第3章

WhenthestageforSanFranciscorolledawaythenextmorningwithMr。Hamlinandtheeditor，thelattermighthaverecognizedintheoccupantofadust-coveredbuggythatwascomingleisurelytowardsthemthetallfigure，longbeard，andstraightdusterofhislatevisitor，Mr。JamesBowers。ForMr。Bowerswasonthesamequestthattheothershadjustabandoned。LikeMr。Hamlin，hehadbeenlefttohisownresources，butMr。Bowers\'sresourceswerealife-

longexperienceandtechnicalskill；hetoohadnotedthetopographicalindicationsofthepoem，andhisknowledgeofthesylvaofUpperCaliforniapointedasunerringlyasMr。Hamlin\'slucktothecryptogamoushauntsoftheSummit。Suchabnormalgrowthswereindicativeofcertainlocalitiesonly，but，astheywerenotremunerativefromapecuniarypointofview，weretobeavoidedbythesagaciouswoodman。Itwasclear，therefore，thatMr。Bowers\'svisittoGreenSpringswasnotprofessional，andthathedidnotevenfigurativelyaccepttheomen。

Hebaitedandrestedhishorseatthehotel，wherehisbucolicexterior，however，didnotelicitthatattentionwhichhadbeenaccordedtoMr。Hamlin\'scharminginsolenceortheeditor\'scultivatedmanner。Butheglancedoveratownshipmaponthewallsofthereading-room，andtooknoteofthenamesoftheownersofdifferentlots，farms，andranches，passingthatofDelatourwiththeothers。Thenhedroveleisurelyinthedirectionofthewoods，and，reachingthem，tiedhishorsetoayoungsaplingintheshade，andenteredtheirdomainwithashamblingbutfamiliarwoodman\'sstep。

ItisnotthepurposeofthisbriefchronicletofollowMr。Bowersinhisprofessionaldiagnosisofthelocality。HerecognizedNatureinoneofhermoodsofwastefulextravagance，——awastethathisexperiencedeyecouldtellwasalsosappingthevitalityofthoseoutwardlyrobustshaftsthatrosearoundhim。Heknew，withouttestingthem，thathalfofthesefair-seemingcolumnswerehollowandrottenatthecore；hecoulddetectthechillodorofdecaythroughthehotbalsamicspicesstirredbythewindthatstreamedthroughtheirlongaisles，——likeincenseminglingwiththeexhalationsofacrypt。Hestoppednowandthentoparttheheavyfrondsdowntotheirrootsinthedankmoss，seeingagain，ashehadtoldtheeditor，theweirdSECONDtwilightthroughtheirminiaturestems，andthemicrocosmoflifethatfilledit。But，evenwhilepayingthistributetotheaccuracyoftheunknownpoetess，hewas，likehispredecessor，hauntedmorestronglybytheatmosphereandmelodyofherverse。Itsspellwasuponhim，too。

UnlikeMr。Hamlin，hedidnotsing。Heonlyhaltedonceortwice，silentlycombinghisstraightnarrowbeardwithhisthreefingers，untiltheactionseemedtodrawdownthelinesofhisfaceintolimitlessdejection，andaninscrutablemelancholyfilledhissmallgrayeyes。ThefewbirdswhichhadhailedMr。Hamlinastheirsuccessfulrivalfledawaybeforethegrotesqueandangularhalf-

lengthofMr。Bowers，asifthewindhadblowninascarecrowfromthedistantfarms。

Suddenlyheobservedthefigureofawoman，withherbacktowardshim，leaningmotionlessagainstatree，andapparentlygazingintentlyinthedirectionofGreenSprings。Hehadapproachedsoneartoherthatitwassingularshehadnotheardhim。Mr。Bowerswasabashfulmaninthepresenceoftheothersex。Hefeltexceedinglyembarrassed；ifhecouldhavegoneawaywithoutattractingherattentionhewouldhavedoneso。Neithercouldheremainsilent，atacitspyofhermeditation。Hehadrecoursetoapolitebutsingularlyartificialcough。

Tohissurprise，shegaveafaintcry，turnedquicklytowardshim，andthenshrankbackandlapsedquitehelplessagainstthetree。

Herevidentdistressovercamehisbashfulness。Herantowardsher。

"I\'msorryIfrightedye，ma\'am，butIwasafraidImightskeeryemoreifIlaylow，andsaidnothin\'。"

Eventhen，ifshehadbeensomefairyoungcountrygirl，hewouldhaverelapsedafterthisspeechintohisformerbashfulness。Butthefaceandfiguresheturnedtowardshimwereneitheryoungnorfair:awomanpastforty，withgraythreadsandsplashesinherbrushed-backhair，whichwasturnedoverherearsintwocurlslikefrayedstrandsofrope。Herforeheadwasratherhighthanbroad，hernoselargebutwell-shaped，andhereyesfullbutsosingularlylightincolorastoseemalmostsightless。Theshortupperlipofherlargemouthdisplayedherteethinanhabitualsmile，whichwasinturnsoflatlycontradictedbyeveryotherlineofhercarewornfacethatitseemedgratuitouslyartificial。Herfigurewashiddenbyashapelessgarmentthatpartookequallyoftheshawl，cloak，andwrapper。

"Iamveryfoolish，"shebegan，inavoiceandaccentthatatonceassertedacultivatedwoman，"butIsoseldommeetanybodyherethatavoicequitestartledme。That，andtheheat，"shewenton，wipingherface，intowhichthecolorwasreturningviolently——"forIseldomgooutasearlyasthis——Isupposeaffectedme。"

Mr。BowershadthatinnateFar-WesternreverenceforwomanhoodwhichIfancychallengesthemostpolishedpoliteness。Heremainedpatient，undemonstrative，self-effacing，andrespectfulbeforeher，hisangulararmslightlybutnotobtrusivelyadvanced，theofferofprotectionbeingintheactratherthaninanyspokenword，andrequiringnoresponse。

"Likeasnot，ma\'am，"hesaid，cheerfullylookingeverywherebutinherburningface。"ThesunISpow\'fulhotatthistimeo\'day；I

feltitmyselfcomin\'yer，and，thoughthedampofthistimberkindersetsitback，it\'slikelytocomeoutag\'in。Yecan\'tcheckitnomorethanthesapinthatchokedlimbthar"——hepointedostentatiouslywhereafallenpinehadbeencaughtinthebentandtwistedarmofanother，butwhichstillputoutafewgreentasselsbeyondthepointofimpact。"Doyoulivefarfromhere，ma\'am?"headded。

"Onlyasfarasthefirstturningbelowthehill。"

"I\'vegotmybuggyhere，andI\'mgoin\'thatway，andIcanjistsetyedowntharcoolandcomfortable。Ef，"hecontinued，inthesameassuringtone，withoutwaitingforareply，"ye\'lljisttakeagoodgripofmyarmthar，"curvinghiswristandhandbehindhimlikeashepherd\'scrook，"I\'llgofirst，andbreakawaythebrushforye。"

Sheobeyedmechanically，andtheyfaredonthroughthethickfernsinthisfashionforsomemoments，helookingahead，occasionallydroppingawordofcautionorencouragement，butneverglancingatherface。Whentheyreachedthebuggyheliftedherintoitcarefully，——andperpendicularly，itstruckherafterwards，verymuchasifshehadbeenatransplantedsaplingwithbaredandsensitiveroots，——andthengravelytookhisplacebesideher。

"Bein\'inthetimbertrademyself，ma\'am，"hesaid，gatheringupthereins，"Ichancedtosightthesewoods，andtookalookaround。

MynameisBowers，ofMendocino；Ireckonthereain\'tmuchthatgrowsinthewayo\'standin\'timberonthePacificSlopethatI

don\'tknowandcan\'tlocate，thoughIDOsayit。I\'vegotezbigamill，andezbigaruninmydistrict，ezthereisanywhere。Efyou\'reeverupmyway，youaskforBowers——JimBowers——andthat\'sME。"

Thereisprobablynothingmoreconducivetoconversationbetweenstrangersthanawholesomeandearlyrecognitionofeachother\'sfoibles。Mr。Bowers，believinghischanceacquaintanceasuperiorwoman，naivelyspokeofhimselfinawaythathehopedwouldreassureherthatshewasnotcompromisingherselfinacceptinghiscivility，andsosatisfywhatmustbeherinevitablepride。Ontheotherhand，thewomanregainedherself-possessionbythisexhibitionofMr。Bowers\'svanity，and，revivedbytherefreshingbreezecausedbytherapidmotionofthebuggyalongtheroad，thankedhimgraciously。

"IsupposetherearemanystrangersattheGreenSpringsHotel，"

shesaid，afterapause。

"Ididn\'tgettosee\'em，asIonlyputupmyhossthere，"hereplied。"ButIknowthestagetooksomeawaythismornin\':itseemedprettywellloadedupwhenIpassedit。"

Thewomandrewadeepsigh。TheactstruckMr。Bowersasapossiblereturnofherformernervousweakness。Herattentionmustatoncebedistractedatanycost——evenconversation。

"Perhaps，"hebegan，withsuddenandappallinglightness，"I\'ma-talkin\'toMrs。McFadden?"

"No，"saidthewoman，abstractedly。

"ThenitmustbeMrs。Delatour?Thereareonlytwotownshiplotsonthatcrossroad。"

"MynameISDelatour，"shesaid，somewhatwearily。

Mr。Bowerswasconversationallystranded。Hewasnotatallanxioustoknowhername，yet，knowingitnow，itseemedtosuggestthattherewasnothingmoretosay。Hewould，ofcourse，havepreferredtoaskherifshehadreadthepoetryabouttheUnderbrush，andifsheknewthepoetess，andwhatshethoughtofit；butthefactthatsheappearedtobean"eddicated"womanmadehimsensitiveofdisplayingtechnicalignoranceinhismanneroftalkingaboutit。Shemightaskhimifitwas"subjectiveor"objective"——twowordshehadheardusedattheDebatingSocietyatMendocinoonthequestion，"Ispoetrymorallybeneficial?"Forafewmomentshewassilent。Butpresentlyshetooktheinitiativeinconversation，atfirstslowlyandabstractedly，andthen，asifappreciatinghissympatheticreticence，ormayhapfindingsomereliefinmonotonousexpression，talkedmechanically，deliberately，butunostentatiouslyaboutherself。Socolorlesswasherintonationthatattimesitdidnotseemasifshewastalkingtohim，butrepeatingsomeconversationshehadheldwithanother。

ShehadlivedthereeversinceshehadbeeninCalifornia。HerhusbandhadboughttheSpanishtitletothepropertywhentheyfirstmarried。Thepropertyathisdeathwasfoundtobegreatlyinvolved；shehadbeenobligedtopartwithmuchofittosupportherchildren——fourgirlsandaboy。ShehadbeencompelledtowithdrawthegirlsfromtheconventatSantaClaratohelpaboutthehouse；theboywastooyoung——shefeared，tooshiftless——todoanything。Thefarmdidnotpay；thelandwaspoor；sheknewnothingaboutfarming；shehadbeenbroughtupinNewOrleans，whereherfatherhadbeenajudge，andshedidn\'tunderstandcountrylife。Ofcourseshehadbeenmarriedtooyoung——asallgirlswere。LatelyshehadthoughtofsellingoffandmovingtoSanFrancisco，whereshewouldopenaboarding-houseoraschoolforyoungladies。Hecouldadviseher，perhaps，ofsomegoodopportunity。Herowngirlswerefarenoughadvancedtoassistherinteaching；oneparticularly，Cynthia，wasquiteclever，andspokeFrenchandSpanishfluently。

AsMr。BowerswasfamiliarwithmanyofthesecountsinthefeminineAmericanindictmentoflifegenerally，hewasnotperhapsgreatlymoved。Butinthelastsentencehethoughthesawanopeningtoreturntohismainobject，and，lookingupcautiously，said:——

"Andmebbewritepo\'trynowandthen?"Tohisgreatdiscomfiture，theonlyeffectofthissuggestionwastocheckhiscompanion\'sspeechforsomemomentsandapparentlythrowherbackintoherformerabstraction。Yet，afteralongpause，astheywereturningintothelane，shesaid，asifcontinuingthesubject:——

"Ionlyhopethat，whatevermydaughtersmaydo，theywon\'tmarryyoung。"

TheyawningbreachesintheDelatourgatesandfencespresentlycameinview。Theyweresupposedtobereinforcedbyhalfadozendogs，who，however，didtheirdutywithwhatwouldseemtobetheprevailinginefficiency，retiringafterasingleperfunctoryyelptoshamelessstretching，scratching，andslumber。Theirplacesweretakenontheverandabytwonegroservants，twogirlsrespectivelyofeightandeleven，andaboyoffourteen，whoremainedsilentlystaring。AsMr。Bowershadacceptedthewidow\'spoliteinvitationtoenter，shewascompelled，albeitinanequallydazedandhelplessway，toissuesomepreliminaryorders:——

"Now，Chloe——ImeanauntDinah——dotakeEunice——ImeanVictorineandUna——away，and——youknow——tidythem；andyou，Sarah——it\'sSarah，isn\'tit?——laysomerefreshmentintheparlorforthisgentleman。And，Bob，tellyoursisterCynthiatocomeherewithEunice。"AsBobstillremainedstaringatMr。Bowers，sheadded，inwearyexplanation，"Mr。BowersbroughtmeoverfromtheSummitwoodsinhisbuggy——itwassohot。There——shakehandsandthankhim，andrunaway——do!"

Theycrossedabroadbutscantily-furnishedhall。Everywherethesamelookofhopelessincompleteness，temporaryutility，andprematuredecay；mostofthefurniturewasmismatchedandmisplaced；manyoftheroomshadchangedtheiroriginalfunctionsordoubledthem；asmellofcookingcamefromthelibrary，onwhoseshelves，mingledwithbooks，weredressesandhouseholdlinen，andthroughthedoorofaroomintowhichMrs。DelatourretiredtoremoveherdusterMr。Bowerscaughtaglimpseofabed，andofatablecoveredwithbooksandpapers，atwhichatall，fairgirlwaswriting。InafewmomentsMrs。Delatourreturned，accompaniedbythisgirl，andEunice，hershort-lippedsister。Bob，whojoinedthepartyseatedaroundMr。Bowersandatablesetwithcake，adecanter，andglasses，completedthegroup。EmboldenedbythepresenceofthetallCynthiaandhisglimpseofherpreviousliteraryattitude，Mr。Bowersresolvedtomakeonemoreattempt。

"Isupposetheseyeryoungladiessometimesgotothewood，too?"

AshiseyerestedonCynthia，shereplied:——

"Oh，yes。"

"Ireckononaccountofthepurtyshadowsdowninthebrush，andthesoftlight，eh?andallthat?"hecontinued，withaplayfulmannerbutaseriousaccessionofcolor。

"Why，thewoodsbelongtous。It\'smar\'sproperty!"brokeinEunicewithaflashofteeth。

"Well，Lordy，Iwanterknow!"saidMr。Bowers，insomeastonishment。

"Why，that\'srightinmyline，too!I\'vebeensightin\'timberallalonghere，andthat\'showIdroppedinonyermar。"Then，seeingalookofeagernesslightupthefacesofBobandEunice，hewasencouragedtomakethemostofhisopportunity。"Why，ma\'am，"hewenton，cheerfully，"Ireckonyou\'reholdin\'thatwoodataprettystifffigger，now。"

"Why?"askedMrs。Delatour，simply。

Mr。BowersdeliveredawinkatBobandEunice，whowerestillwatchinghimwithanxiety。"Well，notonaccountoftheactooltimber，forthebestofitain\'tsound，"hesaid，"butonaccountofitsbein\'famous!Everybodythatreadsthatpow\'fulprettypoemaboutitinthe\'ExcelsiorMagazine\'wantstoseeit。Why，itwouldpaytheGreenSpringshotel-keepertobuyitupforhiscustomers。ButIs\'poseyoureckontokeepit——alongwiththepoetess——inyourfamerly?"

AlthoughMr。Bowerslongconsideredthisspeechasthehappiestandmostbrillianteffortofhislife，itsimmediateeffectwasnot，perhaps，allthatcouldbedesired。Thewidowturneduponhimarestrainedanddarkeningface。Cynthiahalfrosewithanappealing"Oh，mar!"andBobandEunice，havingapparentlypinchedeachothertothelaststageofendurance，retiredprecipitatelyfromtheroominaprolongedgiggle。

"IhavenotyetthoughtofdisposingoftheSummitwoods，Mr。

Bowers，"saidMrs。Delatour，coldly，"butifIshoulddoso，Iwillconsultyou。Youmustexcusethechildren，whoseesolittlecompany，theyarequiteunmanageablewhenstrangersarepresent。

Cynthia，WILLyouseeiftheservantshavelookedafterMr。

Bowers\'shorse?YouknowBobisnottobetrusted。"

TherewasclearlynothingelseforMr。Bowerstodobuttotakehisleave，whichhedidrespectfully，ifnotaltogetherhopefully。Butwhenhehadreachedthelane，hishorseshiedfromtheunwontedspectacleofBob，swinginghishat，andapparentlyawaitinghim，fromtheforkofawaysidesapling。

"Hol\'up，mister。Lookhere!"

Mr。Bowerspulledup。Bobdroppedintotheroad，and，afterabackwardglanceoverhisshoulder，said:——

"Drive\'longsidethefenceintheshadder。"AsMr。Bowersobeyed，Bobapproachedthewheelsofthebuggyinamannerhalfshy，halfmysterious。"YouwanterbuythemSummitwoods，mister?"

"Well，per\'aps，sonny。Why?"smiledMr。Bowers。

"CozI\'lltellyesuthin\'。Don\'tyoubefooledintoallowin\'thatCynthiawrotethatpo\'try。Shedidn\'t——nomore\'nEunicenorme。

Markinderletyethinkit，\'cosshedon\'twantfolkstothinkSHE

didit。Butmarwrotethatpo\'tryherself；wroteitouto\'themtharwoods——allbyherself。Thar\'saheapmorepo\'trythar，youbet，andjistasgood。Andshe\'stheonethatkinwriteit——youhearme?That\'smymar，everytime!Youbuythattharwood，andgetmartorunitforpo\'try，andyou\'llmakeyourpile，sure!I

ain\'tlyin\'。You\'dbetterlookspry:thar\'sanotherfellersnoopin\'\'roundyere——onlyhebarkedupthewrongtree，andthoughtitwasCynthia，jistasyoudid。"

"Anotherfeller?"repeatedtheastonishedBowers。

"Yes；arig\'larsport。Hewasorfulkeenonthatpo\'try，too，youbet。Soyou\'dbetterhumpyourselfaforesomebodyelsecutsin。

Margotahundreddollarsforthatpome，fromthateditorfellerandhispardner。Ireckonthat\'stherig\'larprice，eh?"headded，withasuddensuspiciouscaution。

"Ireckonso，"repliedMr。Bowers，blankly。"But——lookhere，Bob!

Doyoumeantosayitwasyourmother——yourMOTHER，Bob，whowrotethatpoem?Areyousure?"

"D\'yethinkI\'mlyin\'?"saidBob，scornfully。"Don\'tIknow?

Don\'tIcopy\'emoutplainforher，soasfolkswon\'tknowherhandwrite?Go\'way!you\'reloony!"Then，possiblydoubtingifthislatterexpressionwerestrictlydiplomaticwiththebusinessinhand，headded，inhalf-reproach，half-apology，"Don\'tyeseeI

don\'twantyetobefooledintolosin\'yerchanceo\'buyingupthatSummitwood?It\'sthecoldtruthI\'mtellin\'ye。"

Mr。Bowersnolongerdoubtedit。Disappointedasheundoubtedlywasatfirst，——andevenself-deceived，——herecognizedinaflashthegrimfactthattheboyhadstated。Herecalledtheapparitionofthesad-facedwomaninthewood——herdistressedmanner，thattohisinexperiencedmindnowtookuponitselftheagitatedtremblingofdisturbedmysticinspiration。Asenseofsadnessandremorsesucceededhisfirstshockofdisappointment。

"Well，areyegoingtobuythewoods?"saidBob，eyinghimgrimly。

"Ye\'dbettersay。"

Mr。Bowersstarted。"Ishouldn\'twonder，Bob，"hesaid，withasmile，gatheringuphisreins。"Anyhow，I\'mcomin\'backtoseeyourmotherthisafternoon。Andmeantime，Bob，youkeepthefirstchanceforme。"

Hedroveaway，leavingtheyouthfuldiplomatiststandingwithhisbarefeetinthedust。Foraminuteortwotheyounggentlemanamusedhimselfbyafewlightsaltatorystepsintheroad。Thenasmileofscornfulsuperiority，mingledperhapswithasenseofpreviousslightsandunappreciation，drewbackhislittleupperlip，andbrightenedhismottledcheek。

"I\'dliketerknow，"hesaid，darkly，"whatthisyerGod-forsakenfamerlywoulddowithoutME!"

CHAPTERV

ItistobepresumedthattheeditorandMr。Hamlinmutuallykepttotheirtacitagreementtorespecttheimpersonalityofthepoetess，forduringthenextthreemonthsthesubjectwasseldomalludedtobyeither。YetinthatperiodWhiteViolethadsenttwoothercontributions，andoneachoccasionMr。Hamlinhadinsisteduponincreasingthehonorariumtotheamountofhisformergift。

Invaintheeditorpointedoutthedangerofthisformofmunificence；Mr。Hamlinretortedbysayingthatifherefusedhewouldappealtotheproprietor，whocertainlywouldnotobjecttotakingthecreditofthisliberality。"Astotherisks，"concludedJack，sententiously，"I\'lltakethem；andasfarasyou\'reconcerned，youcertainlygettheworthofyourmoney。"

Indeed，ifpopularitywasanindiction，thishadbecomesuddenlytrue。Forthepoetess\'sthirdcontribution，withoutchangingitsstronglocalcolorandindividuality，hadbeenanunexpectedoutburstofhumanpassion——alove-song，thattouchedthosetowhomthesubtlermeditativegracesofthepoetesshadbeenunknown。

Manypeoplehadlistenedtothisimpassionedbutdespairingcryfromsomeremoteandcharmedsolitude，whohadneverreadpoetrybefore，whotranslateditintotheirownlimitedvocabularyandmorelimitedexperience，andwereinexpressiblyaffectedtofindthatthey，too，understoodit；itwascaughtupandechoedbythefeverish，adventurous，andunsatisfiedlifethatfilledthatdayandtime。Eventheeditorwassurprisedandfrightened。Likemostcultivatedmen，hedistrustedpopularity:likeallmenwhobelieveintheirownindividualjudgment，hedoubtedcollectivewisdom。

Yetnowthathisprotegeehadbeenacceptedbyothers，hequestionedthatjudgmentandbecamehercritic。Itstruckhimthathersuddenoutburstwasstrained；itseemedtohimthatinthismerecontortionofpassionthesibyl\'srobehadbecomerudelydisarranged。HespoketoHamlin，andevenapproachedthetabooedsubject。

"Didyouseeanythingthatsuggestedthissortofbusinessin——in——

thatwoman——Imeanin——yourpilgrimage，Jack?"

"No，"respondedJack，gravely。"Butit\'seasytoseeshe\'sgotholdofsomehay-footedfellowupthereinthemountainswithstrawsinhishair，andisplayinghimforallhe\'sworth。Youwon\'tgetmuchmorepoetryoutofher，Ireckon。"

Iswasnotlongafterthisconversationthatoneafternoon，whentheeditorwasalone，Mr。JamesBowersenteredtheeditorialroomwithmuchofthehesitationandirresolutionofhispreviousvisit。

Astheeditorhadnotonlyforgottenhim，buteven，dissociatedhimwiththepoetess，Mr。Bowerswasfaintomeethisunresponsiveeyeandmannerwithsomeexplanation。

"Yedisremembermycomin\'here，Mr。Editor，toaskyouthenameo\'

theladywhocalledherself\'WhiteViolet，\'andhowyouallowedyoucouldn\'tgiveit，butwouldwriteandaskforit?"

Mr。Editor，leaningbackinhischair，nowrememberedtheoccurrence，butwasdistressedtoaddthatthesituationremainedunchanged，andthathehadreceivednosuchpermission。

"NevermindTHAT，mylad，"saidMr。Bowers，gravely，wavinghishand。"Iunderstandallthat；but，ezI\'veknowntheladyeversince，andamnowvisitingheratherhouseontheSummit，Ireckonitdon\'tmakemuchmatter。"

ItwasquitecharacteristicofMr。Bowers\'ssmilelessearnestnessthathemadenoostentationofthisdramaticretort，noroftheundisguisedstupefactionoftheeditor。

"DoyoumeantosaythatyouhavemetWhiteViolet，theauthorofthesepoems?"repeatedtheeditor。

"WhichhernameisDelatour，——thewidderDelatour，——ezshehasherselfgivemepermissiontotellyou，"continuedMr。Bowers，withacertainabstractedandautomaticprecisionthatdissipatedanysuggestionofmaliceinthereversedsituation。

"Delatour!——awidow!"repeatedtheeditor。

"Withfivechildren，"continuedMr。Bowers。Then，withunalterablegravity，hebrieflygaveanoutlineofherconditionandthecircumstancesofhisacquaintancewithher。

"ButIreckonedYOUmighthaveknownsuthin\'o\'this；thoughsheneverletonyoudid，"heconcluded，eyingtheeditorwithtroubledcuriosity。

TheeditordidnotthinkitnecessarytoimplicateMr。Hamlin。Hesaid，briefly，"I?Oh，no!"

"Ofcourse，YOUmightnothaveseenher?"saidMr。Bowers，keepingthesamegrave，troubledgazeontheeditor。

"Ofcoursenot，"saidtheeditor，somewhatimpatientunderthesingularscrutinyofMr。Bowers；"andI\'mveryanxioustoknowhowshelooks。Tellme，whatisshelike?"

"Sheisafine，pow\'ful，eddicatedwoman，"saidMr。Bowers，withslowdeliberation。"Yes，sir，——apow\'fulwoman，havin\'grandideasofherown，andholdin\'to\'em。"Hehadwithdrawnhiseyesfromtheeditor，andapparentlyaddressedtheceilinginconfidence。

"Butwhatdoesshelooklike，Mr。Bowers?"saidtheeditor，smiling。

"Well，sir，shelooks——LIKE——IT!Yes，"——withdeliberatecaution，——

"Ishouldsay，justlikeit。"

Afterapause，apparentlytoallowtheeditortomaterializethisravishingdescription，hesaid，gently，"Areyoubusyjustnow?"

"Notvery。WhatcanIdoforyou?"

"Well，notmuchforME，Ireckon，"hereturned，withadeeperrespiration，thatwashisnearestapproachtoasigh，"butsuthin\'

perhapsforyourselfand——another。Areyoumarried?"

"No，"saidtheeditor，promptly。

"Norengagedtoany——younglady?"——withgreatpoliteness。

"No。"

"Well，mebbeyouthinkitaqueerthingformetosay，——mebbeyoureckonyouKNOWitezwellezanybody，——butit\'smyopinionthatWhiteVioletisinlovewithyou。"

"Withme?"ejaculatedtheeditor，inahopelessastonishmentthatatlastgavewaytoanincredulousandirresistiblelaugh。

AslighttouchofpainpassedoverMr。Bowers\'sdejectedface，butleftthedeepoutlinessetwitharudedignity。"It\'sSO，"hesaid，slowly，"though，asayoungmanandagayfeller，yemaythinkit\'sfunny。"

"No，notfunny，butaterribleblunder，Mr。Bowers，forIgiveyoumywordIknownothingoftheladyandhaveneverseteyesuponher。"

"No，butshehasonYOU。Ican\'tsay，"continuedMr。Bowers，withsublimenaivete，"thatI\'deverrecognizeyoufromherdescription，butawomano\'thatkinddon\'tseewithhereyeslikeyouandme，butwithallhersensestoonct，andaheapmorethatain\'tsensesasweknow\'em。ThesameeyesthatseeddownthroughthebrushandfernsintheSummitwoods，thesameearsthatheerdthemusicofthewindtrailin\'throughthepines，don\'tseeyouwithmyeyesorhearyouwithmyears。Andwhenshepaintsyou，it\'snat\'rilforawomanwiththatpow\'fulmindandgrandideestodipherbrushintoherheart\'sbloodforwarmthandcolor。Yersmilin\'，youngman。

Well，goonandsmileatme，mylad，butnotather。Foryoudon\'tknowher。WhenyouknowherstoryasIdo，whenyouknowshewasmadeawifeaforesheeverknewwhatitwastobeayoungwoman，whenyouknowthatthemanshemarriedneverunderstoodthekindo\'

critterhewastiedtonomorethanefhe\'dbeenasteeryokedtoaMorgancolt，whenyeknowshehadchildrengrowin\'uparoundheraforeshehadgivenoverbein\'asortofchildherself，whenyeknowsheworkedandslavedforthatmanandthosechildrenaboutthehouse——herheart，hersoul，andallherpow\'fulmindbein\'allthetimeinthewoodsalongwiththeflickeringleavesandtheshadders，——whenyemindshecouldn\'tgetthesmallwayso\'theranchbecauseshehadthebigwayso\'Natur\'thatmadeit，——thenyou\'llunderstandher。"

Impressedbythesincerityofhisvisitor\'smanner，touchedbytheunexpectedpoetryofhisappeal，andyetkeenlyalivetotheabsurdityofanincomprehensibleblundersomewherecommitted，theeditorgaspedalmosthysterically，——

"ButwhyshouldallthismakeherinlovewithME?"

"Becauseyearebothgifted，"returnedMr。Bowers，withsadbutunconquerableconviction；"becauseye\'reboth，sotospeak，inalineo\'ideesandbusinessthatdrawsyetogether，——toleanoneachotherandtrusteachotherezpardners。NotthatYEareezaklyherekal，"hewenton，withareturntohispreviousexasperatingnaivete，"thoughI\'veheerdpromisin\'thingsofye，andye\'restillyoung，butinmatterso\'thiskindthereisallersoneezheztobelookeduptobytheother，——andgin\'rallythewrongone。Shelooksuptoyou，Mr。Editor，——it\'spartofherpo\'try，——ezshelooksdowninterthebrushandseesmorethanisplaintoyouandme。Not，"

hecontinued，withacourteouslydeprecatingwaveofthehand，"ezyouhain\'tbinkindtoher——mebbeTOOkind。Forthar\'sthepurtyletteryouwrither，thar\'stheperlite，easy，captivatin\'wayyouhadwithhergalsandthatboy——holdon!"——astheeditormadeagestureofdespairingrenunciation，——"Iain\'tsayin\'youain\'trightinkeepin\'ittoyourself，——andthar\'stheextrymoneyyousenthereverytime。Stop!sheknowsitwasEXTRY，forshemadeap\'into\'gettin\'metofindoutthemarketpriceo\'po\'tryinpapersandmagazines，andshereckonsyou\'vebinpayin\'herfourhundredpercent。abovethemfiggers——holdon!Iain\'tsayin\'itain\'tfreeandliberalinyou，andI\'dhavedonethesamething；

yetSHEthinks"——

Buttheeditorhadrisenhastilytohisfeetwithflushingcheeks。

"Onemoment，Mr。Bowers，"hesaid，hurriedly。"Thisisthemostdreadfulblunderofall。Thegiftisnotmine。Itwasthespontaneousofferingofanotherwhoreallyadmiredourfriend\'swork，——agentlemanwho"——Hestoppedsuddenly。

Thesoundofafamiliarvoice，lightlyhumming，wasbornealongthepassage；thelighttreadofafamiliarfootwasapproaching。Theeditorturnedquicklytowardstheopendoor，——soquicklythatMr。

Bowerswasfaintoturnalso。

ForacharminginstantthefigureofJackHamlin，handsome，careless，andconfident，wasframedinthedoorway。Hisdarkeyes，withtheirhabitualscornofhisaveragefellow-man，sweptsuperciliouslyoverMr。Bowers，andrestedforaninstantwithcaressingfamiliarityontheeditor。

"Well，sonny，anynewsfromtheoldgirlattheSummit?"

"No-o，"hastilystammeredtheeditor，withahalf-hystericallaugh。

"No，Jack。Excusemeamoment。"

"Allright；busy，Isee。Hastamanana。"

Thepicturevanished，theframewasempty。

"Yousee，"continuedtheeditor，turningtoMr。Bowers，"therehasbeenamistake。I"——buthestoppedsuddenlyattheashenfaceofMr。Bowers，stillfixedinthedirectionofthevanishedfigure。

"Areyouill?"

Mr。Bowersdidnotreply，butslowlywithdrewhiseyes，andturnedthemheavilyontheeditor。Then，drawingalonger，deeperbreath，hepickeduphissoftfelthat，and，mouldingitintoshapeinhishandsasifpreparingtoputiton，hemoistenedhisdry，grayishlips，andsaid，gently:——

"Friendo\'yours?"

"Yes，"saidtheeditor——"JackHamlin。Ofcourse，youknowhim?"

"Yes。"

Mr。Bowershereputhishatonhishead，and，afterapause，turnedroundslowlyonceortwice，asifhehadforgottenit，andwasstillseekingit。Finallyhesucceededinfindingtheeditor\'shand，andshookit，albeithisowntrembledslightly。Thenhesaid:——

"Ireckonyou\'reright。There\'sbinamistake。Iseeitnow。