第12章

"Well,"shesaidplayfully,turningtohimagain."Whatdoyouthinkofit?"

"Thinkofit?"hesaidwitharisingcolor."Ithinkit"sinfamous!Whodidit?"

Shestaredathim,thenglancedquicklyattheslip."Whatareyoureading?"shesaid.

"This,ofcourse,"hesaidimpatiently."Whatyougaveme."ButhewaspointingtoTHEOTHERSIDEofthenewspaperslip.

Shetookitfromhimimpatientlyandreadforthefirsttimetheprintingonthereversesideofthearticleshehadtreasuredsolong.Itwastheconcludingparagraphofanapparentlylargereditorial."Onethingiscertain,thatamaninDanielHarcourt"spositioncannotaffordtopassoverinsilenceaccusationsliketheabove,thataffectnotonlyhisprivatecharacter,buttheintegrityofhistitletothelandthatwasthefoundationofhisfortune.Whentrickery,sharppractice,andevencriminalityinthepastaremorethanhintedat,theycannotbemetbymerepompoussilenceorallusionstoprivateposition,socialprestige,ordistinguishedfriendsinthepresent."

Mrs.Ashwoodturnedtheslipoverwithscornfulimpatience,aprettyupliftingofhereyebrowsandaslightcurlofherlip."I

supposenoneofthosepeople"sbeginningscanbearlookinginto——

andtheycertainlyshouldbethelastonestofindfaultwithanybody.But,goodgracious,Jack!whathasthistodowithyou?"

"Withme?"saidShipleyangrily."Why,IproposedtoClementinalastnight!"

CHAPTERIX.

ThewayfarersontheTasajaraturnpike,whomMr.DanielHarcourtpassedwithhisfasttrottingmareandsulky,sawthattheirgreatfellow-townsmanwasmorethanusuallypreoccupiedandcurtinhisacknowledgmentoftheirsalutations.Neverthelessashedrewnearthecreek,hepartlycheckedhishorse,andwhenhereachedaslightacclivityoftheinterminableplain——whichhadreallybeenthebankofthecreekinbygonedays——hepulledup,alighted,tiedhishorsetoarailfence,andclamberingovertheinclosuremadehiswayalongtheridge.Itwascoveredwithnettles,thistles,andafewwirydwarflarchesofnativegrowth;dustfromtheadjacenthighwayhadinvadedit,withafewscatteredandtornhandbills,wastepaper,rags,emptyprovisioncans,andothersuburbandebris.Yetitwasthesiteof"LigeCurtis"scabin,longsinceerasedandforgotten.Thebedoftheoldcreekhadreceded;

thelasttuleshadbeenclearedaway;thechannelandembarcaderowerehalfamilefromthebankandlogwhereonthepioneerofTasajarahadidlysunnedhimself.

Mr.Harcourtwalkedon,occasionallyturningoverthescatteredobjectswithhisfoot,andstoppingattimestoexaminethegroundmoreclosely.Ithadnotapparentlybeendisturbedsincehehimself,sixyearsago,hadrazedthewretchedshantyandcarriedoffitstimberstoaidintheerectionofalargercabinfurtherinland.Heraisedhiseyestotheprospectbeforehim,——tothetownwithitssteamboatslyingatthewharves,tothegrainelevator,thewarehouses,therailroadstationwithitspuffingengines,theflagstaffofHarcourtHouseandtheclusteringroofsofthetown,andbeyond,thepainteddomeofhislastcreation,theFreeLibrary.ThiswasallHISwork,HISplanning,HISforesight,whatevertheymightsayofthewanderingdrunkardfromwhosetremulousfingershehadsnatchedtheopportunity.TheycouldnottakeTHATfromhim,howevertheymightfollowhimwithenvyandreviling,anymorethantheycouldwrestfromhimthefiveyearsofpeacefulpossession.ItwaswithsomethingoftheprosperousconsciousnesswithwhichhehadmountedtheplatformontheopeningoftheFreeLibrary,thathenowclimbedintohisbuggyanddroveaway.

NeverthelesshestoppedathisLandOfficeashedroveintotown,andgaveafeworders."Iwantastrongpicketfenceputaroundthefifty-varalotinblockfifty-seven,andthegroundclearedupatonce.Letmeknowwhenthemengettowork,andI"lloverlookthem."

Re-enteringhisownhouseinthesquare,whereMrs.HarcourtandClementina——whooftenaccompaniedhiminthosebusinessvisits——

werewaitingforhimwithluncheon,hesmiledsomewhatsuperciliouslyastheservantinformedhimthat"ProfessorGranthadjustarrived."

ReallythatmanwastryingtomakethemostofhistimewithClementina!PerhapstherivalattractionsofthatBostonswellShipleyhadsomethingtodowithit!HemustpositivelytalktoClementinaaboutthis.InpointoffacthehimselfwasalittledisappointedinGrant,who,sincehisoffertotakethetaskofhuntingdownhiscalumniators,hadreallydonenothing.Heturnedintohisstudy,butwasslightlyastonishedtofindthatGrant,insteadofpayingcourttoClementinaintheadjoiningdrawing-room,wassittingratherthoughtfullyinhisownarmchair.

HeroseasHarcourtentered."Ididn"tletthemannouncemetotheladies,"hesaid,"asIhavesomeimportantbusinesswithyoufirst,andwemayfinditnecessarythatIshouldtakethenexttrainbacktotown.YourememberthatafewweeksagoIofferedtolookintothematterofthoseslandersagainstyou.Iapprehendeditwouldbeatriflingmatterofenvyorjealousyonthepartofyouroldassociatesorneighborswhichcouldbeputstraightwithalittlegoodfeeling;butImustbefrankwithyou,Harcourt,andsayatthebeginningthatitturnsouttobeaninfernallyuglybusiness.Callitconspiracyifyoulike,ororganizedhostility,I"mafraiditwillrequirealawyerratherthananarbitratortomanageit,andthesoonerthebetter.Forthemostunpleasantthingaboutitis,thatIcan"tfindoutexactlyHOWBADitis!"

UnfortunatelytheweakerinstinctofHarcourt"snaturewasfirstroused;thevulgarragewhichconfoundsthebearerofillnewswiththenewsitselffilledhisbreast."Andthisisallthatyourconfoundedintermeddlingcameto?"hesaidbrutally.

"No,"saidGrantquietly,withapreoccupiedignoringoftheinsultthatwasmorehopelessforHarcourt."Ifoundoutthatitisclaimedthatthis"LigeCurtiswasnotdrownednorlostthatnight;

butthatheescaped,andforthreeyearshasconvincedanothermanthatyouarewrongfullyinpossessionofthisland;thatthesetwonaturallyholdyouintheirpower,andthattheyareonlywaitingforyoutobeforcedintolegalproceedingsforslandertoprovealltheircharges.Untilthen,forsomereasonbestknowntothemselves,Curtisremainsinthebackground."

"DoeshedenythedeedunderwhichIholdtheproperty?"saidHarcourtsavagely.

"Hesaysitwasonlyasecurityforatriflingloan,andnotanactualtransfer."

"Anddon"tthosefoolsknowthathissecuritycouldbeforfeited?"

"Yes,butnotinthewayitisrecordedinthecountyclerk"soffice.Theysaythattherecordshowsthattherewasaninterpolationinthepaperheleftwithyou——whichwasaforgery.

Briefly,Harcourt,youareaccusedofthat.More,——itisintimatedthatwhenhefellintothecreekthatnight,andescapedonaraftthatwasfloatingpast,thathehadbeenfirststunnedbyablowfromsomeoneinterestedingettingridofhim."

Hepausedandglancedoutofthewindow.

"Isthatall?"askedHarcourtinaperfectlyquiet,steady,voice.

"All!"repliedGrant,struckwiththechangeinhiscompanion"smanner,andturninghiseyesuponhimquickly.

Thechangeindeedwasmarkedandsignificant.Whetherfromreliefatknowingtheworst,orwhetherhewasexperiencingthesamereactionfromtheutterfalsityofthislastaccusationthathehadfeltwhenGranthadunintentionallywrongedhiminhispreviousrecollection,certainitisthatsomeunknownreserveofstrengthinhisownnature,ofwhichheknewnothingbefore,suddenlycametohisaidinthisextremity.ItinvestedhimwithanuncouthdignitythatforthefirsttimeexcitedGrant"srespect.

"Ibegyourpardon,Grant,forthehastywayIspoketoyouamomentago,forIthankyou,andappreciatethoroughlyandsincerelywhatyouhavedone.Youareright;itisamatterforfightingandnotfussingover.ButImusthaveaheadtohit.

Whoseisit?"

"ThemanwhoholdshimselflegallyresponsibleisFletcher,——theproprietorofthe"Clarion,"andamanofproperty."

"The"Clarion"?Thatisthepaperwhichbegantheattack?"saidHarcourt.

"Yes,anditisonlyfairtotellyouherethatyoursonthrewuphisplaceonitinconsequenceofitsattackuponyou."

TherewasperhapstheslightestpossibleshrinkinginHarcourt"seyelids——theonecongenitallikenesstohisdiscardedson——buthisotherwisecalmdemeanordidnotchange.Grantwentonmorecheerfully:"I"vetoldyouallIknow.WhenIspokeofanunknownWORST,Ididnotrefertoanyfurtheraccusation,buttowhateverevidencetheymighthavefabricatedorsubornedtoproveanyoneofthem.Itisonlythestrengthandfairnessofthehandstheyholdthatisuncertain.Againstthatyouhaveyourcertainuncontestedpossession,thepeculiarcharacterandantecedentsofthis"LigeCurtis,whichwouldmakehisevidenceuntrustworthyandevenmakeitdifficultforthemtoestablishhisidentity.Iamtoldthathisfailuretocontestyourappropriationofhispropertyisexplainedbythefactofhisbeingabsentfromthecountrymostofthetime;butagain,thiswouldnotaccountfortheirsilenceuntilwithinthelastsixmonths,unlesstheyhavebeenwaitingforfurtherevidencetoestablishit.Buteventhentheymusthaveknownthatthetimeofrecoveryhadpassed.Youareapracticalman,Harcourt;Ineedn"ttellyouthereforewhatyourlawyerwillprobablytellyou,thatpractically,sofarasyourrightsareconcerned,youremainasbeforethesecalumnies;thatacauseofactionunprosecutedorinabeyanceispracticallynocause,andthatitisnotforyoutoanticipateone.BUT"——

HepausedandlookedsteadilyatHarcourt.Harcourtmethislookwithadull,ox-likestolidity."Ishallbeginthesuitatonce,"

hesaid.

"AndI,"saidGrant,holdingouthishand,"willstandbyyou.ButtellmenowwhatyouknewofthismanCurtis,——hischaracteranddisposition;itmaybesomeclueastowhatarehismethodsandhisintentions."

Harcourtbrieflysketched"LigeCurtisasheknewhimandunderstoodhim.Itwasanotherindicationofhisreservedpowerthatthedescriptionwassosingularlyclear,practical,unprejudiced,andimpartialthatitimpressedGrantwithitstruthfulness.

"Ican"tmakehimout,"hesaid;"youhavedrawnaweak,butneitheradishonestnormalignantman.Theremusthavebeensomebodybehindhim.Canyouthinkofanypersonalenemy?"

"Ihavebeensubjectedtotheusualjealousyandenvyofmyoldneighbors,Isuppose,butnothingmore.Ihaveharmednooneknowingly."

Grantwassilent;ithadflashedacrosshimthatRicemighthaveharboredrevengeforhisfather-in-law"sinterferenceinhisbriefmatrimonialexperience.HehadalsosuddenlyrecalledhisconversationwithBillingsonthedaythathefirstarrivedatTasajara.Itwouldnotbestrangeifthismanhadsomeintimationofthesecret.Hewouldtrytofindhimthatevening.Herose.

"Youwillstaytodinner?MywifeandClementinawillexpectyou."

"Notto-night;Iamdiningatthehotel,"saidGrant,smilingly;

"butIwillcomeinlaterintheeveningifImay."Hepausedhesitatinglyforamoment."Haveyourwifeanddaughtereverexpressedanyopiniononthismatter?"

"No,"saidHarcourt."Mrs.HarcourtknowsnothingofanythingthatdoesnothappenINthehouse;Euphemiaknowsonlythethingsthathappenoutofitwheresheisvisiting——andIsupposethatyoungmenprefertotalktoheraboutotherthingsthantheslandersofherfather.AndClementina——well,youknowhowcalmandsuperiortothesethingsSHEis."

"ForthatveryreasonIthoughtthatperhapsshemightbeabletoseethemmoreclearly,——butnomatter!Idaresayyouarequiterightinnotdiscussingthemathome."Thiswasthefact,althoughGranthadnotforgottenthatHarcourthadputforwardhisdaughtersasareasonforstoppingthescandalsomeweeksbefore,——areasonwhich,however,seemednevertohavebeenborneoutbyanyapparentsensitivenessofthegirlsthemselves.

WhenGranthadleft,HarcourtremainedforsomemomentssteadfastlygazingfromthewindowovertheTasajaraplain.Hehadnotlosthislookofconcentratedpower,norhisdeterminationtofight.A

strugglebetweenhimselfandthephantomsofthepasthadbecomenowanecessarystimulusforitsownsake,——forthesakeofhismentalandphysicalequipoise.Hesawbeforehimthepale,agitated,irresolutefeaturesof"LigeCurtis,——notthemanHEhadinjured,butthemanwhohadinjuredHIM,whosespiritwasaimlesslyandwantonly——forhehadneverattemptedtogetbackhispossessionsinhislifetime,norevertriedtocommunicatewiththepossessor——strikingathimintheshadow.AnditwasTHATman,thatpale,writhing,frightenedwretchwhomhehadoncemercifullyhelped!Yes,whoseLIFEhehadevensavedthatnightfromexposureanddeliriumtremenswhenhehadgivenhimthewhiskey.Andthislifehehadsaved,onlytohaveitsetinmotionaconspiracytoruinhim!Whoknowsthat"Ligehadnotpurposelyconceivedwhattheyhadbelievedtobeanattemptatsuicide,onlytocastsuspicionofmurderonHIM!FromwhichitwillbeperceivedthatHarcourt"spowersofmoralreasoninghadnotimprovedinfiveyears,andthateventheimpartialityhehadjustshowninhisdescriptionof"LigetoGranthadbeenswallowedupinthisnewsenseofinjury.ThefounderofTasajara,whosecoolbusinesslogic,unfailingforesight,andpracticaldeductionswereneveratfault,wasoncemorechildishlyadriftinhismoralethics.

AndtherewasClementina,ofwhosejudgmentGranthadspokensopersistently,——couldsheassisthim?Itwastrue,ashehadsaid,hehadnevertalkedtoherofhisaffairs.Inhissometimesuneasyconsciousnessofhersuperiorityhehadshrunkfromevenrevealinghisanxieties,muchlesshisactualsecret,andfromanythingthatmightprejudicetheloftypaternalattitudehehadtakentowardshisdaughtersfromthebeginningofhisgoodfortune.Hewasneverquitesureifheracceptanceofitwasreal;hewasneverentirelyfreefromacertainjealousythatalwaysmingledwithhisprideinhersuperiorrectitude;andyethisfeelingwasdistinctfromthegood-naturedcontempthehadforhiswife"sloyalty,theangerandsuspicionthathisson"soppositionhadprovoked,andthehalf-

affectionatetolerationhehadfeltforEuphemia"swaywardness.

HoweverhewouldsoundClementinawithoutbetrayinghimself.

Hewasanticipatedbyaslightstepinthepassageandthepushingopenofhisstudydoor.Thetall,gracefulfigureofthegirlherselfstoodintheopening.

"TheytellmeMr.Granthasbeenhere.Doeshestaytodinner?"

"No,hehasanengagementatthehotel,buthewillprobablydropinlater.Comein,Clemmy,Iwanttotalktoyou.Shutthedoorandsitdown."

Sheslippedinquietly,shutthedoor,tookaseatonthesofa,softlysmootheddownhergown,andturnedhergracefulheadandserenelycomposedfacetowardshim.Sittingthusshelookedlikesomefinelyfinishedpaintingthatdecoratedratherthanbelongedtotheroom,——notonlydistinctlyalientothefleshandbloodrelativebeforeher,buttothehouse,andeventhelocal,monotonouslandscapebeyondthewindowwiththeshiningnewshinglesandchimneysthatcutthenewbluesky.ThesesingularperfectionsseemedtoincreaseinHarcourt"smindtheexasperatingsenseofinjuryinflicteduponhimby"Lige"sexposures.Withadaughtersoincomparablygifted,——amatchlesscreationthatwasenoughinherselftoennoblethatfortunewhichhisownskillandgeniushadliftedfromthemuddytulesofTasajarawherethis"Ligehadleftit,——thatSHEshouldbesubjectedtothisannoyanceseemedaninfamythatProvidencecouldnotallow!Whatwashismerevenialtransgressiontothisexaggeratedretribution?

"Clemmy,girl,I"mgoingtoaskyouaquestion.Listen,pet."Hehadbegunwithareminiscenttendernessoftheepochofherchildhood,butmeetingtheunrespondingmaturityofhercleareyesheabandonedit."Youknow,Clementina,Ihaveneverinterferedinyouraffairs,nortriedtoinfluenceyourfriendshipsforanybody.

Whateverpeoplemayhavetosayofmetheycan"tsaythat!I"vealwaystrustedyou,asIwouldmyself,tochooseyourownassociates;Ihaveneverregrettedit,andIdon"tregretitnow.

ButI"dliketoknow——Ihavereasonsto-dayforasking——howmattersstandbetweenyouandGrant."

TheParianheadofMinervaonthebookcaseaboveherdidnotofferthespectatorafacelessfreefrommaidenlyconfusionthanClementina"satthatmoment.Herfatherhadcertainlyexpectednone,buthewasnotpreparedfortheperfectcoolnessofherreply.

"Doyoumean,haveIACCEPTEDhim?"

"No,——well——yes."

"No,then!Isthatwhathewishedtoseeyouabout?Itwasunderstoodthathewasnottoalludeagaintothesubjecttoanyone."

"HehasnottoME.Itwasonlymyownidea.Hehadsomethingverydifferenttotellme.Youmaynotknow,Clementina,"hebeguncautiously,"thatIhavebeenlatelythesubjectofsomeanonymousslanders,andGranthastakenthetroubletotrackthemdownforme.ItisacalumnythatgoesbackasfarasSidon,andImaywantyourlevelheadandgoodmemorytohelpmetorefuteit."Hethenrepeatedcalmlyandclearly,withnotraceofthefurythathadragedwithinhimamomentbefore,thesubstanceofGrant"srevelation.

Theyounggirllistenedwithoutapparentemotion.Whenhehadfinishedshesaidquickly:"Andwhatdoyouwantmetorecollect?"

ThehardestpartofHarcourt"staskwascoming."Well,don"tyourememberthatItoldyouthedaythesurveyorswentaway——that——I

hadboughtthislandof"LigeCurtissometimebefore?"

"Yes,Irememberyoursayingso,but"——

"Butwhat?"

"Ithoughtyouonlymeantthattosatisfymother."

DanielHarcourtfeltthebloodsettlingroundhisheart,buthewasconstrainedbyanirresistibleimpulsetoknowtheworst."Well,whatdidYOUthinkitreallywas?"

"Ionlythoughtthat"LigeCurtishadsimplyletyouhaveit,that"sall."

Harcourtbreathedagain."Butwhatfor?Whyshouldhe?"

"Well——ONMYACCOUNT."

"OnYOURaccount!WhatinHeaven"snamehadYOUtodowithit?"

"Helovedme."Therewasnottheslightesttraceofvanity,self-

consciousnessorcoquetryinherquiet,fatefulface,andforthisveryreasonHarcourtknewthatshewasspeakingthetruth.

"LovedYOU!——you,Clementina!——mydaughter!DidheeverTELLyouso?"

"Notinwords.HeusedtowalkupanddownontheroadwhenIwasatthebackwindoworinthegarden,andoftenhungaboutthebankofthecreekforhours,likesomeanimal.Idon"tthinktheotherssawhim,andwhentheydidtheythoughtitwasParmleeforEuphemia.EvenEuphemiathoughtsotoo,andthatwaswhyshewassoconceitedandhardtoParmleetowardstheend.ShethoughtitwasParmleethatnightwhenGrantandRicecame;butitwas"LigeCurtiswhohadbeenwatchingthewindowlightsintherain,andwhomusthavegoneoffatlasttospeaktoyouinthestore.IalwaysletPhemiebelievethatitwasParmlee,——itseemedtopleaseher."

Therewasnottheleasttoneofmischieforsuperiority,orevenofpatronageinhermanner.Itwasasquietandcruelasthefatethatmighthaveled"Ligetohisdestruction.Evenherfatherfeltaslightthrillofaweasshepaused."Thenheneverreallyspoketoyou?"heaskedhurriedly.

"Onlyonce.Iwasgatheringswampliliesallalone,amilebelowthebendofthecreek,andhecameuponmesuddenly.PerhapsitwasthatIdidn"tjumporstart——Ididn"tseeanythingtojumporstartat——thathesaid,"You"renotfrightenedatme,MissHarcourt,liketheothergirls?Youdon"tthinkI"mdrunkorhalfmad——astheydo?"Idon"trememberexactlywhatIsaid,butitmeantthatwhetherhewasdrunkorhalfmadorsoberIdidn"tseeanyreasontobeafraidofhim.AndthenhetoldmethatifIwasfondofswampliliesImighthaveallIwantedathisplace,andforthematterofthattheplacetoo,ashewasgoingaway,forhecouldn"tstandthelonelinessanylonger.Hesaidthathehadnothingincommonwiththeplaceandthepeople——nomorethanI

had——andthatwaswhathehadalwaysfanciedinme.Itoldhimthatifhefeltinthatwayabouthisplaceheoughttoleaveit,orsellittosomeonewhocaredforit,andgoaway.Thatmusthavebeeninhismindwhenheofferedittoyou,——atleastthat"swhatIthoughtwhenyoutoldusyouhadboughtit.Ididn"tknowbutwhathemighthavetoldyou,butyoudidn"tcaretosayitbeforemother."

Mr.Harcourtsatgazingatherwithbreathlessamazement."Andyou——thinkthat——"LigeCurtis——lov——likedyou?"

"Yes,Ithinkhedid——andthathedoesnow!"

"NOW!Whatdoyoumean?Themanisdead!"saidHarcourtstarting.

"That"sjustwhatIdon"tbelieve."

"Impossible!Thinkofwhatyouaresaying."

"Inevercouldquiteunderstandorfeelthathewasdeadwheneverybodysaidso,andnowthatI"veheardthisstoryIKNOWthatheisliving."

"Butwhydidhenotmakehimselfknownintimetoclaimtheproperty?"