第3章
thedressofhermodelhadbeenframeduponasymmetricallyattenuatedFrenchcorset，andtheunfortunateMinty"sfullerandamplercurveshadunderhersimplecountrystaysknownnomorerestrainingcincturethanknewtheVenusofMilo。Thealterationwasahideousfailure，itwasneitherMinty"sstatuesqueoutlinenorLouiseMacy"sgracefulcontour。Mintywasnofool，andtherevelationofthissloweducationofthefigureandtrainingofoutline——whetherfairorfalseinart——struckherquickintelligencewithallitsfullandhopelesssignificance。Abitterlightsprangtohereyes；shetorethewretchedshamfromhershoulders，andthenwrappingashawlaroundher，threwherselfheavilyandsullenlyonthebed。ButinactionwasnotacharacteristicofMinty"semotion；
shepresentlyroseagain，and，takinganoldwork-boxfromhertrunk，begantorummageinitsrecesses。Itwasanoldshell-
incrustedaffair，andtheapparentreceptacleofsuchcheapoddsandendsofjewelryasshepossessed；ahideouscameoring，thepropertyofthelateMrs。Sharpe，wasmissing。Sheagainrapidlyexploredthecontentsofthebox，andthenaninspirationseizedher，andshedartedintoherbrother"sbedroom。
ThatprecociousandgallantLovelaceoften，despiteallsentiment，hadbaselysuccumbedtothegrossmaterialismofyouthfulslumber。
Onacotinthecorner，halfhiddenunderthewreckofhisowncarelessandhurrieddisrobing，withonearmhangingoutofthecoverlid，Richelieulaysupremelyunconscious。Ontheforefingerofhissmallbutdirtyhandthemissingcameowasstillglitteringguiltily。WithaswiftmovementofindignationMintyrushedwithupliftedpalmtowardsthetemptingexpanseofyouthfulcheekthatlayinvitinglyexposeduponthepillow。Thenshestoppedsuddenly。
Shehadseenhimlyingthusahundredtimesbefore。Onthepillownearhimanindistinguishablemassofgoldenfur——thehelplessbulkofasquirrelchainedtothelegofhiscot；athisfeetawall-
eyedcat，whohadfollowedhistyrannouscapriceswiththelong-
sufferingdevotionofhersex；ontheshelfabovehimaloathsomecollectionoffliesandtarantulasindullgreenbottles:aslabofginger-breadforlightnocturnalrefection，andherownpotofbear"sgrease。Perhapsitwasthepiteousdefencelessnessofyouthfulsleep，perhapsitwassomelingeringmemoryofherfather"scaress；butasshegazedathimwithtroubledeyes，thejuvenilereprobateslippedbackintothebaby-boythatshehadcarriedinherownchildisharmssuchashorttimeago，whenthematernalresponsibilityhaddescendedwiththedeadmother"sill-
fittingdressesuponherlankgirlishfigureandscantvirginbreast——andherhandfelllistlesslyatherside。
Thesleeperstirredslightlyandawoke。Atthesamemoment，bysomemysterioussympathy，apairofbeadybrighteyesappearedinthebulkoffurnearhiscurls，thecatstretchedherself，andevenavagueagitationwasheardinthebottlesontheshelf。Richelieu"sblinkingeyeswanderedfromthecandletohissister，andthentheguiltyhandwassuddenlywithdrawnunderthebedclothes。
"Nomatter，dear，"saidMinty；"it"smar"s，andyoukinwearitwhenyoulike，ifyou"llonlyaskforit。”
Richelieuwonderedifhewasdreaming!Thisunexpectedmildness——
thisinexplicabletremorinhissister"svoice:itmustbesomeoccultinfluenceofthenightseasononthesisterlymind，possiblyakintoafearofghosts!Hemadeamentalnoteofitinviewoffuturefavors，yetforthemomenthefeltembarrassedlygratified。
"Yeain"twantin"anything，Minty，"hesaidaffectionately；"apailo"coldwaterfromthefarspring——nonothin"？"Hemadeanostentatiousmovementasiftorise，yetsufficientlyprotractedtopreventanyhastyacceptanceofhisprodigaloffer。
"No，dear，"shesaid，stillgazingathimwithanabsorbedlookinherdarkeyes。
Richelieufeltaslightcreepysensationunderthatlonelyfar-offgaze。"Youreyeslookawfulbigatnight，Minty，"hesaid。Hewouldhaveadded"andpretty，"butshewashissister，andhehadtheloftyfraternalconvictionofhisdutyinrepressingtheinordinatevanityofthesex。"Ye"resureyeain"twantin"
nothin"？"
"Notnow，dear。”Shepausedamoment，andthensaiddeliberately:
"Butyouwouldn"tmindturnin"outaftersun-upandrunnin"anerrandformeovertoTheLookout？"
Richelieu"seyessparkledsosuddenlythateveninherabsorptionMintynoticedthechange。"Butye"renotgoin"totarryoverthere，nergossip——youhear？Yertotakethisyermessage。Yertosay"thatitwillbeonpossibleformetocomebackthere，onaccount——onaccountof——""
"Importantbusiness，"suggestedRichelieu；"that"stheperlitestyle。”
"Efyoulike。”Sheleanedoverthebedandputherlipstohisforehead，stilldampwiththedewsofsleep，andthentohislong-
lashedlids。"MindNip!"——thesquirrel——hepracticallysuggested。
Foraninstanttheirblondcurlsmingledonthepillow。"Nowgotosleep，"shesaidcurtly。
ButRichelieuhadtakenherwhiteneckintheshortstrangulatoryhugofthesmallboy，andheldherfast。"Ye"llletmeputonmybestpants？"
"Yes。”
"Andwearthatring？"
"Yes"——alittlesadly。
"Thenyerkincountmein，Minty；andseehere"——hisvoicesanktoaconfidentialwhisper——"mebbeesomedayye"llbebeholdentoME
foraloto"realjewelry。”
Shereturnedslowlytoherroom，and，openingthewindow，lookedoutuponthenight。ThesamemoonthathadlentsuchsupererogatorygracetothenaturalbeautyofTheLookout，hereseemedtohavefailed；asMintyhad，indisguisingtherelentlesslimitationsofNatureorthecruelbondsofcustom。Theblackplainofgranite，underitsrays，appearedonlytoextenditspovertytosomeremoterbarrier；theblackenedstumpsoftheburntforeststoodbleakeragainstthesky，likebrokenandtwistedpillarsofiron。ThecavityofthebrokenledgewhereRichelieuhadprospectedwasahideouschasmofbluishblackness，overwhichapurplevaporseemedtohover；the"brushdump"besidethehouseshowedacavernofwrithinganddistortedobjectsstiffenedintodarkrigidity。Shehadoftenlookedupontheprospect:ithadneverseemedsohardandchangeless；yetsheacceptedit，asshehadaccepteditbefore。
Sheturnedaway，undressedherselfmechanically，andwenttobed。
Shehadanideathatshehadbeenveryfoolish；thatherescapefrombeingstillmorefoolishwassomethingmiraculous，andinsomemeasureconnectedwithProvidence，herfather，herlittlebrother，andherdeadmother，whosedressshehadrecklesslyspoiled。Butthatshehadevensoslightlytouchedthebitternessandgloryofrenunciation——aswrittenofheroinesandfineladiesbynovelistsandpoets——neverenteredthefoolishheadofMintySharpe，theblacksmith"sdaughter。
CHAPTERIV。
ItwasalittleafterdaybreaknextmorningthatMainwaringawokefromthefirstunrefreshingnighthehadpassedatTheLookout。Hewassofeverishandrestlessthathedressedhimselfatsunrise，andcautiouslysteppedoutuponthestillsilentveranda。ThechairswhichheandLouiseMacyhadoccupiedwerestill，itseemedtohim，conspicuouslyconfidentialwitheachother，andheseparatedthem，butashelookeddownintotheGreatCanyonathisfeethewasconsciousofsomeundefinablechangeintheprospect。Aslightmistwasrisingfromthevalley，asifitwerethelastoflastnight"sillusions；thefirstlevelsunbeamswereobtrusivelysearching，andthekeenmorningairhadadrylypracticalinsistencewhichirritatedhim，untilalightfootsteponthefartherendoftheverandacausedhimtoturnsharply。
Itwasthesingularapparitionofasmallboy，bearingasurprisingresemblancetoMintySharpe，anddressedinanuniquefashion。Onatumbledseaofblondcurlsa"chip"sailorhat，withabroadredribbon，rodejauntily。Butherethenauticalsuggestionchanged，ashadthedesireofbecomingapiratewhichinducedit。Aredshirt，withawhitecollar，andayellowplaidribbontie，thatalsorecalledMintySharpe，lightlyturnedthesuggestionofhiscostumetomining。Shortblackvelvettrousers，comingtohisknee，andostentatiouslynewshort-leggedboots，withvisiblestrapslikecurlingears，completedtheentirelyoriginalcharacterofhislowerlimbs。
Mainwaring，alwayseasilygentleandfamiliarwithchildrenandhisinferiors，lookedathimwithanencouragingsmile。Richelieu——foritwashe——advancedgravelyandheldouthishand，withthecameoringapparent。Mainwaring，withequalgravity，shookitwarmly，andremovedhishat。Richelieu，keenlyobservant，didthesame。
"IsJimBradleyoutyet？"askedRichelieu，carelessly。
"No；Ithinknot。ButI"mFrankMainwaring。WillIdo？"
Richelieusmiled。Thedimples，thewhiteteeth，thedark，laughingeyes，weresurelyMinty"s？
"I"mRichelieu，"herejoinedwithequalcandor。
"Richelieu？"
"Yes。ThatFrenchman——theLordCardinal——youknow。MarsawForrestdohimoutinSt。Louis。”
"Dohim？"
"Yes，inthetheayter。”
Withaconfusedmisconceptionofhismeaning，MainwaringtriedtorecallthehistoricaldressofthegreatCardinalandfitittothemasquerader——ifsuchhewere——beforehim。ButRichelieurelievedhimbyadding，——
"RichelieuSharpe。”
"Oh，that"syourNAME!"saidMainwaring，cheerfully。"Thenyou"reMissMinty"sbrother。Iknowher。Howjollylucky!"
Theybothshookhandsagain。Richelieu，eagertogetridoftheburdenofhissister"smessage，whichhefeltwasinthewayoffree-and-easyintercoursewiththischarmingstranger，lookeduneasilytowardsthehouse。
"Isay，"saidMainwaring，"ifyou"reinahurry，you"dbettergointhereandknock。Ihearsomeonestirringinthekitchen。”
Richelieunodded，butfirstwentbacktothestepsoftheveranda，pickedupasmallblueknottedhandkerchief，apparentlycontainingsomeheavyobjects，andrepassedMainwaring。
"What!haveyoucutit，Richelieu，withyourvaluables？Whathaveyougotthere？"
"Specimins，"saidRichelieu，shortly，andvanished。
Hereturnedpresently。"Well，Cardinal，didyouseeanybody？"
askedMainwaring。
"Mrs。Bradley；butJim"sovertothemill。I"mgoin"there。”
"DidyouseeMissMacy？"continuedMainwaring，carelessly。
"Loo？"
"Loo!——well；yes。”
"No。She"sphilanderin"withCaptainGreyson。”
"PhilanderingwithGreyson？"echoedMainwaring，inwonder。
"Yes；onhorsebackontheridge。”
"Youmeanshe"sridingoutwithMr——withCaptainGreyson？"
"Yes；ridin"ANDphilanderin"，"persistedRichelieu。
"Andwhatdoyoucallphilandering？"
"Well；Ireckonyouandsheoughterknow，"returnedRichelieu，withaprecociousair。
"Certainly，"saidMainwaring，withafaintsmile。RichelieureallywaslikeMinty。
Therewasalongsilence。ThisyoungEnglishmanwasbecomingexceedinglyuninteresting。Richelieufeltthathewasgainingneitherprofitnoramusement，andlosingtime。"I"mgoing，"hesaid。
"Goodmorning，"saidMainwaring，withoutlookingup。
Richelieupickeduphisspecimens，thoroughlyconvincedofthestranger"sglitteringdeceitfulness，andvanished。
Itwasnearlyeighto"clockwhenMrs。Bradleycamefromthehouse。
Sheapologized，withaslightlydistraitsmile，forthetardinessofthehousehold。"Mr。Bradleystayedatthemillallnight，andwillnotbehereuntilbreakfast，whenhebringsyourfriendMr。
Richardsonwithhim"——Mainwaringscarcelyrepressedamovementofimpatience——"whoarrivesearly。It"sunfortunatethatMissSharpecan"tcometo-day。”
InhisabstractionMainwaringdidnotnoticethatMrs。BradleyslightlyaccentedMinty"sformalappellation，andsaidcarelessly，——
"Oh，that"swhyherbrothercameoverheresoearly!"
"DidYOUseehim？"askedMrs。Bradley，almostabruptly。
"Yes。Heisanamusinglittlebeggar；butIthinkheshareshissister"spreferenceforMr。Bradley。Hedesertedmehereintheverandaforhimatthemill。”
"Louisewillkeepyoucompanyassoonasshehaschangedherdress，"continuedMrs。Bradley。"Shewasoutridingearlythismorningwithafriend。She"sveryfondofearlymorningrides。”
"ANDphilandering，"repeatedMainwaringtohimself。ItwasquitenaturalforMissMacytorideoutinthemorning，afterthefashionofthecountry，withanescort；butwhyhadthecubinsistedonthe"philandering"？Hehadsaid，"ANDphilandering，"distinctly。Itwasanastythingforhimtosay。Anyotherfellowbuthe，Mainwaring，mightmisunderstandthewholething。Perhapsheoughttowarnher——butno!hecouldnotrepeatthegossipofachild，andthatchildthebrotherofoneofherinferiors。ButwasMintyaninferior？DidsheandMintytalktogetheraboutthisfellowGreyson？Atallevents，itwouldonlyrevivetheawkwardnessoftheprecedingday，andheresolvedtosaynothing。
Hewasrewardedbyahalf-inquiring，half-confidinglookinLouise"sbrighteyes，whenshepresentlygreetedhimontheveranda。"Shehadquiteforgotten，"shesaid，"totellhimlastnightofhermorning"sengagement；indeed，shehadhalfforgottenIT。Itusedtobeafavoritepracticeofhers，withCaptainGreyson；butshehadlatelygivenitup。Shebelievedshehadnotriddensince——since——"
"Sincewhen？"askedMainwaring。
"Well，sinceyouwereill，"shesaidfrankly。
AquickpleasureshoneinMainwaring"scheekandeye；butLouise"sprettylidsdidnotdrop，norherfaint，quietbloomdeepen。
BreakfastwasalreadywaitingwhenMr。Richardsonarrivedalone。
HeexplainedthatMr。Bradleyhadsomeimportantandunexpectedbusinesswhichhaddelayedhim，butwhich，headded，"Mr。Bradleysaysmayproveinterestingenoughtoyoutoexcusehisabsencethismorning。”Mainwaringwasnotdispleasedthathiscriticalandobservanthostwasnotpresentattheirmeeting。LouiseMacywas，however，asdemurelyconsciousofthedifferentbearingofthetwocompatriots。Richardson"ssomewhatself-importantpatronageofthetwoladies，andthatCalifornianfamiliarityhehadacquired，changedtoacertainuneasydeferencetowardsMainwaring；whiletheyoungerEnglishman"sslightlystiffanddeliberatecordialitywas，nevertheless，mingledwithamysteriousunderstandingthatappearedinnateandunconscious。Louisewasquicktoseethatthesetwomen，morewidelydivergentinqualitythananytwoofherowncountrymen，wereyetmoresubtlyconnectedbysomeunknownsympathythanthemostequalofAmericans。Minty"spropheticbeliefoftheeffectofthetwowomenuponRichardsonwascertainlytrueasregardedMrs。Bradley。Thebanker——alargematerialnature——wasquicklyfascinatedbythedemure，puritanicgracesofthatlady，andwasinclinedtoexhibitasomewhatbroadandostentatiousgallantrythatannoyedMainwaring。Whentheywereseatedaloneontheveranda，whichtheladieshaddiscreetlylefttothem，Richardsonsaid，——
"OddIdidn"thearofBradley"swifebefore。Sheseemsaspicy，pretty，comfortablecreature。Regularlythrownawaywithhimuphere。”
Mainwaringrepliedcoldlythatshewas"anadmirablehelpmeetofaveryadmirableman，"not，however，withoutanuneasyrecollectionofherpreviousconfidencesrespectingherhusband。"Theyhavebeenmostthoroughlygoodandkindtome；myownbrotherandsistercouldnothavedonemore。Andcertainlynotwithbettertasteordelicacy，"headded，markedly。
"Certainly，certainly，"saidRichardson，hurriedly。"IwrotetoLadyMainwaringthatyouweretakencapitalcareofbysomeveryhonestpeople；andthat——"
"LadyMainwaringalreadyknowswhatIthinkofthem，andwhatsheowestotheirkindness，"saidMainwaring，dryly。
"True，true，"saidRichardson，apologetically。"Ofcourseyoumusthaveseenagooddealofthem。IonlyknowBradleyinabusinessway。He"sbeentryingtogettheBanktohelphimtoputupsomenewmillshere；butwedidn"tseeit。Idaresayheisgoodcompany——ratheramusing，eh？"
Mainwaringhadthegiftofhisclassofsnubbingbythepoliteandforgivingoblivionofsilence。Richardsonshifteduneasilyinhischair，butcontinuedwithassumedcarelessness:——
"No；Ionlyknewofthiscousin，MissMacy。IheardofherwhenshewasvisitingsomefriendsinMenloParklastyear。Ratheranattractivegirl。TheysayColonelJohnson，ofSacramento，tookquiteafancytoher——itwouldhavebeenagoodmatch，Idaresay，forheisveryrich——butthethingfellthroughinsomeway。Then，theysay，SHEwantedtomarrythatSpaniard，youngPico，oftheAmadorRanche；buthisfamilywouldn"thearofit。Somehow，she"sdeucedunlucky。Isupposeshe"llmakeamessofitwithCaptainGreysonshewasoutridingwiththismorning。”
"Didn"ttheBankthinkBradley"smillsagoodinvestment？"askedMainwaringquietly，whenRichardsonpaused。
"Notwithhiminit；heisnotabusinessman，youknow。”
"Ithoughthewas。Heseemstomeanenergeticman，whoknowshiswork，andisnotafraidtolookafterithimself。”
"That"sjustit。Hehasgotabsurdideasofco-operatingwithhisworkmen，youknow，anddoingeverythingslowlyandonalimitedscale。Theonlythingtobedoneistobuyupallthelandonthisridge，runoffthesettlers，freezeoutalltheothermills，andputitintoabigSanFranciscocompanyonshares。That"stheonlywaywewouldlookatit。”
"Butyoudon"tconsidertheinvestmentbad，evenfromHISpointofview？"
"Perhapsnot。”
"Andyouonlydeclineitbecauseitisn"tbigenoughfortheBank？"
"Exactly。”
"Richardson，"saidMainwaring，slowlyrising，puttinghishandsinhistrouserspockets，andsuddenlylookingdownuponthebankerfromtheeasylevelofhabitualsuperiority，"Iwishyou"dattendtothisthingforme。IdesiretomakesomereturntoMr。Bradleyforhiskindness。Iwishtogivehimwhathelphewants——inhisownway——youunderstand。Iwishit，andIbelievemyfatherwishesit，too。Ifyou"dlikehimtowritetoyoutothateffect——"
"Bynomeans，it"snotatallnecessary，"saidRichardson，droppingwithequalsuddennessintohisold-worldobsequiousness。"Ishallcertainlydoasyouwish。Itisnotabadinvestment，Mr。
Mainwaring，andasyousuggest，averyproperreturnfortheirkindness。And，beinghere，itwillcomequitenaturallyformetotakeuptheaffairagain。”
"And——Isay，Richardson。”
"Yes，sir？"
"Astheseladiesarerathershort-handedintheirdomesticservice，youknow，perhapsyou"dbetternotstaytoluncheonordinner，butgoontotheSummitHouse——it"sonlyamileortwofarther——andcomebackherethisevening。Ishan"twantyouuntilthen。”
"Certainly!"stammeredRichardson。"I"lljusttakeleaveoftheladies!"
"It"snotatallnecessary，"saidMainwaring，quietly；"youwouldonlydisturbthemintheirhouseholdduties。I"lltellthemwhatI"vedonewithyou，iftheyask。You"llfindyourstickandhatinthepassage，andyoucanleavetheverandabythesesteps。Bytheway，youhadbettermanageattheSummittogetsomeonetobringmytrapsfromheretobeforwardedtoSacramentoto-morrow。I"llwantaconveyance，orahorseofsomekind，myself，forI"vegivenupwalkingforawhile；butwecansettleaboutthatto-night。
Comeearly。Goodmorning？"
Heaccompaniedhisthoroughlysubjugatedcountryman——who，however，farfromattemptingtoreasserthimself，actuallyseemedeasierandmorecheerfulinhissubmission——totheendoftheveranda，andwatchedhimdepart。Asheturnedback，hesawtheprettyfigureofLouiseMacyleaningagainstthedoorway。Howgracefulandrefinedshelookedinthatsimplemorningdress!WhatwonderthatshewasadmiredbyGreyson，byJohnson，andbythatSpaniard!——no，byJove，itwasSHEthatwantedtomarryhim!
"WhathaveyousentawayMr。Richardsonfor？"askedtheyounggirl，withahalf-reproachful，half-mischievouslookinherbrighteyes。
"IpackedhimoffbecauseIthoughtitwasalittletoohardonyouandMrs。Bradleytoentertainhimwithouthelp。”
"ButashewasOURguest，youmighthaveleftthattous，"saidMissMacy。
"ByJove!Ineverthoughtofthat，"saidMainwaring，coloringinconsternation。"Prayforgiveme，MissMacy——butyouseeIknewtheman，andcouldsayit，andyoucouldn"t。”
"Well，Iforgiveyou，foryoulookreallysocutup，"saidLouise，laughing。"ButIdon"tknowwhatJennywillsayofyourdisposingofherconquestsosummarily。”Shestoppedandregardedhimmoreattentively。"Hashebroughtyouanybadnews？ifso，it"sapityyoudidn"tsendhimawaybefore。He"squitespoilingourcure。”
Mainwaringthoughtbitterlythathehad。"Butit"sacureforallthat，MissMacy，"hesaid，withanattemptatcheerfulness，"andbeingacure，yousee，there"snolongeranexcuseformystayinghere。Ihavebeenmakingarrangementsforleavinghereto-morrow。”
"Sosoon？"
"Doyouthinkitsoon，MissMacy？"askedMainwaring，turningpaleinspiteofhimself。
"Iquiteforgot——thatyouwerehereasaninvalidonly，andthatweoweourpleasuretotheaccidentofyourpain。”
Shespokealittleartificially，hethought，yethercheekshadnotlosttheirpinkbloom，norhereyestheirtranquillity。HadheheardMinty"scriticismhemighthavebelievedthattheorganicomissionnoticedbyherwasafact。
"AndnowthatyourgoodworkasSisterofCharityiscompleted，you"llbeabletoentertheworldofgayetyagainwithaclearconscience，"saidMainwaring，withasmilethatheinwardlyfeltwasamiserablefailure。"You"llbeabletoresumeyourmorningrides，youknow，whichthewretchedinvalidinterrupted。”
Louiseraisedhercleareyestohis，withoutreproach，indignation，orevenwonder。Hefeltasifhehadattemptedaninsultandfailed。
"Doesmycousinknowyouaregoingsosoon？"sheaskedfinally。
"No，Ididnotknowmyselfuntilto-day。Yousee，"headdedhastily，whilehishonestbloodblazonedthelieinhischeek，"I"veheardofsomemiserablebusinessaffairsthatwillbringmebacktoEnglandsoonerthatIexpected。”
"Ithinkyoushouldconsideryourhealthmoreimportantthananymerebusiness，"saidLouise。"Idon"tmeanthatyoushouldremainHERE，"sheaddedwithahastylaugh，"butitwouldbeapity，nowthatyouhavereapedthebenefitofrestandtakingcareofyourself，thatyoushouldnotmakeityouronlybusinesstoseekitelsewhere。”
Mainwaringlongedtosaythatwithinthelasthalfhour，livingordyinghadbecomeoflittlemomenttohim；buthedoubtedthetruthorefficacyofthistimewornheroicofpassion。Hefelt，too，thatanythinghesaidwasameresubterfugefortherealreasonofhissuddendeparture。Andhowwashetoquestionherastothatreason？Inescapingfromthesesubterfuges——hewascompelledtolieagain。Withanassumptionofchangingthesubject，hesaidcalmly，"Richardsonthoughthehadmetyoubefore——inMenloPark，I
think。”
Amazedattheevidentirrelevanceoftheremark，Louisesaidcoldly，thatshedidnotrememberhavingseenhimbefore。
"IthinkitwasataMr。Johnson"s——orWITHaMr。Johnson——orperhapsatoneofthoseSpanishranches——IthinkhementionedsomenamelikePico!"
Louiselookedathimwonderinglyforaninstant，andthengavewaytoafrank，irrepressiblelaugh，whichlentherdelicatebutrathersetlittlefaceallthecolorhehadmissed。Partiallyrelievedbyherunconcern，andyetmortifiedthathehadonlyprovokedhersenseoftheludicrous，hetriedtolaughalso。
"Then，tobequiteplain，"saidLouise，wipinghernowhumideyes，"youwantmetounderstandthatyoureallydidn"tpaysufficientattentiontohearcorrectly!Thankyou；that"saprettyEnglishcompliment，Isuppose。”
"Idaresayyouwouldn"tcallit"philandering"？"
"Icertainlyshouldn"t，forIdon"tknowwhat"philandering"
means。”
Mainwaringcouldnotreply，withRichelieu，"Yououghttoknow"；
nordidhedareexplainwhathethoughtitmeant，andhowheknewit。Louise，however，innocentlysolvedthedifficulty。
"There"sacountrysongI"veheardMintysing，"shesaid。"Itruns——
Come，Philander，letusbea-marchin"，Everyoneforhistruelovea-sarchin"
Chooseyourtruelovenowornever……
Haveyoubeenlisteningtoheralso？"
"No，"saidMainwaring，withasuddenincomprehensible，bututterlyirrepressible，resolution；"butI"M"a-marchin"，"youknow，andperhapsImust"choosemytruelovenowornever。"Willyouhelpme，MissMacy？"
Hedrewgentlynearher。Hehadbecomequitewhite，butalsoverymanly，anditstruckher，moredeeply，thoroughly，andconscientiouslysincerethananymanwhohadbeforeaddressedher。
Shemovedslightlyaway，asiftorestherselfbylayingbothhandsuponthebackofthechair。
"Wheredoyouexpecttobeginyour"sarchin""？"shesaid，leaningonthechairandtiltingitbeforeher；"orareyouasvagueasusualastolocality？Isitatsome"Mr。Johnson"or"Mr。Pico，"
or——"
"Here，"heinterruptedboldly。
"Ireallythinkyououghttofirsttellmycousinthatyouaregoingawayto-morrow，"shesaid，withafaintsmile。"It"ssuchshortnotice。She"sjustinthere。”Shenoddedherprettyhead，withoutraisinghereyes，towardsthehall。
"Butitmaynotbesosoon，"saidMainwaring。
"Oh，thenthe"sarchin""isnotsoimportant？"saidLouise，raisingherhead，andlookingtowardsthehallwithsomeuneasybutindefinablefeminineinstinct。
Shewasright；thesitting-roomdooropened，andMrs。Bradleymadehersmilingappearance。
"Mr。Mainwaringwasjustlookingforyou，"saidLouise，forthefirsttimeraisinghereyestohim。"He"snotonlysentoffMr。
Richardson，buthe"sgoingawayhimselfto-morrow。”
Mrs。Bradleylookedfromtheonetotheotherinmutewonder。
MainwaringcastanimploringglanceatLouise，whichhadthedesiredeffect。Muchmoreseriously，andinaquaint，business-
likeway，theyounggirltookituponherselftoexplaintoMrs。
BradleythatRichardsonhadbroughttheinvalidsomeimportantnewsthatwould，unfortunately，notonlyshortenhisstayinAmerica，butevencompelhimtoleaveTheLookoutsoonerthanheexpected，perhapsto-morrow。Mainwaringthankedherwithhiseyes，andthenturnedtoMrs。Bradley。
"WhetherIgoto-morrowornextday，"hesaidwithsimpleandearnestdirectness，"Iintend，youknow，toseeyousoonagain，eitherhereorinmyownhomeinEngland。Idonotknow，"headdedwithmarkedgravity，"thatIhavesucceededinconvincingyouthatIhavemadeyourfamilyalreadywellknowntomypeople，andthat"——
hefixedhiseyeswithameaninglookonLouise——"nomatterwhen，orinwhatway，youcometothem，yourplaceismadereadyforyou。