第13章

"Becausehedidnotcareforit."

"Whatdidhecarefor,then?"

"Me,Isuppose."

"Butthiscalumnyisnotlikeamanwholovesyou."

"ItislikeaJEALOUSone."

WithaneffortHarcourtthrewoffhisbewilderedincredulityandgraspedthesituation.Hewouldhavetocontendwithhisenemyinthefleshandblood,butthatfleshandbloodwouldbeveryweakinthehandsoftheimpassivegirlbesidehim.Hisfacelightened.

ThesameideamighthavebeeninClementina"smindwhenshespokeagain,althoughherfacehadremainedunchanged."IdonotseewhyYOUshouldbotheryourselffurtheraboutit,"shesaid."Itisonlyamatterbetweenmyselfandhim;youcanleaveittome."

"Butifyouaremistakenandheshouldnotbeliving?"

"Iamnotmistaken.IamevencertainnowthatIhaveseenhim."

"Seenhim!"

"Yes,"saidthegirlwiththefirsttraceofanimationinherface.

"ItwasfourorfivemonthsagowhenwewerevisitingtheBrionesatMonterey.WehadriddenouttotheoldMissionbymoonlight.

ThereweresomeMexicansloungingaroundtheposada,andoneofthemattractedmyattentionbythewayheseemedtowatchme,withoutrevealinganymoreofhisfacethanIcouldseebetweenhisserapeandtheblacksilkhandkerchiefthatwastiedaroundhisheadunderhissombrero.ButIknewhewasanAmerican——andhiseyeswerefamiliar.Ibelieveitwashe."

"Whydidyounotspeakofitbefore?"

Thelookofanimationdiedoutofthegirl"sface."WhyshouldI?"

shesaidlistlessly."Ididnotknowofthesereportsthen.Hewasnothingmoretous.Youwouldn"thavecaredtoseehimagain."

Sherose,smoothedoutherskirtandstoodlookingatherfather.

"Thereisonething,ofcourse,thatyou"lldoatonce."

Hervoicehadchangedsooddlythathesaidquickly:"What"sthat?"

"CallGrantoffthescent.He"llonlyfrightenorexasperateyourgame,andthat"swhatyoudon"twant."

Hervoicewasasimperiousasithadbeenpreviouslylistless.Anditwasthefirsttimehehadeverknownhertouseslang.

Itseemedasstartlingasifithadfallenfromthemarblelipsabovehim.

"ButI"vepromisedhimthatweshouldgotogethertomylawyerto-

morrow,andbeginasuitagainsttheproprietorsofthe"Clarion.""

"Donothingofthekind.GetridofGrant"sassistanceinthismatter;andseethe"Clarion"proprietoryourself.Whatsortofamanishe?Canyouinvitehimtoyourhouse?"

"Ihaveneverseenhim;IbelievehelivesatSanJose.Heisawealthymanandalargelandownerthere.Youunderstandthatafterthefirstarticleappearedinhispaper,andIknewthathehademployedyourbrother——althoughGrantsaysthathehadnothingtodowithitandleftFletcheronaccountofit——Icouldhavenointercoursewithhim.EvenifIinvitedhimhewouldnotcome."

"HeMUSTcome.LeaveittoME."Shestoppedandresumedherformerimpassivemanner."Ihadsomethingtosaytoyoutoo,father.Mr.ShipleyproposedtomethedaywewenttoSanMateo."

Herfather"seyeslitwithaneagersparkle."Well,"hesaidquickly.

"IremindedhimthatIhadknownhimonlyafewweeks,andthatI

wantedtimetoconsider."

"Consider!Why,Clemmy,he"soneoftheoldestBostonfamilies,richfromhisfatherandgrandfather——richwhenIwasashopkeeperandyourmother"——

"IthoughtyoulikedGrant?"shesaidquietly.

"Yes,butifYOUhavenochoicenorfeelinginthematter,whyShipleyisfarthebetterman.Andifanyofthescandalshouldcometohisears"——

"Somuchthebetterthatthehesitationshouldcomefromme.Butifyouthinkitbetter,Icansitdownhereandwritetohimatoncedecliningtheoffer."Shemovedtowardsthedesk.

"No!No!Ididnotmeanthat,"saidHarcourtquickly."Ionlythoughtthatifhedidhearanythingitmightbesaidthathehadbackedout."

"Hissisterknowsofhisoffer,andthoughshedon"tlikeitnorme,shewillnotdenythefact.Bytheway,yourememberwhenshewaslostthatdayontheroadtoSanMateo?"

"Yes."

"Well,shewaswithyourson,JohnMilton,allthetime,andtheylunchedtogetheratCrystalSpring.Itcameoutquiteaccidentallythroughthehotel-keeper."

Harcourt"sbrowdarkened."Didsheknowhimbefore?"

"Ican"tsay;butshedoesnow."

Harcourt"sfacewasheavywithdistrust."TakingShipley"sofferandthesescandalsintoconsideration,Idon"tlikethelookofthis,Clementina."

"Ido,"saidthegirlsimply.

Harcourtgazedatherkeenlyandwiththeshadowofdistruststilluponhim.Itseemedtobequiteimpossible,evenwithwhatheknewofhercalmlycoldnature,thatsheshouldbeequallyuninfluencedbyGrantorShipley.Hadshesomesteadfast,loftyideal,orperhapssomealreadyabsorbingpassionofwhichheknewnothing?

Shewasnotagirltobetrayit——theywouldonlyknowitwhenitwastoolate.Coulditbepossiblethattherewasstillsomethingbetweenherand"Ligethatheknewnothingof?Thethoughtstruckachilltohisbreast.Shewaswalkingtowardsthedoor,whenherecalledhimselfwithaneffort.

"IfyouthinkitadvisabletoseeFletcher,youmightrundowntoSanJoseforadayortwowithyourmother,andcallontheRamirez.

Theymayknowhimorsomebodywhodoes.OfcourseifYOUmeethimandcasuallyinvitehimitwouldbedifferent."

"It"sagoodidea,"shesaidquickly."I"lldoit,andspeaktomothernow."

Hewasstruckbythechangeinherfaceandvoice;theyhadbothnervouslylightened,asoddlyanddistinctlyastheyhadbeforeseemedtogrowsuddenlyharshandaggressive.Shepassedoutoftheroomwithgirlishbrusqueness,leavinghimalonewithanewandvaguefearinhisconsciousness.

AfewhourslaterClementinawasstandingbeforethewindowofthedrawing-roomthatoverlookedtheoutskirtsofthetown.ThemoonlightwasfloodingthevastbluishTasajaralevelswithafaintlustre,asifthewatersofthecreekhadoncemorereturnedtothem.IntheshadowofthecurtainbesideherGrantwasfacingherwithanxiouseyes.

"ThenImusttakethisasyourfinalanswer,Clementina?"

"Youmust.AndhadIknownofthesecalumniesbefore,hadyoubeenfrankwithmeeventhedaywewenttoSanMateo,myanswerwouldhavebeenasfinalthen,andyoumighthavebeensparedanyfurthersuspense.Iamnotblamingyou,Mr.Grant;Iamwillingtobelievethatyouthoughtitbesttoconcealthisfromme,——evenatthattimewhenyouhadjustpledgedyourselftofindoutitstruthorfalsehood,——yetmyanswerwouldhavebeenthesame.Solongasthisstainrestsonmyfather"snameIshallneverallowthatnametobecoupledwithyoursinmarriageorengagement;norwillmyprideoryoursallowustocarryonasimplefriendshipafterthis.

Ithankyouforyourofferofassistance,butIcannotevenacceptthatwhichmighttoothersseemtoallowsomecontingentclaim.I

wouldratherbelievethatwhenyouproposedthisinquiryandmyfatherpermittedit,youbothknewthatitputanendtoanyotherrelationsbetweenus."

"But,Clementina,youarewrong,believeme!SaythatIhavebeenfoolish,indiscreet,mad,——stillthefewwhoknewthatImadetheseinquiriesonyourfather"sbehalfknownothingofmyhopesofYOU!"

"ButIdo,andthatisenoughforme."

Eveninthehopelesspreoccupationofhispassionhesuddenlylookedatherwithsomethingofhisoldcriticalscrutiny.Butshestoodtherecalm,concentrated,self-possessedandupright.Yes!

itwaspossiblethattheprideofthisSouthwesternshopkeepersdaughterwasgreaterthanhisown.

"Thenyoubanishme,Clementina?"

"ItiswewhomYOUhavebanished."

"Good-night."

"Good-by."

Hebentforaninstantoverhercoldhand,andthenpassedoutintothehall.Sheremainedlisteninguntilthefrontdoorclosedbehindhim.Thensheranswiftlythroughthehallandupthestaircase,withanalacritythatseemedimpossibletothestatelygoddessofamomentbefore.Whenshehadreachedherbedroomandclosedthedoor,soexuberantstillandsouncontrollablewasherlevityandaction,thatwithoutgoingroundthebedwhichstoodbeforeherinthecentreoftheroom,sheplacedhertwohandsuponitandlightlyvaultedsidewaysacrossittoreachthewindow.

ThereshewatchedthefigureofGrantcrossingthemoonlitsquare.

Thenturningbackintothehalf-litroom,sherantothesmalldressing-glassplacedatanangleonatoilettableagainstthewall.Withherpalmsgraspingherkneesshestoopeddownsuddenlyandcontemplatedthemirror.ItshowedwhatnoonebutClementinahadeverseen,——andsheherselfonlyatrareintervals,——thelaughingeyesandsoulofaself-satisfied,material-minded,ordinarycountry-girl!

CHAPTERX.

ButMr.LawrenceGrant"scharacterincertaincircumstanceswouldseemtohaveasstartlingandinexplicablecontradictionsasClementinaHarcourt"s,andthreedayslaterhehaltedhishorseattheentranceofLosGatosRancho.TheHomeoftheCats——socalledfromthecatamountswhichinfestedthelocality——whichhadforoveracenturylazilybaskedbeforeoneofthehottestcanyonsintheCoastRange,hadlatelybeenstirredintosomeactivitybytheAmerican,DonDiegoFletcher,whohadboughtit,putupasaw-mill,anddeforestedthecanyon.StillthereremainedenoughsuggestionofafelinehauntaboutittomakeGrantfeelasifhehadtrackedhithersomestealthyenemy,inspiteofthepeacefulintimationconveyedbythesignonaroughboardedshedatthewayside,thatthe"LosGatosLandandLumberCompany"heldtheirofficethere.

Acigarette-smokingpeonloungedbeforethedoor.Yes;DonDiegowasthere,butashehadarrivedfromSantaClaraonlylastnightandwasgoingtoColonelRamirezthatafternoon,hewasengaged.

Unlessthebusinesswasimportant——butthecool,determinedmannerofGrant,evenmorethanhiswords,signifiedthatitWAS

important,andtheservantledthewaytoDonDiego"spresence.

TherecertainlywasnothingintheappearanceofthissylvanproprietorandnewspapercapitalisttojustifyGrant"ssuspicionofasurreptitiousfoe.Ahandsomemanscarcelyolderthanhimself,inspiteofawavymassofperfectlywhitehairwhichcontrastedsingularlywithhisbrownmustacheanddarksunburnedface.Sodisguisingwastheeffectofthesecontradictions,thathenotonlylookedunlikeanybodyelse,butevenhisnationalityseemedtobeamatterofdoubt.Onlyhiseyes,lightblueandintelligent,whichhadasingularexpressionofgentlenessandworry,appearedindividualtotheman.Hismannerwascultivatedandeasy.Hemotionedhisvisitorcourteouslytoachair.

"Iwasreferredtoyou,"saidGrant,almostabruptly,"asthepersonresponsibleforaseriesofslanderousattacksagainstMr.

DanielHarcourtinthe"Clarion,"ofwhichpaperIbelieveyouaretheproprietor.Iwastoldthatyoudeclinedtogivetheauthorityforyouraction,unlessyouwereforcedtobylegalproceedings."

Fletcher"ssensitiveblueeyesresteduponGrant"swithanexpressionofconstrainedpainandpity."Iheardofyourinquiries,Mr.Grant;youweremakingthemonbehalfofthisMr.

HarcourtorHarkutt"——hemadethedistinctionwithintentionaldeliberation——"withaview,Ibelieve,tosomearbitration.Thecasewasstatedtoyoufairly,Ithink;IbelieveIhavenothingtoaddtoit."

"ThatwasyouranswertotheambassadorofMr.Harcourt,"saidGrant,coldly,"andassuchIdeliveredittohim;butIamhereto-daytospeakonmyownaccount."

WhatcouldbeseenofMr.Fletcher"slipsappearedtocurlinanoddsmile."Indeed,Ithoughtitwas——orwouldbe——allinthefamily."

Grant"sfacegrewmorestern,andhisgrayeyesglittered."You"llfindmystatusinthismattersofarindependentthatIdon"tpropose,likeMr.Harcourt,eithertobeginasuitortorestquietlyunderthecalumny.Briefly,Mr.Fletcher,asyouoryourinformantknows,IwasthesurveyorwhorevealedtoMr.Harcourtthevalueofthelandtowhichheclaimedatitlefromyourman,thisElijahor"LigeCurtisasyoucallhim,"——hecouldnotresistthisimitationofhisadversary"ssuperciliousaffectationofprecisenomenclature,——"anditwasuponmyrepresentationofitsvalueasaninvestmentthathebegantheimprovementswhichhavemadehimwealthy.Ifthistitlewasfraudulentlyobtained,allthefactspertainingtoitaresufficientlyrelatedtoconnectmewiththeconspiracy."

"Areyounotalittlehastyinyourpresumption,Mr.Grant?"saidFletcher,withunfeignedsurprise.

"ThatisforMEtojudge,Mr.Fletcher,"returnedGrant,haughtily.

"ButthenameofProfessorGrantisknowntoallCaliforniaasbeyondthebreathofcalumnyorsuspicion."

"ItisbecauseofthatfactthatIproposetokeepitso."

"AndmayIaskinwhatwayyouwishmetoassistyouinsodoing?"

"Bypromptlyandpubliclyretractinginthe"Clarion"everywordofthisslanderagainstHarcourt."

Fletcherlookedsteadfastlyatthespeaker."AndifIdecline?"

"IthinkyouhavebeenlongenoughinCalifornia,Mr.Fletcher,toknowthealternativeexpectedofagentleman,"saidGrant,coldly.

Mr.Fletcherkepthisgentleblueeyes——inwhichsurprisestilloverbalancedtheirexpressionofpainedconcern——onGrant"sface.

"ButisnotthismoreinthestyleofColonelStarbottlethanProfessorGrant?"heasked,withafaintsmile.

Grantroseinstantlywithawhiteface."Youwillhaveabetteropportunityofjudging,"hesaid,"whenColonelStarbottlehasthehonorofwaitinguponyoufromme.Meantime,Ithankyouforremindingmeoftheindiscretionintowhichmyfolly,instillbelievingthatthisthingcouldbesettledamicably,hasledme."

Hebowedcoldlyandwithdrew.Nevertheless,ashemountedhishorseandrodeaway,hefelthischeeksburning.Yethehadacteduponcalmconsideration;heknewthattotheordinaryCalifornianexperiencetherewasnothingquixoticnorexaggeratedintheattitudehehadtaken.Menhadquarreledandfoughtonlessgrounds;hehadevenhalfconvincedhimselfthatheHADbeeninsulted,andthathisownprofessionalreputationdemandedthewithdrawaloftheattackonHarcourtonpurelybusinessgrounds;

buthewasnotsatisfiedofthepersonalresponsibilityofFletchernorofhisgratuitousmalignity.Nordidthemanlooklikeatoolinthehandsofsomeunscrupulousandhiddenenemy.However,hehadplayedhiscard.IfhesucceededonlyinprovokingaduelwithFletcher,heatleastwoulddivertthepublicattentionfromHarcourttohimself.Heknewthathissuperiorpositionwouldthrowthelesservictiminthebackground.Hewouldmakethesacrifice;thatwashisdutyasagentleman,evenifSHEwouldnotcaretoacceptitasanearnestofhisunselfishlove!

HehadreachedthepointwherethemountaintrackenteredtheSantaClaraturnpikewhenhisattentionwasattractedbyahandsomebutold-fashionedcarriagedrawnbyfourwhitemules,whichpasseddowntheroadbeforehimandturnedsuddenlyoffintoaprivateroad.

ButitwasnotthispicturesquegalaequipageofsomelocalSpanishgrandeethatbroughtathrilltohisnervesandaflashtohiseye;

itwastheunmistakable,tall,elegantfigureandhandsomeprofileofClementina,reclininginlightgauzywrapsagainstthebackseat!Itwasnofancifulresemblance,theoutcomeofhisreverie,——

thereneverwasanyonelikeher!——itWASsheherself!Butwhatwasshedoinghere?

Avaquerocanteredfromthecrossroadwherethedustofthevehiclestillhung.Granthailedhim.Ah!itwasafinecarrozadecuatromulasthathehadjustpassed!Si,Senor,truly;itwasofDonJoseRamirez,wholivedjustunderthehill.Itwasbringingcompanytothecasa.

Ramirez!ThatwaswhereFletcherwasgoing!HadClementinaknownthathewasoneofFletcher"sfriends?Mightshenotbeexposedtounpleasantness,markedcoolness,oreveninsultinthatunexpectedmeeting?Oughtshenottobewarnedorpreparedforit?ShehadbanishedGrantfromherpresenceuntilthisstainwasremovedfromherfather"sname,butcouldsheblamehimfortryingtosaveherfromcontactwithherfather"sslanderer?No!Heturnedhishorseabruptlyintothecrossroadandspurredforwardinthedirectionofthecasa.

Itwasquitevisiblenow——alow-walled,quadrangularmassofwhitewashedadobelyinglikeadriftonthegreenhillside.Thecarriageandfourhadfarprecededhim,andwasalreadyhalfupthewindingroadtowardsthehouse.Laterhesawthemreachthecourtyardanddisappearwithin.Hewouldbequiteintimetospeakwithherbeforesheretiredtochangeherdress.HewouldsimplysaythatwhilemakingaprofessionalvisittoLosGatosLandCompanyofficehehadbecomeawareofFletcher"sconnectionwithit,andaccidentallyofhisintendedvisittoRamirez.Hischancemeetingwiththecarriageonthehighwayhaddeterminedhiscourse.

Asherodeintothecourtyardheobservedthatitwasalsoapproachedbyanotherroad,evidentlynearerLosGatos,andprobablytheolderandshortercommunicationbetweenthetworanchos.Thefactwassignificantlydemonstratedamomentlater.Hehadgivenhishorsetoaservant,sentinhiscardtoClementina,andhaddroppedlistlesslyononeofthebenchesofthegallerysurroundingthepatio,whenahorsemanrodebrisklyintotheoppositegateway,anddismountedwithafamiliarair.AwaitingpeonwhorecognizedhiminformedhimthattheDonawasengagedwithavisitor,butthattheywerebothreturningtothegalleryforchocolateinamoment.Thestrangerwasthemanhehadleftonlyanhourbefore——DonDiegoFletcher!

Inaninstanttheidioticfatuityofhispositionstruckhimfully.

HisonlyexcuseforfollowingClementinahadbeentowarnherofthecomingofthismanwhohadjustentered,andwhowouldnowmeetherasquicklyashimself.Forabriefmomenttheideaofquietlyslippingouttothecorral,mountinghishorseagain,andflyingfromtherancho,crossedhismind;butthethoughtthathewouldberunningawayfromthemanhehadjustchallenged,andperhapssomenewhostilitythathadsprungupinhisheartagainsthim,compelledhimtoremain.Theeyesofbothmenmet;Fletcher"sinhalf-wonderingannoyance,Grant"sinill-concealedantagonism.