第9章

Buthecouldnotbeartotellthistohiswifewhenheclimbedthehillthatnight,andheinventedsomeexcuseforbringinghisworkhome.Theinvalidnevernoticedanychangeinhisusualbuoyancy,andindeedIfear,whenhewasfairlyinstalledwithhiswritingmaterialsatthefootofherbed,hehadquiteforgottentheepisode.Hewasrecalledtoitbyafaintsigh.

"Whatisit,dear?"hesaidlookingup.

"Iliketoseeyouwriting,Milty.Youalwayslooksohappy."

"Alwayssohappy,dear?"

"Yes.Youarehappy,areyounot?"

"Always."Hegotupandkissedher.Nevertheless,whenhesatdowntohisworkagain,hisfacewasturnedalittlemoretothewindow.

Anotherseriousincident——tobealsokeptfromtheinvalid——shortlyfollowed.Thearticleinthe"Clarion"hadborneitsfruit.Thethirddayafterhisresignationarivalpapersharplyretorted.

"Thecowardlyinsinuationsagainsttherecordofajustlyhonoredcapitalist,"saidthe"Pioneer,""althoughquiteinkeepingwiththebrazen"Clarion,"mightattracttheattentionsoftheslanderedparty,ifitwerenotknowntohisfriendsaswellashimselfthatitmaybetracedalmostdirectlytoacast-offmemberofhisownfamily,who,itseems,isreducedtohauntingthebackdoorsofcertainblatantjournalstodisposeofhischeapwares.Theslandererissecurefrompublicexposureinthesuperiordecencyofhisrelations,whorefrainfromairingtheirfamilylinenuponeditoriallines."

ThiswasthejournaltowhichJohnMiltonhadhopefullyturnedforwork.Whenhereaditthereseemedbutonethingforhimtodo——

andhedidit.Gentleandoptimisticaswashisnature,hehadbeenbroughtupinacommunitywheresinceredirectnessofpersonaloffensewasfollowedbyequallysinceredirectnessofpersonalredress,and——hechallengedtheeditor.ThebearerofhiscartelwasoneJackHamlin,Igrievetosayagamblerbyprofession,butbetweenwhomandJohnMiltonhadsprungupanoddfriendshipofwhichthebestthatcanbesaidisthatitwastoeachequallyandunselfishlyunprofitable.Thechallengewasaccepted,thepreliminariesarranged."Isuppose,"saidJackcarelessly,"astheoldmanoughttodosomethingforyourwifeincaseofaccident,you"vemadesomesortofawill?"

"I"vethoughtofthat,"saidJohnMilton,dubiously,"butI"mafraidit"snouse.Yousee"——hehesitated——"I"mnotofage."

"MayIaskhowoldyouare,sonny?"saidJackwithgreatgravity.

"I"malmosttwenty,"saidJohnMilton,coloring.

"Itisn"texactlyvingt-et-un,butI"dstandonit;ifIwereyouI

wouldn"tdrawtosuchahand,"saidJack,coolly.

Theyounghusbandhadarrangedtobeabsentfromhishomethatnight,andearlymorningfoundhim,withJack,grave,butcourageous,inalittlehollowbehindtheMissionHills.Tothempresentlyapproachedhisantagonist,jauntilyaccompaniedbyColonelStarbottle,hissecond.Theyhalted,butaftertheformalsalutationwereinstantlyjoinedbyJackHamlin.ForafewmomentsJohnMiltonremainedawkwardlyalone——pendingaconversationwhichevenatthatsuprememomenthefeltasbeinglikethegeneralattitudeofhisfriendstowardshim,initscompleteignoringofhimself.Thenextmomentthethreemensteppedtowardshim."Wehavecome,sir,"saidColonelStarbottleinhisprecisestspeechbuthisjauntiestmanner,"toofferyouafullandampleapology——apersonalapology——whichonlysupplementsthatfullpublicapologythatmyprincipal,sir,thisgentleman,"indicatingtheeditorofthe"Pioneer,""hasthismorningmadeinthecolumnsofhispaper,asyouwillobserve,"producinganewspaper."Wehave,sir,"

continuedthecolonelloftily,"onlywithinthelasttwelvehoursbecomeawareofthe——er——REALcircumstancesofthecase.Wewouldregretthattheaffairhadgonesofaralready,ifithadnotgivenus,sir,theopportunityoftestifyingtoyourgallantry.Wedosogladly;andif——er——er——aFEWYEARSLATER,Mr.Harcourt,youshouldeverneed——afriendinanymatterofthiskind,Iam,sir,atyourservice."JohnMiltongazedhalfinquiringly,halfuneasilyatJack.

"It"sallright,Milt,"hesaidsottovoce."Shakehandsallroundandlet"sgotobreakfast.AndIratherthinkthateditorwantstoemployyouHIMSELF."

Itwastrue,forwhenthatnightheclimbedeagerlythesteephomewardhillhecarriedwithhimthewrittenofferofanengagementonthe"Pioneer."Asheenteredthedoorhiswife"snurseandcompanionmethimwithaseriousface.Therehadbeenastrangeandunexpectedchangeinthepatient"scondition,andthedoctorhadalreadybeentheretwice.Asheputasidehiscoatandhatandenteredherroom,itseemedtohimthathehadforeverputasideallelseofessayandambitionbeyondthosefourwalls.Andwiththethoughtagreatpeacecameuponhim.Itseemedgoodtohimtoliveforheralone.

Itwasnotforlong.Aseachmonotonousdaybroughtthemorningmistandeveningfogregularlytothelittlehilltopwherehiswholebeingwasnowcentred,sheseemedtogrowdailyweaker,andthelittlecircleofherlifenarroweddaybyday.Onemorningwhentheusualmistappearedtohavebeenwithheldandthesunhadrisenwithastrangeandcruelbrightness;whenthewavesdancedandsparkledonthebaybelowandlightglancedfromdazzlingsails,andeventhewhitetombsonLoneMountainglitteredkeenly;

whencheeryvoiceshailingeachotheronthehillsidecametohimclearlybutwithoutsenseormeaning;whenearth,sky,andseaseemedquiveringwithlifeandmotion,——heopenedthedoorofthatonelittlehouseonwhichtheonlyshadowseemedtohavefallen,andwentforthagainintotheworldalone.

CHAPTERVII.

Mr.DanielHarcourt"stownmansionwasalsoonaneminence,butitwasthatgentleracclivityoffashionknownasRinconHill,andsunneditselfonasouthernslopeofluxury.Ithadbeendescribedas"princely"and"fairy-like,"byagratefulreporter;touristsandtravelershadsungitspraisesinletterstotheirfriendsandinprivatereminiscences,forithaddispensedhospitalitytomostofthecelebritieswhohadvisitedthecoast.NeverthelessitscharmwasmainlyduetotherulingtasteofMissClementinaHarcourt,whohadastonishedherfatherbyhermarvelousintuitionofthenicerequirementsandelegantresponsibilitiesoftheirposition;andhadthrownhermotherintothepainedperplexityofamatronlyhen,who,amongtheducks"eggsintrustedtoherfosteringcare,hadunwittinglyhatchedagracefulbutdiscomposingcygnet.

Indeed,afterholdingoutfeeblyagainstthesiegeofwealthatTasajaraandSanFrancisco,Mrs.Harcourthadabandonedherselfhopelesslytothehorrorsofitsinvasion;hadallowedherselftobedraggedfromherkitchenbyherexultantdaughtersandsetupinblacksilkinacertainconventionalrespectabilityinthedrawing-

room.Strangetosay,hercommiseratinghospitality,orhospital-

likeministration,notonlygaveherpopularity,butacertainkindofdistinction.Anexaltationsosorrowfullydeprecatedbyitspossessorwasfelttobeasignofsuperiority.Shewasspokenofas"motherly,"evenbythosewhovaguelyknewthattherewassomewhereadiscardedsonstrugglinginpovertywithahelplesswife,andthatshehadsidedwithherhusbandindisinheritingadaughterwhohadmarriedunwisely.Shewassentimentallyspokenofasa"truewife,"whileneveropposingasinglemeannessofherhusband,suggestingasingleactivevirtue,norquestioningherrighttosacrificeherselfandherfamilyforhissake.Withnothingshecaredtoaffect,shewasquitefreefromaffectation,andeventhecriticalLawrenceGrantwasstruckwiththedignitywhichhernarrowsimplicity,thathadseemedsmalleveninSidon,attainedinherpalatialhallinSanFrancisco.Itappearedtobeaperfectlylogicalconclusionthatwhensuchunaffectednessandsimplicitywereforcedtoassumeahostileattitudetoanybody,thelattermustbetoblame.

SincethefestivalofTasajaraMr.GranthadbeenafrequentvisitoratHarcourt"s,andwasaguestontheeveofhisdeparturefromSanFrancisco.ThedistinguishedpositionofeachmadetheirrelationsappearquitenaturalwithoutincitinggossipastoanyattractioninHarcourt"sdaughters.ItwaslateoneafternoonashewaspassingthedoorofHarcourt"sstudythathishostcalledhimin.Hefoundhimsittingathisdeskwithsomepapersbeforehimandafoldedcopyofthe"Clarion."Withhisbacktothefadinglightofthewindowhisfacewaspartlyinshadow.

"Bytheway,Grant,"hebegan,withanassumptionofcarelessnesssomewhatinconsistentwiththefactthathehadjustcalledhimin,"itmaybenecessaryformetopullupthosefellowswhoareblackguardingmeinthe"Clarion.""

"Why,theyhaven"tbeensayinganythingnew?"askedGrant,laughingly,asheglancedtowardsthepaper.

"No——thatis——onlyarehashofwhattheysaidbefore,"returnedHarcourtwithoutopeningthepaper.

"Well,"saidGrantplayfully,"youdon"tmindtheirsayingthatyou"reNOTtheoriginalpioneerofTasajara,forit"strue;northatthatfellow"LigeCurtisdisappearedsuddenly,forhedid,ifIrememberrightly.Butthere"snothinginthattoinvalidateyourrightstoTasajara,tosaynothingofyourfiveyears"undisputedpossession."

"Ofcoursethere"snoLEGALquestion,"saidHarcourtalmostsharply.

"Butasamatterofabsurdreport,Imaywanttocontradicttheirinsinuations.AndYOUrememberallthecircumstances,don"tyou?"

"Ishouldthinkso!Why,mydearfellow,I"vetolditeverywhere!——

here,inNewYork,Newport,andinLondon;byJove,it"soneofmybeststories!Howacompanysentmeoutwithasurveyortolookuparailroadandagriculturalpossibilitiesinthewilderness;howjustasIfoundthem——andaratherbigthingtheymade,too——Iwassetafloatbyafloodandaraft,anddriftedashoreonyourbank,andpracticallydemonstratedtoyouwhatyoudidn"tknowanddidn"tdaretohopefor——thattherecouldbeawaterwaystraighttoSidonfromtheembarcadero.I"vetoldwhatacharmingeveningwehadwithyouandyourdaughtersintheoldhouse,andhowIreturnedyourhospitalitybygivingyouatipabouttherailroad;andhowyouslippedoutwhilewewereplayingcards,toclinchthebargainforthelandwiththatdrunkenfellow,"LigeCurtis"——

"What"sthat?"interruptedHarcourt,quickly.

ItwaswellthattheshadowhidfromGranttheexpressionofHarcourt"sface,orhisreplymighthavebeensharper.Asitwas,heansweredalittlestiffly:——

"Ibegyourpardon"——

Harcourtrecoveredhimself."You"reallwrong!"hesaid,"thatbargainwasmadelongBEFORE;Ineversaw"LigeCurtisafteryoucametothehouse.Itwasbeforethat,intheafternoon,"hewentonhurriedly,"thathewaslastinmystore.Icanproveit."

Neverthelesshewassoshockedandindignantatbeingconfrontedinhisownsuppressionsandfalsehoodsbyanevengreaterandmoreastoundingmisconceptionoffact,thatforamomenthefelthelpless.What,hereflected,ifitwereallegedthat"Ligehadreturnedagainaftertheloafershadgone,orhadneverleftthestoreashadbeensaid?Nonsense!TherewasJohnMilton,whohadbeentherereadingallthetime,andwhocoulddisproveit.Yes,butJohnMiltonwashisdiscardedson,——hisenemy,——perhapsevenhisveryslanderer!

"But,"saidGrantquietly,"don"tyourememberthatyourdaughterEuphemiasaidsomethingthateveningaboutthelandLigehadOFFEREDyou,andyousnappeduptheyoungladyrathersharplyforlettingoutsecrets,andTHENyouwentout?Atleastthat"smyimpression."

Itwas,however,morethananimpression;withGrant"sscientificmemoryforcharacteristicdetailshehadnoticedthatparticularcircumstanceaspartofthesocialphenomena.

"Idon"tknowwhatPhemieSAID,"returnedHarcourt,impatiently.

"IKNOWtherewasnoofferpending;thelandhadbeensoldtomebeforeIeversawyou.Why——youmusthavethoughtmeuptoprettysharppracticewithCurtis——eh?"headded,withaforcedlaugh.

Grantsmiled;hehadbeenaccustomedtohearofsuchsharppracticeamonghisbusinessacquaintance,althoughhehimselfbynatureandprofessionwasincapableofit,buthehadnotdeemedHarcourtmorescrupulousthanothers."Perhapsso,"hesaidlightly,"butforHeaven"ssakedon"taskmetospoilmyreputationasaraconteurforthesakeofamerefactortwo.Iassureyouit"samightytakingstoryasItellit——anditdon"thurtyouinabusinessway.

You"retheheroofit——hangitall!"

"Yes,"saidHarcourt,withoutnoticingGrant"shalfcynicalsuperiority,butyou"llobligemeifyouwon"ttellitagainIN

THATWAY.Therearemenheremeanenoughtomaketheworstofit.

It"snothingtome,ofcourse,butmyfamily——thegirls,youknow——

arerathersensitive."

"Ihadnoideatheyevenknewit,——muchlesscaredforit,"saidGrant,withsuddenseriousness."Idaresayifthosefellowsinthe"Clarion"knewthattheywereannoyingtheladiesthey"ddropit.Who"stheeditor?Lookhere——leaveittome;I"lllookintoit.Betterthatyoushouldn"tappearinthematteratall."

"Youunderstandthatifitwasareallyseriousmatter,Grant,"

saidHarcourtwithaslightattitude,"Ishouldn"tallowanyonetotakemyplace."

"Mydearfellow,there"llbenobody"calledout"andno"shootingatsight,"whateveristheresultofmyinterference,"returnedGrant,lightly."It"llbeallright."Hewasquiteawareofthepowerofhisownindependentpositionandthefactthathehadbeenoftenappealedtobeforeindelicatearbitration.

Harcourtwasequallyconsciousofthis,butbyastrangeinconsistencynowfeltrelievedatthecoolnesswithwhichGranthadacceptedthemisconceptionwhichhadatfirstseemedsodangerous.IfhewerereadytocondonewhathethoughtwasSHARP

PRACTICE,hecouldnotbelesslenientwiththerealfactsthatmightcomeout,——ofcoursealwaysexceptingthatinterpolatedconsiderationinthebillofsale,which,however,noonebutthemissingCurtiscouldeverdiscover.ThefactthatamanofGrant"ssecurepositionhadinterestedhimselfinthismatterwouldsecurehimfromtheworkingofthatpersonalvulgarjealousywhichhishumblerantecedentshadprovoked.Andif,ashefancied,GrantreallycaredforClementina——

"Asyoulike,"hesaid,withhalf-affectedlightness,"andnowletustalkofsomethingelse.ClementinahasbeenthinkingofgettinguparidingpartytoSanMateoforMrs.Ashwood.Wemustshowthemsomecivility,andthatBostonbrotherofhers,Mr.Shipley,willhavetobeinvitedalso.Ican"tgetaway,andmywife,ofcourse,willonlybeabletojointhematSanMateointhecarriage.I

reckonitwouldbeeasierforClementinaifyoutookmyplace,andhelpedherlookaftertheridingparty.Itwillneedaman,andI

thinkshe"dpreferyou——asyouknowshe"sratherparticular——

unless,ofcourse,you"dbewantedforMrs.AshwoodorPhemie,orsomebodyelse."

FromhisshadowedcornerhecouldseethatapleasantlighthadsprungintoGrant"seyes,althoughhisreplywasinhisordinaryeasybanter."IshallbeonlytoogladtoactasMissClementina"svaquero,andlassoherrunaways,orkeepstragglersintheroad."

Thereseemedtobesmallnecessity,however,forthisactiveco-

operation,forwhenthecheerfulcavalcadestartedfromthehouseafewmorningslater,Mr.LawrenceGrant"sonerousdutiesseemedtobesimplyconfinedtothoseofanordinarycavalieratthesideofMissClementina,afewpacesintherearoftheparty.Butthissafedistancegavethemtheopportunityofconversingwithoutbeingoverheard,——anapparentlydiscreetprecaution.

"YourfatherwassoexceedinglyaffabletometheotherdaythatifIhadn"tgivenyoumypromisetosaynothing,IthinkIwouldhavefallenonmykneestohimthenandthere,revealedmyfeelings,askedforyourhandandhisblessing——orwhateveronedoesatsuchatime.Buthowlongdoyouintendtokeepmeinthissuspense?"

Clementinaturnedhercleareyeshalfabstractedlyuponhim,asifimperfectlyrecallingsomeforgottensituation."Youforget,"shesaid,"thatpartofyourpromisewasthatyouwouldn"tevenspeakofittomeagainwithoutmypermission."

"Butmytimeissoshortnow.GivemesomedefinitehopebeforeI

go.LetmebelievethatwhenwemeetinNewYork"——

"Youwillfindmejustthesameasnow!Yes,IthinkIcanpromiseTHAT.Letthatsuffice.YousaidtheotherdayyoulikedmebecauseIhadnotchangedforfiveyears.YoucansurelytrustthatIwillnotalterinasmanymonths."

"IfIonlyknew"——

"Ah,ifIonlyknew,——ifWEALLonlyknew.Butwedon"t.Come,Mr.Grant,letitrestasitis.UnlessyouwanttogostillfurtherbackandhaveitasitWAS,atSidon.ThereIthinkyoufanciedEuphemiamost."

"Clementina!"

"Thatismyname,andthosepeopleaheadofusknowitalready."

"YouarecalledCLEMENTINA,——butyouarenotmerciful!"

"Youareverywrong,foryoumightseethatMr.Shipleyhastwicecheckedhishorsethathemighthearwhatyouaresaying,andPhemieisalwaysshowingMrs.Ashwoodsomethinginthelandscapebehindus."

AllthiswasthemorehopelessandexasperatingtoGrantsinceintheyounggirl"sspeechandmannertherewasnottheslightesttraceofcoquetryorplayfulness.Hecouldnothelpsayingalittlebitterly:"Idon"tthinkthatanyonewouldimaginefromyourmannerthatyouwerereceivingadeclaration."

"Buttheymightimaginefromyoursthatyouhadtherighttoquarrelwithme,——whichwouldbeworse."

"Wecannotpartlikethis!Itistoocrueltome."

"Wecannotpartotherwisewithouttheriskofgreatercruelty."

"Butsayatleast,Clementina,thatIhavenorival.Thereisnoothermorefavoredsuitor?"

"Thatissolikeaman——andyetsounliketheproudoneIbelievedyoutobe.Whyshouldamanlikeyouevenconsidersuchapossibility?IfIwereamanIknowIcouldn"t."Sheturneduponhimaglancesoclearanduntroubledbyeitherconsciousvanityorevasionthathewashopelesslyconvincedofthetruthofherstatement,andshewentoninaslightlyloweredtone,"Youhavenorighttoaskmesuchaquestion,——butperhapsforthatreasonIamwillingtoansweryou.Thereisnone.Hush!Foragoodrideryouaresettingapoorexampletotheothers,bycrowdingmetowardsthebank.GoforwardandtalktoPhemie,andtellhernottoworryMrs.Ashwood"shorsenorracewithher;Idon"tthinkhe"squitesafe,andMrs.Ashwoodisn"taccustomedtousingtheSpanishbit.

IsupposeImustsaysomethingtoMr.Shipley,whodoesn"tseemtounderstandthatI"Mactingaschaperon,andYOUascaptainoftheparty."