第10章

Shecanteredforwardasshespoke,andGrantwasobligedtojoinhersister,who,mountedonapowerfulroan,wasmischievouslyexcitingabeautifulquaker-coloredmustangriddenbyMrs.Ashwood,alreadyirritatedbytheunfamiliarpressureoftheEasternwoman"shanduponhisbit.Thethickdustwhichhadforcedthepartyoftwentytocloseupintwosolidfilesacrosstheroadcompelledthematthefirstopeningintheroadsidefencetotakethefieldinastragglinggallop.Grant,eagertoescapefromhisowndiscontentedselfbydoingsomethingforothers,reinedinbesideEuphemiaandthefairstranger.

"LetmetakeyourplaceuntilMrs.Ashwood"shorseisquieted,"hehalfwhisperedtoEuphemia.

"Thankyou,——andIsupposeitdoesnotmakeanymattertoClemwhoquietsmine,"shesaid,withprovokingeyesandatossofherheadworthyofthespiritedanimalshewasriding.

"Shethinksyouquitecapableofmanagingyourselfandevenothers,"herepliedwithaplayfulglanceatShipley,whowasridingsomewhatstifflyontheotherside.

"Don"tbetoosure,"retortedPhemiewithanotherdangerouslook;

"Imaygiveyoutroubleyet."

Theywereapproachingthefirstundulationoftherussetplaintheyhademergedupon,——anumbrageousslopethatseemedsuddenlytodivergeintwodefilesamongtheshadedhills.GranthadgivenafewwordsofpracticaladvicetoMrs.Ashwood,andshownherhowtoguidehermustangbythemerestcaressingtouchofthereinuponitssensitiveneck.Hehadnotbeensympatheticallyinclinedtowardsthefairstranger,arichandstillyouthfulwidow,althoughhecouldnotdenyherunquestionedgoodbreeding,mentalrefinement,andacertainlanguorousthoughtfulnessthatwasalmostmelancholy,whichaccentedherblondedelicacy.ButhehadnoticedthathermannerwaspolitelyreservedandslightlyconstrainedtowardstheHarcourts,andhehadalreadyresenteditwithalover"sinstinctiveloyalty.HehadatfirstattributedittoawantofsympathybetweenMrs.Ashwood"smoreintellectualsentimentalitiesandtheHarcourts"undeniablelackofanysentimentwhatever.Buttherewasevidentlysomeotherinnateantagonism.HewasverypolitetoMrs.Ashwood;sherespondedwithagentlewoman"scourtesy,and,hewasforcedtoadmit,evenabroadercomprehensionofhisownmeritsthantheHarcourtgirlshadevershown,buthecouldstilldetectthatshewasnotinaccordwiththeparty.

"IamafraidyoudonotlikeCalifornia,Mrs.Ashwood?"hesaidpleasantly."Youperhapsfindthelifeheretoounrestrainedandunconventional?"

Shelookedathiminquickastonishment."Areyouquitesincere?

Why,itstrikesmethatthisisjustwhatitisNOT.AndIhavesolongedforsomethingquitedifferent.FromwhatIhavebeentoldabouttheoriginalityandadventureofeverythinghere,andyourindependenceofoldsocialformsandcustoms,IamafraidI

expectedtheoppositeofwhatI"veseen.Why,thisveryparty——

exceptthattheladiesareprettierandmoreexpensivelygottenup——

islikeanypartythatmighthaveriddenoutatSaratogaorNewYork."

"Andasstupid,youwouldsay."

"AsCONVENTIONAL,Mr.Grant;alwaysexceptingthislovelycreaturebeneathme,whomIcan"tmakeoutandwhodoesn"tseemtocarethatIshould.There!look!Itoldyouso!"

Hermustanghadsuddenlyboundedforward;butasGrantfollowedhecouldseethatthecausewastheexampleofPhemie,whohad,insomemadfreak,dashedoutinafranticgallop.Ahalf-dozenoftheyoungerpeoplehilariouslyacceptedthechallenge;theexcitementwascommunicatedtotheothers,untilthewholecavalcadewassweepingdowntheslope.GrantwasstillatMrs.

Ashwood"sside,restraininghermustangandhisownimpatienthorsewhenClementinajoinedthem."Phemie"smarehasreallybolted,I

fear,"shesaidinaquickwhisper,"rideon,andnevermindus."

Grantlookedquicklyahead;Phemie"sroan,excitedbytheshoutsbehindherandtoallappearanceungovernable,wasfastdisappearingwithherrider.Withoutaword,trustingtohisowngoodhorsemanshipandbetterknowledgeoftheground,hedartedoutofthecavalcadetoovertakeher.

Buttheunfortunateresultofthiswastogivefurtherimpulsetothenowracinghorsesastheyapproachedapointwheretheslopeterminatedintwodivergingcanyons.Mrs.Ashwoodgaveasharppulluponherbit.Toherconsternationthemustangstoppedshortalmostinstantly,——plantinghistwoforefeetrigidlyinthedustandevenslidingforwardwiththeimpetus.Hadherseatbeenlessfirmshemighthavebeenthrown,butsherecoveredherself,althoughindoingsoshestillboreuponthebit,whentoherastonishmentthemustangdeliberatelystiffenedhimselfasifforashock,andthenbegantobackslowly,quiveringwithexcitement.

Shedidnotknowthathernative-bredanimalfondlybelievedthathewasparticipatinginarodeo,andthattohisequineintelligencehisfairmistresshadjustlassoedsomething!Invainsheurgedhimforward;hestillwaitedfortheshock!Whenthecloudofdustinwhichshehadbeenenwrappeddriftedaway,shesawtoheramazementthatshewasalone.Theentirepartyhaddisappearedintooneofthecanyons,——butwhichoneshecouldnottell!

Whenshesucceededatlastinurginghermustangforwardagainshedeterminedtotaketheright-handcanyonandtrusttobeingeithermetorovertaken.Amorepracticalandlessadventurousnaturewouldhavewaitedatthepointofdivergenceforthereturnofsomeoftheparty,butMrs.Ashwoodwas,intruth,notsorrytobelefttoherselfandthenovelsceneryforawhile,andshehadnodoubtbutshewouldeventuallyfindherwaytothehotelatSanMateo,whichcouldnotbefaraway,intimeforluncheon.

Theroadwasstillwelldefined,althoughitpresentlybegantowindbetweenascendingranksofpinesandlarchesthatmarkedtheterracesofhills,sohighthatshewonderedshehadnotnoticedthemfromtheplains.Anunmistakablesuggestionofsomehauntingprimevalsolitude,asenseofthehushedandmysteriousproximityofanatureshehadneverknownbefore,thestrangehalf-

intoxicatingbreathofunsunnedfoliageanduntroddengrassesandherbs,allcombinedtoexaltherasshecanteredforward.Evenherhorseseemedtohaveacquiredanintelligentliberty,orrathertohaveestablishedasympathywithherinhisneedsandherownlongings;instinctivelyshenolongerpulledhimwiththecurb;thereinshunglooselyonhisself-archedandunfetteredneck;secureinthislonelinessshefoundherselfeventalkingtohimwithbarbaricfreedom.Asshewenton,thevaguehushofallthingsanimateandinanimatearoundherseemedtothicken,untilsheunconsciouslyhaltedbeforeadimandpillaredwood,andavastandheathlessopeningonwhosemutebrownlipsNatureseemedtohavelaidthefingerofsilence.Sheforgotthepartyshehadleft,sheforgottheluncheonshewasgoingto;moreimportantstillsheforgotthatshehadalreadyleftthetraveledtrackfarbehindher,and,tremulouswithanticipation,rodetimidlyintothatarchofshadow.

Asherhorse"shoofsfellnoiselesslyontheelasticmoss-carpetedaislesheforgotevenmorethanthat.Sheforgottheartificialstimulusandexcitementofthelifeshehadbeenleadingsolong;

sheforgotthesmallmeannessesandsmallerworriesofherwell-to-

doexperiences;sheforgotherself,——rathersheregainedaselfshehadlongforgotten.Forinthesweetseclusionofthishalfdarkenedsanctuarytheclingingfripperiesofherpastslippedfromherasatawdrygarment.Thepetted,spoiled,andvapidlyprecociousgirlhoodwhichhadmergedintoawomanhoodofaimlesstriumphsandmeanerambitions;theworldlybutmiserabletriumphofamarriagethathadleftherdelicacyabusedandherheartsickandunsatisfied;thewifehoodwithouthome,seclusion,ormaternity;

thewidowhoodthatatlastbroughtrelief,butwithittheconsciousnessofhopelesslywastedyouth,——allthisseemedtodropfromherhereaslightlyasthewingedneedlesornoiselesswitheredsprayfromthedimgrayvaultaboveherhead.Inthesovereignbalmofthatwoodlandbreathherbetterspiritwasrestored;somewhereinthesewholesomeshadesseemedtostilllurkwhatshouldhavebeenherinnocentandnymph-likeyouth,andtocomeoutoncemoreandgreether.Oldsongsshehadforgotten,orwhosemusichadfailedinthediscordsofherfrivolouslife,sangthemselvestoheragaininthatsweet,gravesilence;girlishdreamsthatshehadfoolishlybeenashamedof,orhadputawaywithherchildishtoys,stolebacktoheroncemoreandbecamerealinthistendertwilight;oldfancies,oldfragmentsofverseandchildishlore,grewpalpableandmovedfaintlybeforeher.Theboyishprincewhoshouldhavecomewasthere;thebabethatshouldhavebeenherswasthere!——shestoppedsuddenlywithflamingeyesandindignantcolor.ForitappearedthataMANwastheretoo,andhadjustrisenfromthefallentreewherehehadbeensitting.

CHAPTERVIII.

Shehadsofarforgottenherselfinyieldingtothespelloftheplace,andintherevelationofhernakedsoulandinnernature,thatitwaswithsomethingoftheinstinctofoutragedmodestythatsheseemedtoshrinkbeforethisapparitionoftheouterworldandouterworldliness.Inaninstantthenearerpastreturned;sherememberedwhereshewas,howshehadcomethere,fromwhomshehadcome,andtowhomshewasreturning.Shecouldseethatshehadnotonlyaimlesslywanderedfromtheworldbutfromtheroad;andforthatinstantshehatedthismanwhohadremindedherofit,evenwhilesheknewshemustaskhisassistance.Itrelievedherslightlytoobservethatheseemedasdisturbedandimpatientasherself,andashetookapencilfrombetweenhislipsandreturnedittohispockethescarcelylookedather.

Butwithherreturntotheworldofconvenancescameitsrepression,andwithagentlewoman"seaseandmodulatedvoicesheleanedoverhermustang"sneckandsaid:"IhavestrayedfrommypartyandamafraidIhavelostmyway.WeweregoingtothehotelatSanMateo.

Wouldyoubekindenoughtodirectmethere,orshowmehowIcanregaintheroadbywhichIcame?"

Hervoiceandmannerwerequiteenoughtoarresthimwherehestoodwithapleasedsurpriseinhisfreshandingenuousface.Shelookedathimmoreclosely.Hewas,inspiteofhislongsilkenmustache,soabsurdlyyoung;hemight,inspiteofthatyouth,besoabsurdlyman-like!Whatwashedoingthere?Washeafarmer"sson,anartist,asurveyor,oracityclerkoutforaholiday?Wasthereperhapsayouthfulfemaleofhisspeciessomewhereforwhomhewaswaitinganduponwhosetrystshewasnowbreaking?Washe——

terriblethought!——theoutlyingpicketofsomefamilypicnic?Hisdress,neat,simple,freefromostentatiousornament,betrayednothing.Shewaitedforhisvoice.

"Oh,youhaveleftSanMateomilesawaytotheright,"hesaidwithquickyouthfulsympathy,"atleastfivemiles!Wheredidyouleaveyourparty?"

Hisvoicewaswinning,andevenrefined,shethought.Sheanswereditquitespontaneously:"Ataforkoftworoads.IseenowItookthewrongturning."

"Yes,youtooktheroadtoCrystalSpring.It"sjustdownthereinthevalley,notmorethanamile.You"dhavebeentherenowifyouhadn"tturnedoffatthewoods."

"Icouldn"thelpit,itwassobeautiful."

"Isn"tit?"

"Perfect."

"Andsuchshadows,andsuchintensityofcolor."

"Wonderful!——andallalongtheridge,lookingdownthatdefile!"

"Yes,andthatpointwhereitseemsasifyouhadonlytostretchoutyourhandtopickamanzanitaberryfromtheothersideofthecanyon,halfamileacross!"

"Yes,andthatfirstglimpseofthevalleythroughtheGothicgatewayofrocks!"

"Andthecolorofthoserocks,——cinnamonandbronzewiththelightgreenoftheYerbabuenavinesplashingoverthem."

"Yes,butforcolorDIDyounoticethathillsideofyellowpoppiespouringdownintothevalleylikeagoldenNiagara?"

"Certainly,——andtheperfectclearnessofeverything."

"Andyetsuchcompletesilenceandrepose!"

"Oh,yes!"

"Ah,yes!"

Theywerebothgravelynoddingandshakingtheirheadswithsparklingeyesandbrightenedcolor,lookingnotateachotherbutatthefarlandscapevignettedthroughalozenge-shapedwindopeninginthetrees.SuddenlyMrs.Ashwoodstraightenedherselfinthesaddle,lookedgrave,liftedthereinsandapparentlythetenyearswiththemthathaddroppedfromher.Butshesaidinhereasiestwell-bredtones,andahalfsigh,"ThenImusttaketheroadbackagaintowhereitforks?"

"Oh,no!youcangobyCrystalSpring.It"snofurther,andI"llshowyoutheway.Butyou"dbetterstopandrestyourselfandyourhorseforalittlewhileattheSpringsHotel.It"saveryniceplace.ManypeopleridetherefromSanFranciscotoluncheonandreturn.Iwonderthatyourpartydidn"tpreferit;andiftheyarelookingforyou,——astheysurelymustbe,"hesaid,asifwithasuddenconceptionofherimportance,"they"llcometherewhentheyfindyou"renotatSanMateo."

Thisseemedreasonable,althoughtheprocessofbeing"fetched"andtakingthefivemilesride,whichshehadenjoyedsomuchalone,incompanywasnotattractive."Couldn"tIgoonatonce?"shesaidimpulsively.

"Youwouldmeetthemsooner,"hesaidthoughtfully.

ThiswasquiteenoughforMrs.Ashwood."IthinkI"llrestthispoorhorse,whoisreallytired,"she,saidwithcharminghypocrisy,"andstopatthehotel."

Shesawhisfacebrighten.Perhapshewasthesonofthehotelproprietor,orayouthfulpartnerhimself."Isupposeyoulivehere?"shesuggestedgently."Youseemtoknowtheplacesowell."

"No,"hereturnedquickly;"IonlyrundownherefromSanFranciscowhenIcangetadayoff."

Adayoff!Hewasinsomeregularemployment.Buthecontinued:

"AndIusedtogotoboarding-schoolnearhere,andknowallthesewoodswell."

Hemustbeanative!Howodd!Shehadnotconceivedthattheremightbeanyotherpopulationherethantheimmigrants;perhapsthatwaswhatmadehimsointerestinganddifferentfromtheothers."Thenyourfatherandmotherlivehere?"shesaid.

Hisfrankface,incapableofdisguise,changedsuddenly."No,"hesaidsimply,butwithoutanytraceofawkwardness.Thenafteraslightpausehelaidhishand——shenoticeditwaswhiteandwellkept——onhermustang"sneck,andsaid,"If——ifyoucaretotrustyourselftome,Icouldleadyouandyourhorsedownatrailintothevalleythatisatleastathirdofthedistanceshorter.Itwouldsaveyougoingbacktotheregularroad,andthereareoneortwolovelyviewsthatIcouldshowyou.Ishouldbesopleased,ifitwouldnottroubleyou.There"sasteepplaceortwo——butI

thinkthere"snodanger."

"Ishallnotbeafraid."

Shesmiledsograciously,and,asshefullybelieved,maternally,thathelookedatherthesecondtime.Tohisfirsthurriedimpressionofherasanelegantanddelicatelynurturedwoman——oneoftheclassofdistinguishedtouriststhatfashionwasbeginningtosendthither——hehadnowtoaddthatshehadaquantityoffinesilken-spunlighthairgatheredinaheavybraidbeneathhergrayhat;thathermouthwasverydelicatelylippedandbeautifullysensitive;thathersoftskin,althoughjustthentouchedwithexcitement,wasapalefadedvelvet,andseemedtobewornwithennuiratherthanexperience;thathereyeswerehiddenbehindastripofgrayveilwhenceonlyafaintglowwasdiscernible.Tothismuststillbeaddedapoeticfancyallhisownthat,asshesatthere,withtheskirtofhergrayhabitfallingfromherlongbodicedwaistoverthemustang"sfawn-coloredflanks,andwithherslimgauntletedhandslightlyswayingthereins,shelookedlikeQueenGuinevereintheforest.NotthatheparticularlyfanciedQueenGuinevere,orthatheatallimaginedhimselfLauncelot,butitwasquiteinkeepingwiththesuggestion-hauntedbrainofJohnMiltonHarcourt,whomtheastutereaderhasofcourselongsincerecognized.

Precedingherthroughthesoftcarpetedvaultwithawoodman"sinstinct,——fortherewasapparentlynotrailtobeseen,——thesoftinnertwilightbegantogivewaytotheouterstrongerday,andpresentlyshewasstartledtoseetheclearblueoftheskybeforeheronapparentlythesamelevelasthebrownpine-tessellatedfloorshewastreading.Notonlydidthisshowherthatshewascrossingaridgeoftheupland,butafewmomentslatershehadpassedbeyondthewoodstoagoldenhillsidethatslopedtowardsaleafy,sheltered,andexquisitely-proportionedvalley.Atinybutpicturesquetower,andafewstragglingroofsandgables,theflashingofacrystalstreamthroughtheleaves,andanarrowwhiteribbonofroadwindingbehinditindicatedthehostelrytheywereseeking.Sopeacefulandunfrequenteditlooked,nestlingbetweenthehills,thatitseemedasiftheyhaddiscoveredit.

Withhishandattimesuponthebridle,atothersmerelycaressinghermustang"sneck,heledtheway;therewereafewbreathlessplaceswherethecrownofhisstrawhatappearedbetweenherhorse"sreins,andagainwhensheseemedalmostslippingoveronhisshoulder,buttheywerepassedwithsuchfrankfearlessnessandinvincibleyouthfulconfidenceonthepartofherescortthatshefeltnotimidity.Thereweremomentswhenabitofthecharmedlandscapeunfoldingbeforethemoverpoweredthemboth,andtheyhaltedtogaze,——sometimeswithoutaword,oronlyasignificantgestureofsympathyandattention.AtoneofthoseartisticmanifestationsMrs.AshwoodlaidherslimglovedfingerslightlybutunwittinglyonJohnMilton"sarm,andwithdrewthem,however,withaquickgirlishapologyandafoolishcolorwhichannoyedhermorethantheappearanceoffamiliarity.Buttheywerenowgettingwelldownintothevalley;thecourtofthelittlehotelwasalreadyopeningbeforethem;theirunconventionalrelationsintheidyllicworldabovehadchanged;thenewonerequiredsomedelicacyofhandling,andshehadanideathateventhesimplicityoftheyoungstrangermightbeconfusing.

"Imustaskyoutocontinuetoactasmyescort,"shesaid,laughingly."IamMrs.AshwoodofPhiladelphia,visitingSanFranciscowithmysisterandbrother,whoare,Iamafraid,evennowhopelesslywaitingluncheonformeatSanMateo.Butasthereseemstobenoprospectofmyjoiningthemintime,Ihopeyouwillbeabletogivemethepleasureofyourcompany,withwhatevertheymaygiveushereinthewayofrefreshment."

"Ishallbeveryhappy,"returnedJohnMiltonwithunmistakablecandor;"butperhapssomeofyourfriendswillbearrivinginquestofyou,iftheyarenotalreadyhere."

"Thentheywilljoinusorwait,"saidMrs.Ashwoodincisively,withherfirstexhibitionoftheimperiousnessofarichandprettywoman.Perhapsshewasalittleannoyedthatherelaborateintroductionofherselfhadproducednoreciprocaldisclosurebyhercompanion."Willyoupleasesendthelandlordtome?"sheadded.

JohnMiltondisappearedinthehotelasshecanteredtotheporch.

Inanothermomentshewasgivingthelandlordherorderswiththeeasyconfidenceofonewhoknewherselfonlyasanalwayswelcomeandhighlyprivilegedguest,whichwasnotwithoutitseffect.

"And,"sheaddedcarelessly,"wheneverythingisreadyyouwillpleasetell——Mr."——

"Harcourt,"suggestedthelandlordpromptly.

Mrs.Ashwood"sperfectlytrainedfacegavenottheslightestsignofthesurprisethathadovertakenher."Ofcourse,——Mr.Harcourt."

"Youknowhe"sthesonofthemillionaire,"continuedthelandlord,notatallunwillingtodisplaytheimportanceofthehabituesofCrystalSpring,"thoughthey"vequarreledanddon"tgetontogether."

"Iknow,"saidtheladylanguidly,"and,ifanyonecomeshereforME,askthemtowaitintheparloruntilIcome."

Then,submittingherselfandherdustyhabittotheawkwardministrationoftheIrishchambermaid,shewasquitethrilledwithadelightfulcuriosity.ShevaguelyrememberedthatshehadheardsomethingoftheHarcourtfamilydiscord,——butthatwasthedivorceddaughtersurely!AndthisyoungmanwasHarcourt"sson,andtheyhadquarreled!Aquarrelwithafrank,open,ingenuousfellowlikethat——amereboy——couldonlybethefather"sfault.

LuckilyshehadnevermentionedthenameofHarcourt!Shewouldnotnow;heneednotknowthatitwashisfatherwhohadoriginatedtheparty;whyshouldshemakehimuncomfortableforthefewmomentstheyweretogether?

Therewasnothingofthisinherfaceasshedescendedandjoinedhim.Hethoughtthatfacehandsome,well-bred,andrefined.Butthisbreedingandrefinementseemedtohim——inhisignoranceoftheworld,possibly——asonlyagracefulconcealmentofaselfofwhichheknewnothing;andhewasnotsurprisedtofindthatherprettygrayeyes,nownolongerhiddenbyherveil,reallytoldhimnomorethanherlips.Hewasalittleafraidofher,andnowthatshehadlosthernaiveenthusiasmhewasconsciousofavagueremorsefulnessforhisinterruptedworkintheforest.Whatwashedoinghere?Hewhohadavoidedthecruel,selfishworldofwealthandpleasure,——aworldthatthiswomanrepresented,——theworldthathadstoodapartfromhimintheonedreamofhislife——andhadletLoodie!Hisquicklyresponsivefacedarkened.

"IamafraidIreallyinterruptedyouupthere,"shesaidgently,lookinginhisfacewithanexpressionofunfeignedconcern;"youwereatworkofsomekind,Iknow,andIhaveveryselfishlythoughtonlyofmyself.Butthewholescenewassonewtome,andIsorarelymeetanyonewhoseesthingsasIdo,thatIknowyouwillforgiveme."Shebenthereyesuponhimwithacertainsofttimidity."Youareanartist?"

"Iamafraidnot,"hesaid,coloringandsmilingfaintly;"Idon"tthinkIcoulddrawastraightline."

"Don"ttryto;they"renotpretty,andthemereabilitytodrawthemstraightorcurveddoesn"tmakeanartist.ButyouareaLOVERofnature,Iknow,andfromwhatIhaveheardyousayI