第14章

Whattheywouldhavesaidisnotknown,foratthatmomentthevoicesofClementinaandMrs.Ramirezwereheardinthepassage,andtheybothenteredthegallery.Thetwomenwerestandingtogether;itwasimpossibletoseeonewithouttheother.

AndyetGrant,whoseeyeswereinstantlydirectedtoClementina,thoughtthatshehadnotedneither.Sheremainedforaninstantstandinginthedoorwayinthesameself-possessed,coldlygracefulposeherememberedshehadtakenontheplatformatTasajara.Hereyelidswereslightlydowncast,asifshehadbeenarrestedbysomesuddenthoughtorsomeshymaidensensitiveness;inherhesitationMrs.Ramirezpassedimpatientlybeforeher.

"MotherofGod!"saidthatlivelylady,regardingthetwospeechlessmen,"isitanindiscretionwearemakinghere——orareyoudumb?You,DonDiego,areloudenoughwhenyouandDonJosearetogether;atleastintroduceyourfriend."

Grantquicklyrecoveredhimself."Iamafraid,"hesaid,comingforward,"unlessMissHarcourtdoes,thatIamameretrespasserinyourhouse,Senora.Isawherpassinyourcarriageafewmomentsago,andhavingamessageforherIventuredtofollowherhere."

"ItisMr.Grant,afriendofmyfather"s,"saidClementina,smilingwithequanimity,asifjustawakeningfromamomentaryabstraction,yetapparentlyunconsciousofGrant"simploringeyes;

"buttheothergentlemanIhavenotthepleasureofknowing."

"Ah!DonDiegoFletcher,acountrymanofyours;andyetIthinkheknowsyounot."

Clementina"sfacebetrayednoindicationofthepresenceofherfather"sfoe,andyetGrantknewthatshemusthaverecognizedhisname,asshelookedtowardsFletcherwithperfectself-possession.

HewastoomuchengagedinwatchinghertotakenoteofFletcher"smanifestdisturbance,ortheevidenteffortwithwhichheatlastbowedtoher.Thatthisunexpecteddoublemeetingwiththedaughterofthemanhehadwronged,andthemanwhohadespousedthequarrel,shouldbeconfoundingtohimappearedonlynatural.

ButhewasunpreparedtounderstandthefeverishalacritywithwhichheacceptedDonaMaria"sinvitationtochocolate,ortheequallyanimatedwayinwhichClementinathrewherselfintoherhostess"sSpanishlevity.Heknewitwasanawkwardsituation,thatmustbesurmountedwithoutascene;hewasquitepreparedinthepresenceofClementinatobeciviltoFletcher;butitwasoddthatinthisfeverishexchangeofcourtesiesandcomplimentsHE,Grant,shouldfeelthegreaterawkwardnessandbethemostillatease.Hesatdownandtookhispartintheconversation;heletittranspireforClementina"sbenefitthathehadbeentoLosGatosonlyonbusiness,yettherewasnoopportunityforevenasignificantglance,andhehadtheaddedembarrassmentofseeingthatsheexhibitednosurprisenorseemedtoattachtheleastimportancetohisinopportunevisit.Inamiserableindecisionheallowedhimselftobecarriedawaybythehigh-flownhospitalityofhisSpanishhostess,andconsentedtostaytoanearlydinner.ItwaspartoftheinfelicityofcircumstancethatthevolubleDonaMaria——electinghimasthedistinguishedstrangerabovetheresidentFletcher——monopolizedhimandattachedhimtoherside.

Shewoulddothehonorsofherhouse;shemustshowhimtheruinsoftheoldMissionbesidethecorral;DonDiegoandClementinawouldjointhempresentlyinthegarden.HecastadespairingglanceattheplacidlysmilingClementina,whowasapparentlyequallyindifferenttotheevidentconstraintandassumedeaseofthemanbesideher,andturnedawaywithMrs.Ramirez.

AsilencefelluponthegallerysodeepthattherecedingvoicesandfootstepsofGrantandhishostessinthelongpassageweredistinctlyhearduntiltheyreachedtheend.ThenFletcherarosewithaninarticulateexclamation.Clementinainstantlyputherfingertoherlips,glancedaroundthegallery,extendedherhandtohim,andsaying"Come,"half-led,half-draggedhimintothepassage.Totherightsheturnedandpushedopenthedoorofasmallroomthatseemedacombinationofboudoirandoratory,litbyaFrenchwindowopeningtothegarden,andflankedbyalargeblackandwhitecrucifixwithaprieDieubeneathit.Closingthedoorbehindthemsheturnedandfacedhercompanion.Butitwasnolongerthefaceofthewomanwhohadbeensittinginthegallery;

itwasthefacethathadlookedbackatherfromthemirroratTasajarathenightthatGranthadlefther——eager,flushed,materialwithcommonplaceexcitement!

""LigeCurtis,"shesaid.

"Yes,"heansweredpassionately,"LigeCurtis,whomyouthoughtdead!"LigeCurtis,whomyouoncepitied,condoledwithanddespised!"LigeCurtis,whoselandsandpropertyhaveenrichedyou!"LigeCurtis,whowouldhaveshareditwithyoufreelyatthetime,butwhomyourfatherjuggledanddefraudedofit!"LigeCurtis,brandedbyhimasadrunkenoutcastandsuicide!"LigeCurtis"——

"Hush!"Sheclappedherlittlehandoverhismouthwithaquickbutawkwardschoolgirlgesture,inconceivabletoanywhohadknownherusuallanguideleganceofmotion,andhelditthere.Hestruggledangrily,impatiently,reproachfully,andthen,withasuddencharacteristicweaknessthatseemedasmuchofarevelationasheroncehoydenishmanner,kissedit,whensheletitdrop.

Thenplacingbothherhandsstillgirlishlyonherslimwaistandcurtseyinggrotesquelybeforehim,shesaid:""LigeCurtis!Oh,yes!"LigeCurtis,whosworetodoeverythingforme!"LigeCurtis,whopromisedtogiveupliquorforme,——whowastoleaveTasajaraforme!"LigeCurtis,whowastoreform,andkeephislandasanest-eggforusbothinthefuture,andthenwhosoldit——

andhimself——andme——todadforaglassofwhiskey!"LigeCurtis,whodisappeared,andthenletusthinkhewasdead,onlythathemightattackusoutoftheambushofhisgrave!"

"Yes,butthinkwhatIhavesufferedalltheseyears;notforthecursedland——youknowInevercaredforthat——butforYOU,——you,Clementina,——YOUrich,admiredbyeveryone;idolized,heldfaraboveme,——ME,theforgottenoutcast,thewretchedsuicide——andyetthemantowhomyouhadonceplightedyourtroth.Whichofthosegreedyfortune-hunterswhommymoney——mylife-bloodasyoumighthavethoughtitwas——attractedtoyou,didyoucaretotellthatyouhadeverslippedoutofthelittlegardengateatSidontomeetthatoutcast!DoyouwonderthatastheyearspassedandYOUwerehappy,Ididnotchoosetobesoforgotten?DoyouwonderthatwhenYOUshutthedooronthepastImanagedtoopenitagain——ifonlyalittleway——thatitslightmightstartleyou?"

Yetshedidnotseemstartledordisturbed,andremainedonlylookingathimcritically.

"Yousaythatyouhavesuffered,"sherepliedwithasmile."Youdon"tlookit!Yourhairiswhite,butitisbecomingtoyou,andyouareahandsomerman,"LigeCurtis,thanyouwerewhenIfirstmetyou;youarefiner,"shewenton,stillregardinghim,"strongerandhealthierthanyouwerefiveyearsago;youarerichandprosperous,youhaveeverythingtomakeyouhappy,but"——hereshelaughedalittle,heldoutbothherhands,takinghisandholdinghisarmsapartinarustic,homelyfashion——"butyouarestillthesameold"LigeCurtis!Itwaslikeyoutogooffandhideyourselfinthatidioticway;itwaslikeyoutoletthepropertyslideinthatstupid,unselfishfashion;itwaslikeyoutogetrealmad,andsayallthosemean,sillythingstodad,thatdidn"thurthim——inyourregularlooneystyle;forrichorpoor,drunkorsober,raggedorelegant,plainorhandsome,——you"realwaysthesame"LigeCurtis!"

Inproportionasthatmaterial,practical,rusticself——whichnobodybut"LigeCurtishadeverseen——camebacktoher,soinproportiontheirresolute,wavering,weakandemotionalvagabondofSidoncameouttomeetit.Helookedatherwithavaguesmile;

hisfiveyearsofchildishresentment,albeitcarriedontheshouldersofamanmentallyandmorallyhersuperior,meltedaway.

Hedrewhertowardshim,yetatthesamemomentaquicksuspicionreturned.

"Well,andwhatareyoudoinghere?Hasthismanwhohasfollowedyouanyright,anyclaimuponyou?"

"Nonebutwhatyouinyourfollyhaveforceduponhim!Youhavemadehimfather"sally.Idon"tknowwhyhecamehere.IonlyknowwhyIdid——tofindYOU!"

"Yoususpectedthen?"

"IKNEW!Hush!"

ThereturningvoicesofGrantandofMrs.Ramirezwereheardinthecourtyard.Clementinamadeawarningyetgirlishlymirthfulgesture,againcaughthishand,drewhimquicklytotheFrenchwindow,andslippedthroughitwithhimintothegarden,wheretheywerequicklylostintheshadowsofaceanothushedge.

"TheyhaveprobablymetDonJoseintheorchard,andasheandDonDiegohavebusinesstogether,DonaClementinahaswithoutdoubtgonetoherroomandleftthem.Foryouarenotveryentertainingtotheladiesto-day,——youtwocaballeros!Youhavemuchpoliticstogether,eh?——oryouhavediscussedanddisagreed,eh?IwilllookfortheSenorita,andletyougo,DonDistraido!"

ItistobefearedthatGrant"sapologiesandattemptstodetainherwereequallyfeeble,——asitseemedtohimthatthiswastheonlychancehemighthaveofseeingClementinaexceptincompanywithFletcher.AsMrs.Ramirezlefthelitacigaretteandlistlesslywalkedupanddownthegallery.ButClementinadidnotcome,neitherdidhishostessreturn.Asubduedstepinthepassageraisedhishopes,——itwasonlythegrizzledmajordomo,toshowhimhisroomthathemightpreparefordinner.

Hefollowedmechanicallydownthelongpassagetoasecondcorridor.TherewasachancethathemightmeetClementina,buthereachedhisroomwithoutencounteringanyone.Itwasalargevaultedapartmentwithasinglewindow,adeepembrasureinthethickwallthatseemedtofocuslikeatelescopesomeforgotten,sequesteredpartoftheleafygarden.Whilewashinghishands,gazingabsentlyatthegreenvignetteframedbythedarkopening,hisattentionwasdrawntoamovementofthefoliage,stirredapparentlybytherapidpassageoftwohalf-hiddenfigures.Thequickflashofafeminineskirtseemedtoindicatethecoyflightofsomerompingmaidofthecasa,andthepursuitandstruggleofhervaqueroswain.Toadespairinglovereventhespectacleofinnocent,pastoralhappinessinothersisnotapttobesoothing,andGrantwasturningimpatientlyawaywhenhesuddenlystoppedwitharigidfaceandquicklyapproachedthewindow.InherstruggleswiththeunseenCorydon,theclusteringleavesseemedtohaveyieldedatthesamemomentwiththecoyChloris,andparting——

disclosedastolenkiss!Grant"shandlaylikeiceagainstthewall.For,disengagingFletcher"sarmfromherwaistandfreeingherskirtfromthefoliage,itwasthecalm,passionlessClementinaherselfwhosteppedout,andmovedpensivelytowardsthecasa.

CHAPTERXI.

"Readersofthe"Clarion"willhavenoticedthatallusionhasbeenfrequentlymadeinthesecolumnstocertainrumorsconcerningtheearlyhistoryofTasajarawhichweresupposedtoaffectthepioneerrecordofDanielHarcourt.Itwasdeemedbytheconductorsofthisjournaltobeonlyconsistentwiththefearlessandindependentdutyundertakenbythe"Clarion"thattheserumorsshouldbefullychronicledaspartoftheinformationrequiredbythereadersofafirst-classnewspaper,unbiasedbyanyconsiderationofthesocialpositionoftheparties,butsimplyasamatterofnews.Forthisthe"Clarion"doesnotdeemitnecessarytoutterawordofapology.Butforthateditorialcommentorattitudewhichtheproprietorsfeltwasjustifiedbythereliablesourcesoftheirinformationtheynowconsideritonlydueinhonortothemselves,theirreaders,andMr.Harcourttofullyandfreelyapologize.A

patientandlaboriousinvestigationenablesthemtostatethattheallegedfactspublishedbythe"Clarion"andcopiedbyotherjournalsareutterlyunsupportedbytestimony,andthecharges——

althoughmoreorlessvague——whichwerebaseduponthemareequallyuntenable.Wearenowsatisfiedthatone"ElijahCurtis,"aformerpioneerofTasajarawhodisappearedfiveyearsago,andwassupposedtobedrowned,hasnotonlymadenoclaimtotheTasajaraproperty,asalleged,buthasgivennosignofhisequallyallegedresuscitationandpresentexistence,andthatontheminutestinvestigationthereappearsnothingeitherinhisdisappearance,orthetransferofhispropertytoDanielHarcourt,thatcouldinanywaydisturbtheuncontestedtitletoTasajaraortheunimpeachablecharacterofitspresentowner.ThewholestorynowseemstohavebeentheoutcomeofoneofthosestupidruralhoaxestoocommoninCalifornia."

"Well,"saidMrs.Ashwood,layingasidethe"Clarion"withaskepticalshrugofherprettyshoulders,assheglancedupatherbrother;"Isupposethismeansthatyouaregoingtoproposeagaintotheyounglady?"

"Ihave,"saidJackShipley,"that"stheworstofit——andgotmyanswerbeforethiscameout."

"Jack!"saidMrs.Ashwood,thoroughlysurprised.

"Yes!Yousee,Conny,asItoldyouthreeweeksago,shesaidshewantedtimetoconsider,——thatshescarcelyknewme,andallthat!

Well,Ithoughtitwasn"texactlyagentleman"sbusinesstoseemtostandoffafterthatlastattackonherfather,andso,lastweek,IwentdowntoSanJose,whereshewasstaying,andbeggedhernottokeepmeinsuspense.And,byJove!shefrozemewithalook,andsaidthatwiththeseaspersionsonherfather"scharacter,shepreferrednottobeunderobligationstoanyone."

"Andyoubelievedher?"

"Oh,hangitall!Lookhere,Conny,——Iwishyou"djusttryforoncetofindoutsomegoodinthatfamily,besideswhatthatsentimentalyoungwidowerJohnMiltonmayhave.Youseemtothinkbecausethey"vequarreledwithHIMthereisn"tavirtueleftamongthem."

Farfromseemingtoofferanysuggestionoffeminineretaliation,Mrs.Ashwoodsmiledsweetly."MydearJack,IhavenodesiretokeepyoufromtryingyourluckagainwithMissClementina,ifthat"swhatyoumean,andindeedIshouldn"tbesurprisedifafamilywhofeltamesallianceassensitivelyastheHarcourtsfeltthataffairoftheirson"s,wouldbeaskeenlyalivetotheadvantagesofagoodmatchfortheirdaughter.AstoyoungMr.

Harcourt,henevertalkedtomeofthevicesofhisfamily,norhashelatelytroubledmemuchwiththepresenceofhisownvirtues.

Ihaven"theardfromhimsincewecamehere."

"Isupposeheissatisfiedwiththegovernmentberthyougotforhim,"returnedherbrotherdryly.

"HewasverygratefultoSenatorFlynn,whoappreciateshistalents,butwhoofferedittohimasamerequestionoffitness,"

repliedMrs.Ashwoodwithgreatprecisionofstatement."Butyoudon"tseemtoknowhedeclineditonaccountofhisotherwork."

"PreferredhisoldBohemianways,eh?Youcan"tchangethosefellows,Conny.Theycan"tgetoverthefascinationsofvagabondage.Sorryyourlady-patronessschemedidn"twork.Pityyoucouldn"thavepromotedhiminthelineofhisprofession,astheGrandDuchessofGirolsteindidFritz."

"ForHeaven"ssake,Jack,gotoClementina!Youmaynotbesuccessful,butthereatleasttheperfectgentlemanlinessandgoodtasteofyourillustrationswillnotbethrownaway."

"IthinkofgoingtoSanFranciscotomorrow,anyway,"returnedJackwithaffectedcarelessness."I"mgettingratherboredwiththiswildseasidewateringplaceanditsglitterofoceanandhopelessbackgroundofmountain.It"snothingtomethat"there"snolandnearerthanJapan"outthere.Itmaybeveryhealthfultothetissues,butit"swearinesstothespirit,andIdon"tseewhywecan"twaitatSanFranciscotilltherainssendusfurthersouth,aswellashere."

Hehadwalkedtothebalconyoftheirsitting-roominthelittleseasidehotelwherethisconversationtookplace,andgazeddiscontentedlyoverthecurvingbayandsandyshorebeforehim.

AfteraslightpauseMrs.Ashwoodsteppedoutbesidehim.

"VerylikelyImaygowithyou,"shesaid,withaperceptibletoneofweariness."Wewillseeafterthepostarrives."

"Bytheway,thereisalittlepackageforyouinmyroom,thatcamethismorning.Ibroughtitup,butforgottogiveittoyou.

You"llfinditonmytable."

Mrs.Ashwoodabstractedlyturnedawayandenteredherbrother"sroomfromthesamebalcony.Theforgottenparcel,whichlookedlikearollofmanuscript,waslyingonhisdressing-table.Shegazedattentivelyatthehandwritingonthewrapperandthengaveaquickglancearoundher.Asuddenandsubtlechangecameoverher.

Sheneitherflushednorpaled,nordidthedelicatelinesofexpressioninherfacequiverorchange.Butassheheldtheparcelinherhandherwholebeingseemedtoundergosomeexquisitesuffusion.AsthemedicineswhichtheArabianphysicianhadconcealedinthehollowhandleofthemalletpermeatedthelanguidroyalbloodofPersia,sosomevolatilebalmofyouthseemedtoflowinuponherwiththecontactofthatstrangemissiveandtransformherwearyspirit.

"Jack!"shecalled,inahighclearvoice.ButJackhadalreadygonefromthebalconywhenshereacheditwithanelasticstepandaquickyouthfulswirlandrustlingofherskirt.Hewaslightinghiscigarinthegarden.

"Jack,"shesaid,leaninghalfovertherailing,"comebackhereinanhourandwe"lltalkoverthatmatterofyoursagain."

Jacklookedupeagerlyandasifhemightevencomeupthen,butsheaddedquickly,"Inaboutanhour——Imustthinkitover,"andwithdrew.

Shere-enteredthesitting-room,shutthedoorcarefullyandlockedit,halfpulleddowntheblind,walkingonceortwicearoundthetableonwhichtheparcellay,withoneeyeonitlikeagracefulcat.Thenshesuddenlysatdown,tookitupwithagravepracticalface,examinedthepostmarkcuriously,andopeneditwithseveredeliberation.Itcontainedamanuscriptandaletteroffourcloselywrittenpages.Sheglancedatthemanuscriptwithbrightapprovingeyes,ranherfingersthroughitsleavesandthenlaiditcarefullyandsomewhatostentatiouslyonthetablebesideher.

Then,stillholdingtheletterinherhand,sheroseandglancedoutofthewindowatherboredbrotherloungingtowardsthebeachandattheheavingbillowsbeyond,andreturnedtoherseat.Thisapparentlyimportantpreliminaryconcluded,shebegantoread.

Therewere,asalreadystated,fourblessedpagesofit!Allvital,earnest,palpitatingwithyouthfulenergy,preposterousinpremises,precipitateinconclusions,——yetirresistibleandconvincingtoeverywomanintheirillogicalsincerity.Therewasnotawordofloveinit,yeteverypagebreathedawholesomeadoration;therewasnotanepithetorexpressionthatagreaterprudethanMrs.Ashwoodwouldhaveobjectedto,yeteverysentenceseemedtoendinacaress.Therewasnotalineofpoetryinit,andscarcelyafigureorsimile,andyetitwaspoetical.Boyishlyegotisticasitwasinattitude,itseemedtobewrittenlessOF

himselfthanTOher;initsdelicatebecauseunconsciousflattery,itmadeheratoncetheprovocationandexcuse.Andyetsopotentwasitsindividualitythatitrequirednosignature.NoonebutJohnMiltonHarcourtcouldhavewrittenit.HispersonalitystoodoutofitsostronglythatonceortwiceMrs.Ashwoodalmostunconsciouslyputupherlittlehandbeforeherfacewithahalfmischievous,half-deprecatingsmile,asifthebighonesteyesofitswriterwereuponher.

Itbeganbyanelaborateapologyfordecliningtheappointmentofferedhimbyoneofherfriends,whichhewasboldenoughtothinkhadbeenpromptedbyherkindheart.Thatwaslikeher,butyetwhatshemightdotoanyone;andhepreferredtothinkofherasthesweetandgentleladywhohadrecognizedhismeritwithoutknowinghim,ratherthanthepowerfulandgraciousbenefactresswhowantedtorewardhimwhenshedidknowhim.ThecrownthatshehadallunconsciouslyplaceduponhisheadthatafternoonatthelittlehotelatCrystalSpringwasmoretohimthantheSenator"sappointment;perhapshewasselfish,buthecouldnotbearthatshewhohadgivensomuchshouldbelievethathecouldacceptalessergift.Allthisandmuchmore!SomeofithehadwantedtosaytoherinSanFranciscoattimeswhentheyhadmet,buthecouldnotfindthewords.Butshehadgivenhimthecouragetogoonanddotheonlythinghewasfitfor,andhehadresolvedtosticktothat,andperhapsdosomethingoncemorethatmightmakehimhearagainhervoiceashehadhearditthatday,andagainseethelightthathadshoneinhereyesasshesatthereandread.Andthiswaswhyhewassendingheramanuscript.Shemighthaveforgottenthatshehadtoldhimastrangestoryofhercousinwhohaddisappeared——whichshethoughthemightatsometimeworkup.

Hereitwas.Perhapsshemightnotrecognizeitagain,inthewayhehadwrittenithere;perhapsshedidnotreallymeanitwhenshehadgivenhimpermissiontouseit,butherememberedhertruthfuleyesandbelievedher——andinanyeventitwasherstodowithwhatsheliked.Ithadbeenagreatpleasureforhimtowriteitandthinkthatshewouldseeit;itwaslikeseeingherhimself——thatwasinHISBETTERSELF——moreworthythecompanionshipofabeautifulandnoblewomanthanthepooryoungmanshewouldhavehelped.Thiswaswhyhehadnotcalledtheweekbeforeshewentaway.Butforallthat,shehadmadehislifelesslonely,andheshouldbeevergratefultoher.Hecouldneverforgethowsheunconsciouslysympathizedwithhimthatdayoverthelossthathadblightedhislifeforever,——yeteventhenhedidnotknowthatshe,herself,hadpassedthroughthesamesuffering.Butjustherethestrickenwidowofthirty,afteravainattempttokeepuptheknittedgravityofhereyebrows,bowedherdimplingfaceovertheletteroftheblightedwidoweroftwenty,andlaughedsolongandsilentlythatthetearsstoodoutlikedewonherlight-browneyelashes.

Butshebecamepresentlysevereagain,andfinishedherreadingofthelettergravely.Thenshefoldeditcarefully,depositeditinaboxonhertable,whichshelocked.Afterafewminutes,however,sheunlockedtheboxagainandtransferredthelettertoherpocket.Theserenityofherfeaturesdidnotrelaxagain,althoughherpreviousprettyprepossessionofyouthfulspiritwasstillindicatedinhermovements.Goingintoherbedroom,shereappearedinafewminuteswithalightcloakthrownoverhershouldersandawhite-trimmedbroad-brimmedhat.Thensherolledupthemanuscriptinapaper,andcalledherFrenchmaid.Asshestoodthereawaitingherwiththerollinherhand,shemighthavebeensomeyounggirlonherwaytohermusiclesson.

"IfmybrotherreturnsbeforeIdo,tellhimtowait."

"Madameisgoing"——

"Out,"saidMrs.Ashwoodblithely,andtrippeddownstairs.

Shemadeherwaydirectlytotheshorewheresherememberedtherewasagroupofrocksaffordingashelterfromthenorthwesttradewinds.Itwasreachedatlowwaterbyanarrowridgeofsand,andhereshehadoftenbaskedinthesunwithherbook.ItwasherethatshenowunrolledJohnMilton"smanuscriptandread.

Itwasthestoryshehadtoldhim,butinterpretedbyhispoetryandadornedbyhisfancyuntilthefactsassherememberedthemseemedtobenolongerhers,orindeedtruthsatall.Shehadalwaysbelievedhercousin"sunhappytemperamenttohavebeentheresultofamoralandphysicalidiosyncrasy,——shefounditheretobetheeffectofalifelongandhopelesspassionforherself!TheingeniousJohnMiltonhadgivenapoet"sprecocitytotheyouthwhomshehadonlyknownasasuspicious,moodyboy,hadidealizedhimasasensitivebutsonglessByron,hadgivenhimtheaddedinfirmityofpulmonaryweakness,andahandkerchiefthatinmomentsofgreatexcitement,afterhavingbeenhurriedlypressedtohispalelips,waswithdrawn"withacrimsonstain."Opposedtothisinterestingfigure——themorestrikingtoherasshehadbeenhithertohauntedbytheimpressionthathercousinduringhisboyhoodhadbeensubjecttofacialeruptionandboils——washerownequallyidealizedself.Cruellykindtohercousinandgentlewithhisweaknesseswhilecalmlyignoringtheircause,leadinghimunconsciouslystepbystepinhisfatalpassion,heonlybecameawarebyaccidentthatshenourishedanidealherointhepersonofahard,proud,middle-agedpracticalmanoftheworld,——herfuturehusband!AtthispictureofthelateMr.Ashwood,whohadreallybeenanindistinctivesocialbonvivant,hisamiablerelictgrewsomewhathysterical.Thediscoveryofherrealfeelingsdrovetheconsumptivecousinintoasecret,self-imposedexileontheshoresofthePacific,wherehehopedtofindagrave.Butthecompleteandsuddenchangeoflifeandscene,thebalmofthewildwoodsandthewholesomebarbarismofnature,wroughtamagicalchangeinhisphysicalhealthandaphilosophicalrestinhismind.HemarriedthedaughterofanIndianchief.Yearspassed,theheroine——arichandstillyoungandbeautifulwidow——unwittinglysoughtthesamemedicinalsolitude.Hereinthedepthoftheforestsheencounteredherformerplaymate;thepassionwhichhehadfondlysupposedwasdeadrevivedinherpresence,andforthefirsttimeshelearnedfromhisbeardedlipsthesecretofhispassion.Alas!notSHE