第7章

"Yes!butto-dayhe"sheretoattendadirectors"meetingandtheopeningoftheFreeLibraryandTasajaraHall.Isawthewindowsopen,andtheblindsupinhishouseacrosstheplazaasIpassedjustnow."

Thestrangerhadbythistimequiteeffectedhiscourteouswithdrawal."Good-afternoon,Mr.Peters,"hesaid,smilinglyliftinghishat,andturnedaway.

Peters,whowasobligedtotakehislegsoffthechair,andhalfrisetothestranger"spoliteness,herereflectedthathedidnotknowhisinterlocutor"snameandbusiness,andthathehadreallygotnothinginreturnforhisinformation.Thismustberemedied.

Asthestrangerpassedthroughthehallintothestreet,followedbytheunwontedcivilitiesofthesprucehotelclerkandtheobsequiousattentionsofthenegroporter,Peterssteppedtothewindowoftheoffice."Whowasthatmanwhojustpassedout?"heasked.

Theclerkstaredinundisguisedastonishment."Youdon"tmeantosayyoudidn"tknowWHOhewas——allthewhileyouweretalkingtohim?"

"No,"returnedPeters,impatiently.

"Why,thatwasProfessorLawrenceGrant!——THELawrenceGrant——don"tyouknow?——thebiggestscientificmanandrecognizedexpertonthePacificslope.Why,that"sthemanwhosesinglewordisenoughtomakeorbreakthebiggestmineorclaimgoing!Thatman!——why,that"sthemanwhoseopinion"sworththousands,foritcarriesmillionswithit——andcan"tbebought.That"shimwhoknockedthebottomouterElDoradolastyear,andnextdaysentEurekaupbooming!Yerememberthat,sure?"

"Ofcourse——but"——stammeredPeters.

"Andtothinkyoudidn"tknowhim!"repeatedthehotelclerkwonderingly."AndhereIwasreckoningyouweregettingpointsfromhimallthetime!Why,somemenwouldhavegivenathousanddollarsforyourchanceoftalkingtohim——yes!——ofevenbeingSEEN

talkingtohim.Why,oldWingateoncegotatiponhisPrairieFlowerleadworthfivethousanddollarswhilejustchangingseatswithhiminthecarsandpassingthetimeofday,sociablelike.

Why,whatDIDyoutalkabout?"

Peters,withamiserableconvictionthathehadthrownawayavaluableopportunityinmereidlegossip,neverthelessendeavoredtolookmysteriousashereplied,"Oh,businessgin"rally."Theninthefainthopeofyetretrievinghisblunderheinquired,"Howlongwillhebehere?"

"Don"tknow.IreckonheandHarcourt"sgotsomethingonhand.Hejustaskedifhewaslikelytobeathomeorathisoffice.ItoldhimIreckonedatthehouse,forsomeofthefamily——Ididn"tgettoseewhotheywere——droveupinacarriagefromthe3.40trainwhileyouweresittingthere."

Meanwhilethesubjectofthisdiscussion,quiteunconsciousofthesensationhehadcreated,orperhapslikemostheroesphilosophicallycarelessofit,wassaunteringindifferentlytowardsHarcourt"shouse.Buthehadnobusinesswithhisformerhost,hisonlyobjectwastopassanidlehourbeforehistrainleft.Hewas,ofcourse,notunawarethathehimselfwaslargelyresponsibleforHarcourt"ssuccess;thatitwasHIShintwhichhadinducedthepettytraderofSidontoventurehisallinTasajara;HISknowledgeofthetopographyandgeologyoftheplainthathadstimulatedHarcourt"sagriculturalspeculations;HIShydrographicsurveyofthecreekthathadmadeHarcourt"splanofwideningthechanneltocommercepracticableandprofitable.Thishecouldnothelpbutknow.Butthatitwaschieflyowingtohisownclear,cool,far-seeing,butnevervisionary,scientificobservation,——hisownaccurateanalysis,unprejudicedbyevenasavant"senthusiasm,anduninfluencedbyanypersonaldesireorgreedofgain,——thatTasajaraCityhadrisenfromthestagnanttules,wasaspeculationthathadneveroccurredtohim.TherewasamuchmoreuneasyconsciousnessofwhathehaddoneinMr.Harcourt"sfaceafewmomentslater,whenhisvisitor"snamewasannounced,anditistobefearedthatifthatnamehadbeenlesswidelyhonoredandrespectedthanitwas,nomerelygratefulrecollectionofitwouldhaveprocuredGrantanaudience.Asitwas,itwaswithafrownandatouchofhisoldimpatientasperitythathesteppedtothethresholdofanadjoiningroomandcalled,"Clemmy!"

Clementinaappearedatthedoor.

"There"sthatmanGrantintheparlor.WhatbringsHIMhere,I

wonder?Whodoeshecometosee?"

"Whodidheaskfor?"

"Me,——butthatdon"tmeananything."

"Perhapshewantstoseeyouonsomebusiness."

"No.Thatisn"thishigh-tonedstyle.Hemakesotherpeoplegotohimforthat,"hesaidbitterly."Anyhow——don"tyouthinkit"smightyqueerhiscominghereafterhisfriend——foritwashewhointroducedRicetous——hadbehavedsotoyoursister,andcausedallthisdivorceandscandal?"

"Perhapshemayknownothingaboutit;heandRiceseparatedlongago,evenbeforeGrantbecamesofamous.Weneversawmuchofhim,youknow,afterwecamehere.SupposeyouleavehimtoME.I"llseehim."

Mr.Harcourtreflected."Didn"theusedtoberatherattentivetoPhemie?"

Clementinashruggedhershoulderscarelessly."Idaresay——butI

don"tthinkthatNOW"——

"WhosaidanythingaboutNOW?"retortedherfather,withareturnofhisoldabruptness.Afterapausehesaid:"I"llgodownandseehimfirst,andthensendforyou.Youcankeephimfortheopeninganddinner,ifyoulike."

MeantimeLawrenceGrant,serenelyunsuspiciousofthesedomesticconfidences,hadbeenshownintotheparlor——alargeroomfurnishedinthesamestyleasthedrawing-roomofthehotelhehadjustquitted.HehadampletimetonotethatitwasthatwonderfulSecondEmpirefurniturewhichherememberedthattheearlySanFranciscopioneersinthefirstflushoftheirwealthhadimporteddirectlyfromFrance,andwhichforyearsaftergaveanunexpectedforeignflavortothewesterndomesticityandatawdrygiltequalitytosaloonsanddrawing-rooms,publicandprivate.ButhewasobservantofacorrespondingchangeinHarcourt,whenamomentlaterheenteredtheroom.ThatindividualitywhichhadkepttheformershopkeeperofSidondistinctfrom,althoughperhapsnotsuperiorto,hiscustomers——wasstronglymarked.Hewasperhapsnowmorenervouslyalertthanthen;hewascertainlymoreimpatientthanbefore,——butthatwaspardonableinamanoflargeaffairsandaction.Grantcouldnotdenythatheseemedimproved,——ratherperhapsthatthesettingoffineclothes,cleanliness,andtheabsenceofpettyworries,madehischaracteristicsrespectable.

Thatwhichisillbreedinginhomespun,isapttobecomemereeccentricityinpurpleandfinelinen;GrantfeltthatHarcourtjarredonhimlessthanhedidbefore,andwasgratefulwithoutsuperciliousness.Harcourt,relievedtofindthatGrantwasneithercriticalnoraggressivelyreminiscent,andaboveallnotinclinedtoclaimthecreditofcreatinghimandTasajara,becamemoreconfident,moreathisease,and,Ifear,inproportionmoreunpleasant.Itisthereposeandnotthestruggleoftheparvenuthatconfoundsus.

"AndYOU,Grant,——youhavemadeyourselffamous,and,Ihear,havegotprettymuchyourownpricesforyouropinionseversinceitwasknownthatyou——you——er——wereconnectedwiththegrowthofTasajara."

Grantsmiled;hewasnotquitepreparedforthis;butitwasamusingandwouldpassthetime.Hemurmuredasentenceofhalfironicaldeprecation,andMr.Harcourtcontinued:——

"Ihaven"tgotmySanFranciscohouseheretoreceiveyouin,butI

hopesomeday,sir,toseeyouthere.Weareonlyhereforthedayandnight,butifyoucaretoattendtheopeningceremoniesatthenewhall,wecanmanagetogiveyoudinnerafterwards.YoucanescortmydaughterClementina,——she"sherewithme."

ThesmileofapologeticdeclinationwhichhadbeguntoformonGrant"slipswassuddenlyarrested."Thenyourdaughterishere?"

heasked,withunaffectedinterest.

"Yes,——sheisinfactapatronessofthelibraryandsewing-circle,andtakesthegreatestinterestinit.TheReverendDoctorPilsburyreliesuponherforeverything.Sherunsthesociety,eventothetrainingoftheyoungladies,sir.Youshallseetheirexercises."

ThiswascertainlyanewphaseofClementina"scharacter.YetwhyshouldshenotassumetheroleofLadyBountifulwiththeotherfunctionsofhernewcondition."IshouldhavethoughtMissHarcourtwouldhavefoundthisratherdifficultwithherothersocialduties,"hesaid,"andwouldhaveleftittohermarriedsister."HethoughtitbetternottoappearasifavoidingreferencetoEuphemia,althoughquietlyignoringherlateexperiences.Mr.Harcourtwaslesseasyinhisresponse.

"NowthatEuphemiaisagainwithherownfamily,"hesaidponderously,withanaffectationofsocialdiscriminationthatwasinweakcontrasttohisusualdirectbusinessastuteness,"I

supposeshemaytakeherpartinthesethings,butjustnowsherequiresrest.Youmayhaveheardsomerumorthatsheisgoingabroadforatime?Thefactisshehasn"ttheleastintentionofdoingso,nordoweconsiderthereistheslightestreasonforhergoing."Hepausedasiftogivegreatemphasistoastatementthatseemedotherwiseunimportant."Buthere"sClementinacoming,andI

mustgetyoutoexcuseME.I"vetomeetthetrusteesofthechurchintenminutes,butIhopeshe"llpersuadeyoutostay,andI"llseeyoulateratthehall."

AsClementinaenteredtheroomherfathervanishedand,Ifear,ascompletelydroppedoutofMr.Grant"smind.Forthedaughter"simprovementwasgreaterthanherfather"s,yetsomuchmorerefinedastobeatfirstonlydelicatelyperceptible.Granthadbeenpreparedforthevulgarenhancementoffineclothesandpersonaladornment,forthespecioussettingofluxuriouscircumstancesandsurroundings,fortheaplombthatcamefromflatteryandconsciouspower.Buthefoundnoneofthese;hercalmindividualitywasintensifiedratherthansubdued;shewasdressedsimply,withaneconomyofornament,richmaterial,andjewelry,butanaccuracyoftastethatwasalwaysdominant.Herplaingraymerinodress,beautifullyfittingherfigure,suggested,withitspalebluefacings,someuniform,asofthecharitablesocietyshepatronized.

Shecametowardshimwithagracefulmovementofgreeting,yetherfaceshowednoconsciousnessoftheintervalthathadelapsedsincetheymet;healmostfanciedhimselftransportedbacktothesitting-roomatSidonwiththemonotonouspatteroftheleavesoutside,andthecoolmoistbreathofthebayandaldercominginatthewindow.

"FathersaysthatyouareonlypassingthroughTasajarato-day,asyoudidthroughSidonfiveyearsago,"shesaidwithasmilingearnestnessthathefanciedhoweverwastheonenewphaseofhercharacter."ButIwon"tbelieveit!Atleastwewillnotacceptanothervisitquiteasaccidentalasthat,eventhoughyoubroughtustwicethegoodfortuneyoudidthen.Yousee,wehavenotforgottenitifyouhave,Mr.Grant.Andunlessyouwantustobelievethatyourfairygiftswillturnsomedaytoleavesandashes,youwillpromisetostaywithustonight,andletmeshowyousomeofthegoodwehavedonewiththem.Perhapsyoudon"tknow,ordon"twanttoknow,thatitwasIwhogotupthis"LibraryandHomeCircleoftheSistersofTasajara"whichwearetoopento-day.Andcanyouimaginewhy?Youremember——orhaveyouforgotten——thatyouonceaffectedtobeconcernedatthesocialconditionoftheyoungladiesontheplainsofSidon?Well,Mr.

Grant,thisisgottenupinorderthatthefutureMr.GrantswhowandermayfindfutureMissBillingseswhoareworthytoconversewiththemandentertainthem,andwhonolongerwearmen"shatsandliveonthepublicroad."

ItwassuchalongspeechforonesotaciturnasherememberedClementinatohavebeen;sounexpectedintoneconsideringherfather"sattitudetowardshim,andsounlookedforinitsreferencetoaslightincidentofthepast,thatGrant"scriticalcontemplationofhergavewaytoaquietandgratefulglanceofadmiration.Howcouldhehavebeensomistakeninhercharacter?HehadalwayspreferredtheoutspokenEuphemia,andyetwhyshouldhenothavebeenequallymistakeninher?WithouthavinganypersonalknowledgeofRice"smatrimonialtroubles——fortheirintimatecompanionshiphadnotcontinuedafterthesurvey——hehadbeeninclinedtoblamehim;

nowheseemedtofindexcusesforhim.HewonderedifshereallyhadlikedhimasPetershadhinted;hewonderedifsheknewthathe,Grant,wasnolongerintimatewithhimandknewnothingofheraffairs.Allthiswhilehewasacceptingherprofferedhospitalityandsendingtothehotelforhisluggage.Thenhedriftedintoaconversation,whichhehadexpectedwouldbebrief,pointless,andconfinedtoastupidresumeoftheirmutualandsocialprogresssincetheyhadleftSidon.Butherehewasagainmistaken;shewastalkingfamiliarlyofpresentsocialtopics,ofthingsthatsheknewclearlyandwell,withouteffortorattitude.ShehadbeentoNewYorkandBostonfortwowinters;shehadspenttheprevioussummeratNewport;itmighthavebeenherwholeyouthforthefluency,accuracy,andfamiliarityofherdetail,andtheabsenceofprovincialenthusiasm.Shewasgoingabroad,probablyinthespring.ShehadthoughtofgoingtowinterinItaly,butshewouldwaitnowuntilhersisterwasreadytogowithher.Mr.GrantofcourseknewthatEuphemiawasseparatedfromMr.Rice——no——notuntilherfathertoldhim?Well——themarriagehadbeenawildandfoolishthingforboth.ButEuphemiawasbackagainwiththemintheSanFranciscohouse;shehadtalkedofcomingtoTasajarato-day,perhapsshemightbetheretonight.And,goodheavens!itwasactuallythreeo"clockalready,andtheymuststartatoncefortheHall.Shewouldgoandgetherhatandreturninstantly.

Itwastrue;hehadbeentalkingwithheranhour——pleasantly,intelligently,andyetwithaconsciousnessofanindefinitesatisfactionbeyondallthis.Itmusthavebeensurpriseathertransformation,orhispreviousmisconceptionofhercharacter.

Hehadbeenwatchingherfeaturesandwonderingwhyhehadeverthoughtthemexpressionless.Therewasalsothepleasantsuggestion——commontohumanityinsuchinstances——thathehimselfwasinsomewayresponsibleforthechange;thatitwassomeawakenedsympathytohisownnaturethathadbreathedintothiscoldandfaultlessstatuethewarmthoflife.Inanoddflashofrecollectionherememberedhow,fiveyearsago,whenRicehadsuggestedtoherthatshewas"hardtoplease,"shehadrepliedthatshe"didn"tknow,butthatshewaswaitingtosee."Itdidnotoccurtohimtowonderwhyshehadnotawakenedthen,orifthisawakeninghadanythingtodowithherownvolition.Itwasnotprobablethattheywouldmeetagainafterto-day,oriftheydid,thatshewouldnotrelapseintoherformerselfandfailtoimpresshimasshehadnow.But——hereshewas——aparagonoffemininepromptitude——alreadystandinginthedoorway,accuratelyglovedandbooted,andwearingademuregrayhatthatmodestlycrownedherdecorouslyelegantfigure.

Theycrossedtheplazasidebyside,inthestillgarishsunlightthatseemedtomockthescantshadeoftheyouthfuleucalyptustrees,andpresentlyfellinwiththestreamofpeoplegoingintheirdirection.TheformerdaughtersofSidon,theBillingses,thePeterses,andWingates,weretherebourgeoningandexpandingintheglareoftheirnewprosperity,withsilkandgold;therewerenewerfacesstill,andprettyones,——forTasajaraasa"CowCounty"

hadattractedsettlerswithlargefamilies,——andtherewerealreadythecontrastingtypesofEastandWest.ManyturnedtolookafterthetallfigureofthedaughteroftheFounderofTasajara,——aspectaclelatelyraretothetown;afewglancedathercompanion,equallynoticeableasastranger.Thanks,however,tosomejudiciouspreliminaryadvertisingfromthehotelclerk,Peters,andDanielHarcourthimself,bythetimeGrantandMissHarcourthadreachedtheHallhisnameandfamewerealreadyknown,andspeculationhadalreadybegunwhetherthisnewstrokeofHarcourt"sshrewdnessmightnotuniteClementinatoarenownedandprofitablepartner.

TheHallwasinoneofthefurtherandnewlyopenedsuburbs,anditssideandrearwindowsgaveimmediatelyupontheoutlyingandillimitableplainofTasajara.Itwasatastefulandfair-seemingstructureofwood,surprisinglyandsurpassinglynew.Infactthatwasitsonedominantfeature;nowhereelsehadyouthandfreshnessevershownitselfasunconquerableandall-conquering.Thespiceofvirginwoodsandtracklessforestsstillrosefromitspinefloors,andbreathedfromitsoutershellofcedarthatstilloozeditssap,andredwoodthatstilldroppeditslife-blood.Nowhereelseweretheplasteredwallsandceilingsaswhiteanddazzlingintheirunstainedpurity,orasredolentoftheoutlyingquarryintheirclearcoolbreathoflimeandstone.Eventheturpentineoffreshandspotlesspaintaddedtothissenseofwholesomegermination,andastheclearandbrilliantCaliforniansunshinesweptthroughtheopenwindowswestandeast,suffusingthewholepalpitatingstructurewithitssearchingandresistlessradiance,theveryairseemedfilledwiththearomaofcreation.

ThefreshcolorsoftheyoungRepublic,thebrightblazonryofthenewestState,thecoat-of-armsoftheinfantCountyofTasajara——(avignetteofsunset-tulesclovenbythesteamofanadvancingtrain)——hangingfromthewalls,wereallapartofthisinvinciblejuvenescence.Eventhenewestsilks,ribbonsandprintsofthelatestholidayfashionsmadetheirfirstvirginappearanceinthenewbuildingasiftoconsecrateit,untilitwasstirredbytherustleofyouth,aswiththesoundandmovementofbuddingspring.

Astrainfromtheneworgan——whoseheart,however,hadprematurelylearneditsownbitterness——andathin,clear,butsomewhatshrillchantingfromachoirofyoungladieswerefollowedbyaprayerfromtheReverendMr.Pilsbury.Thentherewasapauseofexpectancy,andGrant"sfaircompanion,whouptothatmomenthadbeenquietlyactingasguideandciceronetoherfather"sguest,excusedherselfwithalittlegrimaceofmockconcernandwasledawaybyoneofthecommittee.Grant"susuallykeeneyeswerewanderingsomewhatabstractedlyovertheagitatedandrustlingfieldofribbons,flowersandfeathersbeforehim,pasttheblazonryofbanneronthewalls,andthroughtheopenwindowstothelongsunlitlevelsbeyond,whenhenoticedastirupontheraiseddaisorplatformattheendoftheroom,wherethenotablesofTasajarawereformallyassembled.Themassofblackcoatssuddenlypartedanddrewbackagainstthewalltoallowthecomingforwardofasinglegracefulfigure.AthrillofnervousnessasunexpectedasunaccountablepassedoverhimasherecognizedClementina.Inthemidstofasuddensilenceshereadthereportofthecommitteefromapaperinherhand,inaclear,untroubledvoice——theoldvoiceofSidon——andformallydeclaredthebuildingopened.Thesunlight,nearlylevel,streamedthroughthewesternwindowacrossthefrontoftheplatformwhereshestoodandtransfiguredherslightbutnoblefigure.ThehushthathadfallenupontheHallwasasmuchtheeffectofthattranquil,idealpresenceasofthemessagewithwhichitwascharged.Andyetthatapparitionwasasinconsistentwiththeclear,searchinglightwhichhelpedtosetitoff,asitwaswiththebroadnewblazonryofdecoration,theyetunsulliedrecordofthewhitewalls,oreventhefrank,animatedandprettyfacesthatlookeduponit.Perhapsitwassomesuchinstinctthatcausedtheapplausewhichhesitatinglyandtardilyfollowedherfromtheplatformtoappearpoliteandhalfrestrainedratherthanspontaneous.

NeverthelessGrantwashonestlyandsincerelyprofuseinhiscongratulations."Youwerefarcoolerandfarmoreself-containedthanIshouldhavebeeninyourplace,"hesaid,"thaninfactI

actuallyWAS,onlyasyourauditor.ButIsupposeyouhavedoneitbefore?"

Sheturnedherbeautifuleyesonhiswonderingly."No,——thisisthefirsttimeIeverappearedinpublic,——notevenatschool,foreventhereIwasalwaysaprivatepupil."

"Youastonishme,"saidGrant;"youseemedlikeanoldhandatit."

"PerhapsIdid,orratherasifIdidn"tthinkanythingofitmyself,——andthatnodoubtiswhytheaudiencedidn"tthinkanythingofiteither."

SosheHADnoticedhercoldreception,andyettherewasnottheslightesttraceofdisappointment,regret,orwoundedvanityinhertoneormanner."Youmusttakemetotherefreshmentroomnow,"

shesaidpleasantly,"andhelpmetolookaftertheyoungladieswhoaremyguests.I"mafraidtherearestillmorespeechestocome,andfatherandMr.Pilsburyarelookingasiftheyconfidentlyexpectedsomethingmorewouldbe"expected"ofthem."

Grantatoncethrewhimselfintothetaskassignedtohim,withhisnaturalgallantryandacertaincaptivatingplayfulnesswhichhestillretained.Perhapshewasthemoreanxioustopleaseinorderthathiscompanionmightsharesomeofhispopularity,foritwasundeniablethatMissHarcourtstillseemedtoexciteonlyaconstrainedpolitenessamongthosewithwhomshecourteouslymingled.Andthiswasstillmoredistinctlymarkedbythecontrastofalaterincident.

Forsomemomentsthesoundoflaughterandgreetinghadrisennearthedooroftherefreshmentroomthatopeneduponthecentralhall,andtherewasaperceptiblemovementofthecrowd——particularlyofyouthfulmaleTasajara——inthatdirection.Itwasevidentthatitannouncedtheunexpectedarrivalofsomepopularresident.

Attractedliketheothers,Grantturnedandsawthecompanymakingwayforthesmiling,easy,half-saucy,half-complacententryofahandsomelydressedyounggirl.Assheturnedfromtimetotimetorecognizewithrallyingfamiliarityorcharmingimpertinencesomeofheradmirers,therewasthatinhertoneandgesturewhichinstantlyrecalledtohimthepast.ItwasunmistakablyEuphemia!

HiseyesinstinctivelysoughtClementina"s.Shewasgazingathimwithsuchagrave,penetratinglook,——halfdoubting,halfwistful,——

alooksounlikeherusualunruffledcalmthathefeltstrangelystirred.Butthenextmoment,whensherejoinedhim,thelookhadentirelygone."YouhavenotseenmysistersinceyouwereatSidon,Ibelieve?"shesaidquietly."Shewouldbesorrytomissyou."ButEuphemiaandhertrainwerealreadypassingthemontheoppositesideofthelongtable.ShehadevidentlyrecognizedGrant,yetthetwosisterswerelookingintentlyintoeachother"seyeswhenheraisedhisown.ThenEuphemiamethisbowwithamomentaryaccessionofcolor,acoquettishwaveofherhandacrossthetable,aslightexaggerationofherusualfascinatingrecklessness,andsmilinglymovedaway.HeturnedtoClementina,buthereanominoustappingatthefartherendofthelongtablerevealedthefactthatMr.Harcourtwasstandingonachairwithoratoricalpossibilitiesinhisfaceandattitude.Therewasanotherforwardmovementinthecrowdand——silence.Inthatsolid,black-broadclothed,respectablefigure,thatmassivewatchchain,thatwhitewaistcoat,thatdiamondpinglisteninginthesatincravat,EuphemiamighthaveseentherealizationofherpropheticvisionatSidonfiveyearsbefore.