第2章

Harkuttremainedforamomentwithhisfacepressedagainsttheglass.Afteranintervalhethoughtheheardthefaintsplashofhoofsintheshallowsoftheroad;heopenedthedoorsoftlyandlookedout.

Thelighthaddisappearedfromthenearesthouse;onlyanuncertainbulkofshapelessshadowsremained.Otherremoterandmorevagueoutlinesnearthehorizonseemedtohaveafunerealsuggestionoftombsandgravemounds,andone——alowshedneartheroad——lookednotunlikeahaltedbier.Hehurriedlyputuptheshuttersinamomentarylullingofthewind,andre-enteringthestorebegantofastenthemfromwithin.

Whilethusengagedaninnerdoorbehindthecounteropenedsoftlyandcautiously,projectingabrighterlightintothedesertedapartmentfromsomesacreddomesticinteriorwiththewarmandwholesomeincenseofcooking.Itservedtointroducealsotheequallyagreeablepresenceofayounggirl,who,afterassuringherselfoftheabsenceofeveryonebuttheproprietor,idlyslippedintothestore,andplacingherroundedelbows,fromwhichhersleeveswereuprolled,uponthecounter,leanedlazilyuponthem,withbothhandssupportingherdimpledchin,andgazedindolentlyathim;soindolentlythat,withherprettyfaceoncefixedinthiscomfortableattitude,shewasconstrainedtofollowhismovementswithhereyesalone,andoftenatanuncomfortableangle.ItwasevidentthatsheofferedthefinalbutcharmingillustrationoftheenfeeblinglistlessnessofSidon.

"Sothoseloafershavegoneatlast,"shesaid,meditatively.

"They"lltakerootheresomeday,pop.Theideaofthreestrongmenlikethatlazingroundfortwomortalhoursdoin"nothin".

Well!"Asiftoemphasizeherdisgustshethrewherwholeweightuponthecounterbyswingingherfeetfromthefloortotouchtheshelvesbehindher.

Mr.Harkuttonlyrepliedbyaslightgruntashecontinuedtoscrewontheshutters.

"Wantmetohelpyou,dad?"shesaid,withoutmoving.

Mr.Harkuttmutteredsomethingunintelligible,which,however,seemedtoimplyanegative,andherattentionherefeeblywanderedtotherollofpaper,andshebeganslowlyandlazilytoreaditaloud.

""Forvaluereceived,Iherebysell,assign,andtransfertoDanielD.Harkuttallmyright,titlesandinterestin,andtotheundividedhalfof,QuarterSection4,Range5,TasajaraTownship"——

hum——hum,"shemurmured,runninghereyestothebottomofthepage."Why,Lord!It"sthat"LigeCurtis!"shelaughed."TheideaofHIMhavingproperty!Why,dad,youain"tbeenTHATsilly!"

"Putdownthatpaper,miss,"hesaid,aggrievedly;"bringthecandlehere,andhelpmetofindoneoftheseinfernalscrewsthat"sdropped."

ThegirlindolentlydisengagedherselffromthecounterandElijahCurtis"stransfer,andbroughtthecandletoherfather.Thescrewwaspresentlyfoundandthelastfasteningsecured."Suppergettin"cold,dad,"shesaid,withaslightyawn.Herfathersympatheticallyrespondedbystretchinghimselffromhisstoopingposition,andthetwopassedthroughtheprivatedoorintoinnerdomesticity,leavingthealreadyforgottenpaperlyingwithotherarticlesofbarteronthecounter.

CHAPTERII.

Withtheclosingofthelittledoorbehindthemtheyseemedtohaveshutouttheturmoilandvibrationofthestorm.Thereasonbecameapparentwhen,afterafewpaces,theydescendedhalfadozenstepstoalowerlanding.ThisdisclosedthefactthatthedwellingpartoftheSidonGeneralStorewasquitebelowtheleveloftheshopandtheroad,andontheslopeofthesolitaryundulationoftheTasajaraplain,——alittleravinethatfellawaytoabrawlingstreambelow.TheonlyarboreousgrowthofTasajaraclotheditsbanksintheshapeofwillowsandaldersthatsetcompactlyaroundthequaint,irregulardwellingwhichstraggleddowntheravineandlookeduponaslopeofbrackenandfoliageoneitherside.Thetransitionfromtheblack,treeless,storm-sweptplaintothissheltereddeclivitywasstrikingandsuggestive.Fromtheoppositebankonemightfancythattheyouthfulandoriginaldwellinghadambitiouslymountedthecrest,but,appalledatthedrearyprospectbeyond,hadgonenofurther;whilefromtheroaditseemedasifthefastidiousproprietorhadtriedtodrawalinebetweenthevulgartrading-post,withwhichhewasobligedtofacethecoarsercivilizationoftheplace,andtheprivacyofhisdomesticlife.

Therealfact,however,wasthattheravinefurnishedwoodandwater;andasNaturealsoprovidedonewallofthehouse,——asinthewell-knownexampleofaboriginalcavedwellings,——itspeculiarconstructioncommendeditselftoSidononthegroundofinvolvinglittlelabor.

Howbeit,fromthetwoopenwindowsofthesitting-roomwhichtheyhadenteredonlythefaintpatteringofdrippingboughsandaslightmurmurfromtheswollenbrookindicatedthestormthatshooktheupperplain,andthecoolbreathoflaurel,syringa,andalderwaswaftedthroughtheneatapartment.Passingthroughthatpleasantruralatmospheretheyenteredthekitchen,amuchlargerroom,whichappearedtoserveoccasionallyasadining-room,andwheresupperwasalreadylaidout.Astout,comfortable-lookingwoman——whohad,however,asingularlypermanentexpressionofpainedsympathyuponherface——welcomedthemintonesofgentlecommiseration.

"Ah,thereyoube,youtwo!Nowsityerightdown,dears;DO.Youmustbetiredout;andyou,Phemie,love,drawupbyyourpoorfather.There——that"sright.You"llbebettersoon."

Therewascertainlynovisiblesignofsufferingorexhaustiononthepartofeitherfatherordaughter,northeslightestapparentearthlyreasonwhytheyshouldbeexpectedtoexhibitany.But,asalreadyintimated,itwaspartofMrs.Harkutt"sgenerousidiosyncrasytolookuponallhumanityassufferingandtoiling;tobepetted,humored,condoledwith,andfed.Ithad,inthecourseofyears,impartedasingularlycaressingsadnesstohervoice,andgivenherthehabitofendinghersentenceswithamelancholycooingandanunintelligiblemurmurofagreement.Itwasundoubtedlysincereandsympathetic,butattimesinappropriateanddistressing.

IthadlostherthefriendshipoftheonehumoristofTasajara,whosebestjokesshehadreceivedwithsuchheartfeltcommiserationandsuchpainedappreciationoftheevidentlaborinvolvedastoreducehimtosilence.

AccustomedasMr.Harkuttwastohiswife"speculiarity,hewasnotaboveassumingacertainslightlyfatiguedattitudebefittingit.

"Yes,"hesaid,withavaguesigh,"where"sClemmie?"

"Lyin"downsincedinner;shereckonedshewouldn"tgetuptosupper,"shereturnedsoothingly."Phemie"sgoin"totakeherupsomesassandtea.Thepoordearchildwantsachange."

"Shewantstogoto"Frisco,andsodoI,pop,"saidPhemie,leaningherelbowhalfoverherfather"splate."Come,pop,saydo,——justforaweek."

"Onlyforaweek,"murmuredthecommiseratingMrs.Harkutt.

"Perhaps,"respondedHarkutt,withgloomysarcasm,"yewouldn"tmindtellin"mehowyou"regoin"togetthere,andwherethemoney"scomin"fromtotakeyou?There"snoteamin"overTasajaratilltherainstops,andnomoneycomin"intilltheranchmencanmovetheirstuff.Thereain"tahundreddollarsinallTasajara;

atleastthereain"tbeenthefirstredcentofitpaidacrossmycounterforafortnit!Perhapsifyoudogoyouwouldn"tmindtakin"meandthestorealongwithye,andleavin"usthere."

"Yes,dear,"saidMrs.Harkutt,withsympatheticbutshamelesstergiversation."Don"tbotheryourpoorfather,Phemie,love;

don"tyouseehe"sjusttiredout?Andyou"renoteatin"anything,dad."

AsMr.Harkuttwasuneasilyconsciousthathehadbeeneatingheartilyinspiteofhisfinancialdifficulties,heturnedthesubjectabruptly."Where"sJohnMilton?"

Mrs.Harkuttshadedhereyeswithherhand,andgazedmeditativelyonthefloorbeforethefireandinthechimneycornerforheronlyson,baptizedunderthathistorictitle."Hewashereaminitago,"shesaiddoubtfully."Ireallycan"tthinkwherehe"sgone.

But,"assuringly,"itain"tfar."

"He"sskippedwithoneo"thosestory-bookshe"sborrowed,"saidPhemie."He"salwaysdoin"it.Likeasnothe"sreadingwithacandleinthewood-shed.We"llallbeburntupsomenight."

"Buthe"sgotthroughhischores,"interposedMrs.Harkuttdeprecatingly.

"Yes,"continuedHarkutt,aggrievedly,"butinsteadofgoin"tobed,oraddin"upbills,ortakin"counto"stock,orevendoin"

sumsorsuthin"useful,he"sruinin"hiseyesandwastin"histimeovertrash."Heroseandwalkedslowlyintothesitting-room,followedbyhisdaughterandamurmurofcommiserationfromhiswife.ButMrs.Harkutt"sministrationforthepresentdidnotpassbeyondherdomain,thekitchen.

"Ireckonyeain"texpectin"anybodytonight,Phemie?"saidMr.

Harkutt,sinkingintoachair,andplacinghisslipperedfeetagainstthewall.

"No,"saidPhemie,"unlesssomethingpossessesthatsappylittleParmleetomakeoneofhisvisitations.JohnMiltonsaysthatoutontheroaditblowssoyoucan"tstandup.It"sjustlikethatidiotParmleetobeblowninhere,andnothavestrengthofmindenoughtogetawayagain."

Mr.Harkuttsmiled.Itwasthatarchyetapproving,severeyetsatisfiedsmilewithwhichthedeceivedmaleparentusuallyreceivesanydepreciationoftheordinaryyoungmanbyhisdaughters.Euphemiawasnogiddythingtobecarriedawaybyyoungmen"sattentions,——notshe!Sittingbackcomfortablyinhisrocking-chair,hesaid,"Playsomething."

Theyounggirlwenttotheclosetandtookfromthetopshelfanexcessivelyornamentedaccordion,——theopulentgiftofarecklessadmirer.Itwassoinordinatelydecorated,sogorgeousintheblazeofpapiermache,mother-of-pearl,andtortoise-shellonkeysandkeyboard,andsoostentatiouslyradiantinthepinksilkofitsbellowsthatitseemedtooverawetheplainlyfurnishedroomwithitssplendors."Yououghttokeepitonthetableinaglassvase,Phemie,"saidherfatheradmiringly.

"AndhaveHIMthinkIworshipedit!Notme,indeed!He"sconceitedenoughalready,"shereturned,saucily.

Mr.Harkuttagainsmiledhisapprobation,thendeliberatelyclosedhiseyesandthrewhisheadbackincomfortableanticipationofthecomingstrains.

Itistoberegrettedthatinbrilliancy,finish,andevencheerfulnessofqualitytheywerenotuptothesuggestionsofthekeysandkeyboard.Themostdiscreetandcautiouseffortonthepartoftheyoungperformerseemedonlytoproducestartlinglyunexpected,butinstantlysuppressedcomplaintsfromtheinstrument,accompaniedbyimpatientinterjectionsof"No,no,"

fromthegirlherself.Nevertheless,withherprettyeyebrowsknittedinsomecharmingdistressofmemory,herlittlemouthhalfopenbetweenanapologeticsmileandtheexertionofworkingthebellows,withherwhite,roundedarmspartlyliftedupandwavingbeforeher,shewaspleasantlydistractingtotheeye.Gradually,asthescatteredstrainsweremarshaledintosomethinglikeanair,shebegantosingalso,glossingovertheinstrumentalweaknesses,fillingincertaindroppednotesandomissions,andotherwiseassistingtheineffectualaccordionwithayouthfulbutnotunmusicalvoice.Thesongwasalugubriousreligiouschant;underitsinfluencethehouseseemedtosinkintogreaterquiet,permittingintheintervalsthemurmuroftheswollencreektoappearmoredistinct,andeventhefarmoaningofthewindontheplaintobecomefaintlyaudible.Atlast,havingfairlymasteredtheinstrument,Phemiegotintothefullswingofthechant.

Unconstrainedbyanycriticism,carriedawaybythesoundofherownvoice,andperhapsayouthfulloveformereuproar,orpossiblydesiroustodrownherfather"svoice,whichhadunexpectedlyjoinedinwithadiscomposingbass,theconjoinedutterancesseemedtothreatenthefrailstructureoftheirdwelling,evenasthegalehaddistendedthestorebehindthem.Whentheyceasedatlastitwasinanaccessionofdrippingfromtheapparentlystirredleavesoutside.Andthenavoice,evidentlyfromthemoistdepthsoftheabyssbelow,calledout,——

"Hullo,there!"

Phemieputdowntheaccordion,said,"Who"sthatnow?"wenttothewindow,lazilyleanedherelbowsonthesill,andpeeredintothedarkness.Nothingwastobeseen;theopenspaceofdimlyoutlinedlandscapehadthatblank,uncommunicativeimpenetrabilitywithwhichNaturealwaysconfrontsandsurprisesusatsuchmoments.ItseemedtoPhemiethatshewastheonlyhumanbeingpresent.Yetafterthefeelinghadpassedshefanciedsheheardthewashofthecurrentagainstsomeobjectinthestream,halfstationaryandhalfresisting.

"Isanyonedownthere?Isthatyou,Mr.Parmlee?"shecalled.

Therewasapause.Someinvisibleauditorsaidtoanother,"It"sayounglady."Thenthefirstvoiceroseagaininamoredeferentialtone:"AreweanywherenearSidon?"

"ThisisSidon,"answeredHarkutt,whohadrisen,andwasnowquiteobliteratinghisdaughter"soutlineatthewindow.

"Thankyou,"saidthevoice."Canwelandanywherehere,onthisbank?"

"Rundown,pop;they"restrangers,"saidthegirl,withexcited,almostchildisheagerness.

"Holdon,"calledoutHarkutt,"I"llbetharinamoment!"Hehastilythrusthisfeetintoapairofhugeboots,clappedonanoilskinhatandwaterproof,anddisappearedthroughadoorthatledtoalowerstaircase.Phemie,stillatthewindow,albeitwithanewlyaddedsenseofself-consciousness,hungoutbreathlessly.

Presentlyabeamoflightfromthelowerdepthsofthehouseshotoutintothedarkness.Itwasherfatherwithabull"s-eyelantern.Ashehelditupandclamberedcautiouslydownthebank,itsraysfellupontheturbidrushingstream,andwhatappearedtobearoughraftoflogsheldwithdifficultyagainstthebankbytwomenwithlongpoles.Initscentrewasarollofblankets,avaliseandsaddle-bags,andtheshiningbrassesofsomeodd-lookinginstruments.

AsMr.Harkutt,supportinghimselfbyawillowbranchthatoverhungthecurrent,heldupthelantern,thetwomenrapidlytransferredtheirfreightfromtherafttothebank,andleapedashore.Theactiongaveanimpulsetotheraft,which,nolongerheldinpositionbythepoles,swungbroadsidetothecurrentandwasinstantlysweptintothedarkness.

Notawordhadbeenspoken,butnowthevoicesofthemenrosefreelytogether.Phemielistenedwithintenseexpectation.Theexplanationwassimple.TheyweresurveyorswhohadbeencaughtbytheoverflowonTasajaraplain,hadabandonedtheirhorsesonthebankofTasajaraCreek,andwithahastilyconstructedrafthadintrustedthemselvesandtheirinstrumentstothecurrent."But,"

saidHarkuttquickly,"thereisnoconnectionbetweenTasajaraCreekandthisstream."

Thetwomenlaughed."ThereisNOW,"saidoneofthem.

"ButTasajaraCreekisapartofthebay,"saidtheastonishedHarkutt,"andthisstreamrisesinlandandonlyrunsintothebayfourmileslowerdown.AndIdon"tseehow——

"You"realmosttwelvefeetlowerherethanTasajaraCreek,"saidthefirstman,withacertainprofessionalauthority,"andthat"sWHY.There"smorewaterthanTasajaraCreekcancarry,andit"sseekingthebaythisway.Look,"hecontinued,takingthelanternfromHarkutt"shandandcastingitsraysonthestream,"that"ssaltdriftfromtheupperbay,andpartofTasajaraCreek"srunningbyyourhousenow!Don"tbealarmed,"headdedreassuringly,glancingatthestaringstorekeeper."You"reallrighthere;thisisonlytheoverflowandwillfinditslevelsoon."

ButMr.Harkuttremainedgazingabstractedlyatthesmilingspeaker.FromthewindowabovetheimpatientPhemiewaswonderingwhyhekeptthestrangerswaitingintherainwhilehetalkedaboutthingsthatwereperfectlyplain.Itwassolikeaman!

"Thenthere"sawaterwaystraighttoTasajaraCreek?"hesaidslowly.

"Thereis,aslongasthisfloodlasts,"returnedthefirstspeakerpromptly;"andacuttingthroughthebankoftwoorthreehundredyardswouldmakeitpermanent.Well,what"sthematterwiththat?"

"Nothin","saidHarkutthurriedly."Iamonlyconsiderin"!Butcomein,dryyourselves,andtakesuthin"."

Thelightovertherushingwaterwaswithdrawn,andthewholeprospectsankbackintoprofounddarkness.Mr.Harkutthaddisappearedwithhisguests.Thentherewasthefamiliarshuffleofhisfeetonthestaircase,followedbyothermorecautiousfootstepsthatgrewdelicatelyandevencourteouslydeliberateastheyapproached.Atwhichtheyounggirl,insomenewsenseofdecorum,drewinherprettyhead,glancedaroundtheroomquickly,resetthetidyonherfather"schair,placedtheresplendentaccordionlikeanornamentintheexactcentreofthetable,andthenvanishedintothehallasMr.Harkuttenteredwiththestrangers.

Theywerebothofthesameageandappearance,buttheprincipalspeakerwasevidentlythesuperiorofhiscompanion,andalthoughtheirattitudetoeachotherwasequalandfamiliar,itcouldbeeasilyseenthathewastheleader.Hehadasmooth,beardlessface,withacriticalexpressionofeyeandmouththatmighthavebeenfastidiousandsuperciliousbutforthekindly,humorousperceptionthattemperedit.Hisquickeyeswepttheapartmentandthenfixeditselfupontheaccordion,butasmilelituphisfaceashesaidquietly,——

"Ihopewehaven"tfrightenedthemusicianaway.Itwasbadenoughtohaveinterruptedtheyounglady."

"No,no,"saidMr.Harkutt,whoseemedtohavelosthisabstractioninthenervousnessofhospitality."Ireckonshe"sonlylookin"

afterhersicksister.Butcomeintothekitchen,bothofyou,straightoff,andwhileyou"redryin"yourclothes,mother"llfixyousuthin"hot."

"Weonlyneedtochangeourbootsandstockings;we"vesomedryonesinourpackdownstairs,"saidthefirstspeakerhesitatingly.

"I"llfetch"emupandyoucanchangeinthekitchen.Theoldwomanwon"tmind,"saidHarkuttreassuringly."Comealong."Heledthewaytothekitchen;thetwostrangersexchangedaglanceofhumorousperplexityandfollowed.

Thequietofthelittleroomwasoncemoreunbroken.Afar-offcommiseratingmurmurindicatedthatMrs.Harkuttwasreceivingherguests.Thecoolbreathofthewetleaveswithoutslightlystirredthewhitedimitycurtains,andsomewherefromthedarkenedeavestherewasastill,somnolentdrip.Presentlyahurriedwhisperandahalf-laughappearedtobesuppressedintheouterpassageorhall.Therewasanothermomentofhesitationandthedooropenedsuddenlyandostentatiously,disclosingPhemie,withatallerandslighteryoungwoman,hereldersister,atherside.Perceivingthattheroomwasempty,theybothsaid"Oh!"yetwithacertainartificialityofmannerthatwasevidentlyalingeringtraceofsomepreviousformalattitudetheyhadassumed.Thenwithoutfurtherspeechtheyeachselectedachairandaposition,havingfirstshakenouttheirdresses,andgazedsilentlyateachother.

Itmaybesaidbrieflythatsittingthus——inspiteoftheirunnaturalattitude,orperhapsratherbecauseofitssuggestionofaphotographicpose——theymadeastrikingpicture,andstronglyaccentedtheirseparatepeculiarities.Theywerebothpretty,butthetallergirl,apparentlytheelder,hadanidealrefinementandregularityoffeaturewhichwasnotonlyunlikePhemie,butgratuitouslyunliketherestofherfamily,andashopelesslyandevenwantonlyinconsistentwithhersurroundingsaswastheelaboratelyornamentedaccordiononthecentre-table.Shewasoneofthoseoccasionalcreatures,episodicalintheSouthandWest,whomighthavebeenstampedwithsomevagueante-natalimpressionofamothergiventoover-sentimentalcontemplationofbooksofbeautyandalbumsratherthanthefamilyfeatures;offspringoftypicalmenandwomen,andyetthemselvesincongruoustoanyknownlocalorevengeneraltype.Thelongswan-likeneck,tendriledhair,swimmingeyes,andsmallpatricianhead,hadneverlivedormovedbeforeinTasajaraortheWest,norperhapsevenexistedexceptasapersonified"Constancy,""Meditation,"orthe"Baron"sBride,"inmezzotintorcopperplate.Eventhegirl"scommonpinkprintdresswithitshighsleevesandshoulderscouldnotconventionalizetheseoriginaloutlines;andthehandthatrestedstifflyonthebackofherchair,albeitneitherover-whitenorwellkept,lookedasifithadneverheldanythingbutalyre,arose,oragoodbook.Eventhefewspraysofwildjessaminewhichshehadplacedinthecoilsofherwavinghair,althoughalocalfashion,becameherasaspecialornament.

Thetwogirlskepttheirconstrainedandartificiallyelaboratedattitudeforafewmoments,accompaniedbythemurmurofvoicesinthekitchen,themonotonousdripoftheeavesbeforethewindow,andthefar-offsoughofthewind.ThenPhemiesuddenlybrokeintoaconstrainedgiggle,whichshehoweverquicklysmotheredasshehadtheaccordion,andwiththesamelookofmischievousdistress.

"I"mastonishedatyou,Phemie,"saidClementinainadeepcontraltovoice,whichseemedevendeeperfromitsrestraint."Youdon"tseemtohaveanysense.Anybody"dthinkyouneverhadseenastrangerbefore."

"Sawhimbeforeyoudid,"retortedPhemiepertly.Buthereapushingofchairsandshufflingoffeetinthekitchencheckedher.

Clementinafixedanabstractedgazeontheceiling;Phemieregardedaleafonthewindowsillwithphotographicrigidityasthedooropenedtothestrangersandherfather.

Thelookofundisguisedsatisfactionwhichlittheyoungmen"sfacesrelievedMr.Harkutt"sawkwardintroductionofanyembarrassment,andalmostbeforePhemiewasfullyawareofit,shefoundherselftalkingrapidlyandinahighkeywithMr.LawrenceGrant,thesurveyor,whilehersisterwasequally,althoughmoresedately,occupiedwithMr.StephenRice,hisassistant.Buttheenthusiasmofthestrangers,andthedesiretopleaseandbepleasedwassogenuineandcontagiousthatpresentlytheaccordionwasbroughtintorequisition,andMr.GrantexhibitedasurprisingfacultyofaccompanimenttoMr.Rice"stenor,inwhichboththegirlsjoined.

Thenagameofcardswithpartnersfollowed,intowhichtherivalpartiesintroducedsuchdelightfulandshamelessobviousnessofcheating,anddisplayedsuchfascinatingandexaggeratedpartisanshipthatthegameresolveditselfintoahilariousmelee,towhichpeacewasrestoredonlybyanexhibitionoftricksoflegerdemainwiththecardsbytheyoungsurveyor.AllofwhichMr.Harkuttsupervisedpatronizingly,withoccasionalfitsofabstraction,fromhisrocking-chair;andlaterMrs.Harkuttfromherkitchenthreshold,wipingherarmsonherapronandcommiseratinglyobservingthatshe"declared,theyoungfolkslookedbetteralready."

ButitwashereamoredangerouselementofmysteryandsuggestionwasaddedbyMr.LawrenceGrantinthetellingofMissEuphemia"sfortunefromthecardsbeforehim,andthatyounglady,pinkwithexcitement,flutteredherlittlehandsnotunliketimidbirdsoverthecardstobedrawn,takingthemfromhimwithanaudibletwitterofanxietyandgreatdoubtswhetheracertain"fair-hairedgentleman"wasinheartsordiamonds.