'tpulltogethermuch。ButIwasthinkin\'thatmebbeeYOUmightgointharformefirst，andseehowthelandlays；thensortertell\'em\'boutmeinyourtakin\'，chipper，easyway；make\'emlaugh，andwhenyou\'vesquared\'em——

I\'llbehangin\'roundoutside——youkincallMEin。Don\'tyousee？"

TheyoungeditorDIDsee。Ridiculousastheproposalwouldhaveseemedtohimanhourago，itnowappearedpractical，andevencommendeditselftohistaste。Hisnamewaswellknowninthecountyandhismediationmightbeeffective。Perhapshisvanitywasslightlyflatteredbyhiscompanion\'sfaithinhim；perhapshewasnotfreefromacertainhumancuriositytoknowtherest；

perhapshewasmoreinterestedthanhecaredtoconfessinthehelplesshome-seekerbesidehim。

"Butyoumusttellmesomethingmoreofyourself，andyourfortuneandprospects。They\'llbesuretoaskquestions。”

"Mebbeetheywon\'t。ButyoucansayI\'vedonewell——mademypileoverinAustralia，andain\'tcomin\'onTHEM。Remember——sayI

\'ain\'tcomin\'onthem\'!"

Theeditornodded，andthen，asiffearfuloflettinghispresentimpulsecool，ranofftowardsthehouse。

Itwaslargeandrespectablelooking，andauguredwellforthepresentfortunesoftheWilkes\'s。Theeditorhaddeterminedtoattackthecitadelonitsweaker，feminineside，andwhenthefrontdoorwasopenedtohisknock，askedtoseeMissAlmiraWilkes。TheIrishservantshowedhimintoacomfortablelookingsitting-room，andinanothermomentwithaquickrustleofskirtsinthepassageaveryprettygirlimpulsivelyentered。Fromthefirstflashofherkeenblueeyestheeditor——afairstudentofthesex——conceivedtheideathatshehadexpectedsomebodyelse；fromthesecondthatshewasanarrantflirt，anddidnotintendtobedisappointed。

Thismuchwasinhisfavor。

Spurredbyherprovokingeyesandthenovelsituation，hestatedhisbusinesswithanairylightnessandhumorthatseemedtojustifyhislatecompanion\'sestimateofhispowers。Buteveninhiscynicalattitudehewasunpreparedforthegirl\'sreceptionofhisnews。Hehadexpectedsomeindignationorevenharshnesstowardsthismanwhomhewasbeginningtoconsiderasakindofdetrimentaloutcastorprodigal，buthewasastoundedatthecompleteandutterindifference——thefrankandheartlessunconcern——

withwhichsheheardofhisreturn。Whenshehadfollowedthenarratorratherthanhisstorytotheend，shelanguidlycalledherbrothersfromtheadjoiningroom。"Thisgentleman，Mr。Grey，ofthe\'Argus，\'hascomeacrossJim——andJimiscalculatingtocomehereandseefather。”

ThetwobrothersstaredatGrey，slightlyshruggedtheirshoulderswiththesameutterabsenceoffraternalsympathyorconcernwhichthegirlhadshown，andsaidnothing。

"Onemoment，"saidGreyalittlewarmly；"Ihavenodesiretopenetratefamilysecrets，butwouldyoumindtellingmeifthereisanygravereasonwhyheshouldnotcome。Wasthereanyscandalousconduct，unpardonableoffense——letusevensay——anycriminalactonhispartwhichmakeshisreturntothisroofimpossible？"

Thethreelookedateachotherwithadullsurprisethatendedinavacantwonderingsmile。"No，no，"theysaidinonevoice。"No，only"——

"Onlywhat？"askedGreyimpatiently。

"Dadjusthateshim!"

"Likepizon，"smiledAlmira。

Theyoungeditorrosewithaslightincreaseofcolor。"Lookhere，"saidthegirl，whosedimpleshaddeepenedasshekeenlysurveyedhim，asifdetectingsomeamorousartificeunderhisshowofinterestforherbrother。"Dad\'sgonedowntothesheepfoldandwon\'tbebackforanhour。Yo\'mightbring——YO\'FRIEND——in。”

"Heain\'twantin\'anything？Ain\'tdeadbroke？nornothin\'，eh？"

suggestedoneofthebrothersdubiously。

GreyhastenedtoassurethemofJim\'sabsolutesolvency，andevenenlargedconsiderablyonhisAustralianfortune。Theylookedrelievedbutnotinterested。

"Goandfetchhim，"saidthewitch，archlyhoveringnearGreywithdancingeyes；"andmindYO\'comeback，too!"

Greyhesitatedamomentandthenpassedoutinthedarkporch。A

drippingfigureemergedfromthetreesopposite。ItwasJim。

"Yoursisterandbrotherswillseeyou，"saidGreyhastily，toavoidembarrassingdetails。"HEwon\'tbehereforanhour。ButI\'dadviseyoutomakethemostofyourtime，andgetthegood-willofyoursister。”Hewouldhavedrawnbacktolettheprodigalpassinalone，butthemanappealinglyseizedhisarm，andGreywasobligedtore-enterwithhim。Henoticed，however，thathebreathedhard。

Theyturnedslightlytowardstheirrelative，butdidnotoffertoshakehandswithhim，nordidhewiththem。Hesatdownsidewaysonanunofferedchair。"Theoldhousegotburnt!"hesaid，wipinghislips，andthendryinghiswethairwithhishandkerchief。

Astheremarkwasaddressedtonooneinparticularitwassomesecondsbeforetheelderbrotherreplied:"Yes。”

"Almira\'sgrowed。”

Againnoonefeltcalledupontoanswer，andAlmiraglancedarchlyattheyoungeditorasifhemighthaveadded:"andimproved。”

"You\'vedonewell？"returnedoneofthebrotherstentatively。

"Yes，I\'mallright，"saidJim。

Therewasanotherspeechlessinterval。EventheconversationalGreyfeltundersomeunhallowedspellofsilencethathecouldnotbreak。

"Iseetheoldwellisthereyet，"saidJim，wipinghislipsagain。

"Wheredadwasoncegoin\'tochuckyoudownforgivin\'himbacktalk，"saidtheyoungerbrothercasually。

ToMr。Grey\'sreliefandyetastonishment，Jimburstintoaloudlaughandrubbedhislegs。"That\'sso——howoldtimesDOcomeback!"

"And，"saidthebright-eyedAlmira，there\'sthatoldbutternut-treethatyoushinneduponedaywhenwesetthehoundsonyou。

Goodness!howyouscooted!"

AgainJimlaughedloudlyandnodded。"Yes，thesameoldbutternut。

HowyouDOremember，Almira？"Thisadmiringly。

Anddon\'tyourememberDeliaShort？"continuedAlmira，pleasedattheadmiration，andperhapsalittleexaltedatthesingularattentionwhichtheyoungeditorwasgivingtothosecheerfulreminiscences。"She，youknow，youwasreg\'larlysickafter，sothatwealwaysallowedshekinderturnedyo\'brainaforeyouwentaway!Well!allthewhileyouwerecourtin\'heritappearsshewassecretlymarriedtoJo——yo\'friend——JoStacy。Lord!therewasatalkaboutthat!andaboutyo\'allalongthinkin\'yo\'hadchances!

Yo\'friendhere，"withanarchglanceatGrey，"who\'sallusputtin\'

folksinthenewspapers，ortergetaholdonthat!"

Jimagainlaughedlouderthantheothers，andrubbedhislips。

Grey，however，offeredonlythetributeofapeculiarsmileandwalkedtothewindow。"Yousayyourfatherwillreturninanhour？"hesaid，turningtotheelderbrother。

"Yes，unlesshekeptontoWatson\'s。”

"Where？"saidJimsuddenly。

ItstruckGreythathisvoicehadchanged——orratherthathewasnowspeakingforthefirsttimeinhisnaturaltone。

"Watson\'s，justoverthebridge，"explainedhisbrother。"Ifhewenttherehewon\'tbebacktillten。”

JimpickeduphisIndiarubbercapeandhat，said，"IreckonI\'lljusttakeaturnoutsideuntilhegetsback，"andwalkedtowardsthedoor。Noneofhisrelativesmovednorseemedtoofferanyopposition。Greyfollowedhimquickly。"I\'llgowithyou，"hesaid。

"No，"returnedJimwithsingularearnestness。"Youstayhereandkeep\'emupcheerfullikethis。They\'redoingallthisforYOU，youknow；Almiry\'sjustthischipperonlyonyouraccount。”

Seeingtheyoungmanwasinflexible，Greyreturnedgrimlytotheroom，butnotuntilhehadnoticed，withsomesurprise，thatJim，immediatelyonleavingthehouse，dartedoffataquickrunthroughtherainanddarkness。Preoccupiedwiththis，andperhapsstillinfluencedbythetoneofthepreviousconversation，hedidnotrespondreadilytothefairAlmira\'sconversationaladvances，andwasspeedilylefttoaseatbythefirealone。Attheendoftenminutesheregrettedhehadevercome；whenhalfanhourhadpassedhewonderedifhehadnotbettertrytoreachtheSummitalone。

WiththelapseofanhourhebegantofeeluneasyatJim\'sprolongedabsenceinspiteofthecoldindifferenceofthehousehold。Suddenlyheheardstampingintheporch，amutteredexclamation，andthevoicesofthetwobrothersinthehall。

"Why，dad!what\'sup？Yo\'lookhalfdrowned!"

Thedooropeneduponthesodden，steamingfigureoftheoldmanwhomhehadmetontheroad，followedbythetwosons。Buthewasevidentlymoreoccupiedandpossessedbysomementalpassionthanbyhisphysicaldiscomfort。Yetstronganddominantoverboth，hethrewoffhiswetcoatandwaistcoatasheentered，andmarcheddirectlytothefire。Utterlyignoringthepresenceofastranger，hesuddenlyturnedandfacedhisfamily。

"Halfdrowned。Yes!andImighthavebeenhulldrownedforthatmatter。ThebackwateroftheForkisalloverWatson\'s，andthebridgeisgone。Istumbledontothisendofitinthedark，andwentoff，headfirst，intotwentyfeetofwater!Triedtofightmywayout，butthecurrentwasaginme。I\'dbindowntwice，andwasgoingdownforthethirdtime，whensomebodygrabbedmebythescruffo\'myneckandunderthearm——so!——andswammetothebank!

WhenIscrambledupIsez:\'Ican\'tseeyourface，\'sezI，\'Idon\'tknowwhoyouare，\'sezI，\'butIreckonyou\'reawhitemanandcleargrit，\'sezI，\'andthere\'smyhandonit!\'Andhegrabsitandsez，\'We\'requits，\'andscootedouto\'mysight。And，"

continuedtheoldmanstaringattheirfacesandraisinghisvoicealmosttoascream，"whodoyouthinkitwas？Why，THATSNEAKIN\'

HOUNDOFABROTHEROFYOURS——JIM!Jim!thescallawagthatIbootedoutertheranchfiveyearsago，crawlin\'，writhin\'backagainafteralltheseyearstoinsulthisoldfather\'sgrayhairs!Andsomeofyou——byGod——oncethoughtthatIwashardonhim!"……

Thesunwasshiningbrightlythenextmorningastheyoungeditorhaltedtheupcoachinthenowdriedhollow。Ashewasclamberingtoaseatbesidethedriver，hiselbowwasjoggedatthewindow。

LookingdownhesawthefaceofJim。

"Wehadagaytalklastnight，rememberingoldtimes，didn\'twe？"

saidtheprodigalcheerfully。

"Yes，but——whereareyougoingnow？"

"BacktoAustralia，Ireckon!Butitwasmightygoodtodropinontheoldhomesteadoncemore!"

"Rather，"saidtheeditor，clingingtothewindowandlingeringinmid-airtothemanifestimpatienceofYubaBill；"butIsay——lookhere!——wereyouQUITEsatisfied？"

Jim\'shandtightenedaroundtheyoungeditor\'sasheansweredcheerfully，"Yes。”Buthisfacewasturnedawayfromthewindow。