第3章
WhenthestageforSanFranciscorolledawaythenextmorningwithMr。Hamlinandtheeditor，thelattermighthaverecognizedintheoccupantofadust-coveredbuggythatwascomingleisurelytowardsthemthetallfigure，longbeard，andstraightdusterofhislatevisitor，Mr。JamesBowers。ForMr。Bowerswasonthesamequestthattheothershadjustabandoned。LikeMr。Hamlin，hehadbeenlefttohisownresources，butMr。Bowers"sresourceswerealife-
longexperienceandtechnicalskill；hetoohadnotedthetopographicalindicationsofthepoem，andhisknowledgeofthesylvaofUpperCaliforniapointedasunerringlyasMr。Hamlin"slucktothecryptogamoushauntsoftheSummit。Suchabnormalgrowthswereindicativeofcertainlocalitiesonly，but，astheywerenotremunerativefromapecuniarypointofview，weretobeavoidedbythesagaciouswoodman。Itwasclear，therefore，thatMr。Bowers"svisittoGreenSpringswasnotprofessional，andthathedidnotevenfigurativelyaccepttheomen。
Hebaitedandrestedhishorseatthehotel，wherehisbucolicexterior，however，didnotelicitthatattentionwhichhadbeenaccordedtoMr。Hamlin"scharminginsolenceortheeditor"scultivatedmanner。Butheglancedoveratownshipmaponthewallsofthereading-room，andtooknoteofthenamesoftheownersofdifferentlots，farms，andranches，passingthatofDelatourwiththeothers。Thenhedroveleisurelyinthedirectionofthewoods，and，reachingthem，tiedhishorsetoayoungsaplingintheshade，andenteredtheirdomainwithashamblingbutfamiliarwoodman"sstep。
ItisnotthepurposeofthisbriefchronicletofollowMr。Bowersinhisprofessionaldiagnosisofthelocality。HerecognizedNatureinoneofhermoodsofwastefulextravagance，——awastethathisexperiencedeyecouldtellwasalsosappingthevitalityofthoseoutwardlyrobustshaftsthatrosearoundhim。Heknew，withouttestingthem，thathalfofthesefair-seemingcolumnswerehollowandrottenatthecore；hecoulddetectthechillodorofdecaythroughthehotbalsamicspicesstirredbythewindthatstreamedthroughtheirlongaisles，——likeincenseminglingwiththeexhalationsofacrypt。Hestoppednowandthentoparttheheavyfrondsdowntotheirrootsinthedankmoss，seeingagain，ashehadtoldtheeditor，theweirdSECONDtwilightthroughtheirminiaturestems，andthemicrocosmoflifethatfilledit。But，evenwhilepayingthistributetotheaccuracyoftheunknownpoetess，hewas，likehispredecessor，hauntedmorestronglybytheatmosphereandmelodyofherverse。Itsspellwasuponhim，too。
UnlikeMr。Hamlin，hedidnotsing。Heonlyhaltedonceortwice，silentlycombinghisstraightnarrowbeardwithhisthreefingers，untiltheactionseemedtodrawdownthelinesofhisfaceintolimitlessdejection，andaninscrutablemelancholyfilledhissmallgrayeyes。ThefewbirdswhichhadhailedMr。Hamlinastheirsuccessfulrivalfledawaybeforethegrotesqueandangularhalf-
lengthofMr。Bowers，asifthewindhadblowninascarecrowfromthedistantfarms。
Suddenlyheobservedthefigureofawoman，withherbacktowardshim，leaningmotionlessagainstatree，andapparentlygazingintentlyinthedirectionofGreenSprings。Hehadapproachedsoneartoherthatitwassingularshehadnotheardhim。Mr。Bowerswasabashfulmaninthepresenceoftheothersex。Hefeltexceedinglyembarrassed；ifhecouldhavegoneawaywithoutattractingherattentionhewouldhavedoneso。Neithercouldheremainsilent，atacitspyofhermeditation。Hehadrecoursetoapolitebutsingularlyartificialcough。
Tohissurprise，shegaveafaintcry，turnedquicklytowardshim，andthenshrankbackandlapsedquitehelplessagainstthetree。
Herevidentdistressovercamehisbashfulness。Herantowardsher。
"I"msorryIfrightedye，ma"am，butIwasafraidImightskeeryemoreifIlaylow，andsaidnothin"。"
Eventhen，ifshehadbeensomefairyoungcountrygirl，hewouldhaverelapsedafterthisspeechintohisformerbashfulness。Butthefaceandfiguresheturnedtowardshimwereneitheryoungnorfair:awomanpastforty，withgraythreadsandsplashesinherbrushed-backhair，whichwasturnedoverherearsintwocurlslikefrayedstrandsofrope。Herforeheadwasratherhighthanbroad，hernoselargebutwell-shaped，andhereyesfullbutsosingularlylightincolorastoseemalmostsightless。Theshortupperlipofherlargemouthdisplayedherteethinanhabitualsmile，whichwasinturnsoflatlycontradictedbyeveryotherlineofhercarewornfacethatitseemedgratuitouslyartificial。Herfigurewashiddenbyashapelessgarmentthatpartookequallyoftheshawl，cloak，andwrapper。
"Iamveryfoolish，"shebegan，inavoiceandaccentthatatonceassertedacultivatedwoman，"butIsoseldommeetanybodyherethatavoicequitestartledme。That，andtheheat，"shewenton，wipingherface，intowhichthecolorwasreturningviolently——"forIseldomgooutasearlyasthis——Isupposeaffectedme。"
Mr。BowershadthatinnateFar-WesternreverenceforwomanhoodwhichIfancychallengesthemostpolishedpoliteness。Heremainedpatient，undemonstrative，self-effacing，andrespectfulbeforeher，hisangulararmslightlybutnotobtrusivelyadvanced，theofferofprotectionbeingintheactratherthaninanyspokenword，andrequiringnoresponse。
"Likeasnot，ma"am，"hesaid，cheerfullylookingeverywherebutinherburningface。"ThesunISpow"fulhotatthistimeo"day；I
feltitmyselfcomin"yer，and，thoughthedampofthistimberkindersetsitback，it"slikelytocomeoutag"in。Yecan"tcheckitnomorethanthesapinthatchokedlimbthar"——hepointedostentatiouslywhereafallenpinehadbeencaughtinthebentandtwistedarmofanother，butwhichstillputoutafewgreentasselsbeyondthepointofimpact。"Doyoulivefarfromhere，ma"am?"headded。
"Onlyasfarasthefirstturningbelowthehill。"
"I"vegotmybuggyhere，andI"mgoin"thatway，andIcanjistsetyedowntharcoolandcomfortable。Ef，"hecontinued，inthesameassuringtone，withoutwaitingforareply，"ye"lljisttakeagoodgripofmyarmthar，"curvinghiswristandhandbehindhimlikeashepherd"scrook，"I"llgofirst，andbreakawaythebrushforye。"
Sheobeyedmechanically，andtheyfaredonthroughthethickfernsinthisfashionforsomemoments，helookingahead，occasionallydroppingawordofcautionorencouragement，butneverglancingatherface。Whentheyreachedthebuggyheliftedherintoitcarefully，——andperpendicularly，itstruckherafterwards，verymuchasifshehadbeenatransplantedsaplingwithbaredandsensitiveroots，——andthengravelytookhisplacebesideher。
"Bein"inthetimbertrademyself，ma"am，"hesaid，gatheringupthereins，"Ichancedtosightthesewoods，andtookalookaround。
MynameisBowers，ofMendocino；Ireckonthereain"tmuchthatgrowsinthewayo"standin"timberonthePacificSlopethatI
don"tknowandcan"tlocate，thoughIDOsayit。I"vegotezbigamill，andezbigaruninmydistrict，ezthereisanywhere。Efyou"reeverupmyway，youaskforBowers——JimBowers——andthat"sME。"
Thereisprobablynothingmoreconducivetoconversationbetweenstrangersthanawholesomeandearlyrecognitionofeachother"sfoibles。Mr。Bowers，believinghischanceacquaintanceasuperiorwoman，naivelyspokeofhimselfinawaythathehopedwouldreassureherthatshewasnotcompromisingherselfinacceptinghiscivility，andsosatisfywhatmustbeherinevitablepride。Ontheotherhand，thewomanregainedherself-possessionbythisexhibitionofMr。Bowers"svanity，and，revivedbytherefreshingbreezecausedbytherapidmotionofthebuggyalongtheroad，thankedhimgraciously。
"IsupposetherearemanystrangersattheGreenSpringsHotel，"
shesaid，afterapause。
"Ididn"tgettosee"em，asIonlyputupmyhossthere，"hereplied。"ButIknowthestagetooksomeawaythismornin":itseemedprettywellloadedupwhenIpassedit。"
Thewomandrewadeepsigh。TheactstruckMr。Bowersasapossiblereturnofherformernervousweakness。Herattentionmustatoncebedistractedatanycost——evenconversation。
"Perhaps，"hebegan，withsuddenandappallinglightness，"I"ma-talkin"toMrs。McFadden?"
"No，"saidthewoman，abstractedly。
"ThenitmustbeMrs。Delatour?Thereareonlytwotownshiplotsonthatcrossroad。"
"MynameISDelatour，"shesaid，somewhatwearily。
Mr。Bowerswasconversationallystranded。Hewasnotatallanxioustoknowhername，yet，knowingitnow，itseemedtosuggestthattherewasnothingmoretosay。Hewould，ofcourse，havepreferredtoaskherifshehadreadthepoetryabouttheUnderbrush，andifsheknewthepoetess，andwhatshethoughtofit；butthefactthatsheappearedtobean"eddicated"womanmadehimsensitiveofdisplayingtechnicalignoranceinhismanneroftalkingaboutit。Shemightaskhimifitwas"subjectiveor"objective"——twowordshehadheardusedattheDebatingSocietyatMendocinoonthequestion，"Ispoetrymorallybeneficial?"Forafewmomentshewassilent。Butpresentlyshetooktheinitiativeinconversation，atfirstslowlyandabstractedly，andthen，asifappreciatinghissympatheticreticence，ormayhapfindingsomereliefinmonotonousexpression，talkedmechanically，deliberately，butunostentatiouslyaboutherself。Socolorlesswasherintonationthatattimesitdidnotseemasifshewastalkingtohim，butrepeatingsomeconversationshehadheldwithanother。
ShehadlivedthereeversinceshehadbeeninCalifornia。HerhusbandhadboughttheSpanishtitletothepropertywhentheyfirstmarried。Thepropertyathisdeathwasfoundtobegreatlyinvolved；shehadbeenobligedtopartwithmuchofittosupportherchildren——fourgirlsandaboy。ShehadbeencompelledtowithdrawthegirlsfromtheconventatSantaClaratohelpaboutthehouse；theboywastooyoung——shefeared，tooshiftless——todoanything。Thefarmdidnotpay；thelandwaspoor；sheknewnothingaboutfarming；shehadbeenbroughtupinNewOrleans，whereherfatherhadbeenajudge，andshedidn"tunderstandcountrylife。Ofcourseshehadbeenmarriedtooyoung——asallgirlswere。LatelyshehadthoughtofsellingoffandmovingtoSanFrancisco，whereshewouldopenaboarding-houseoraschoolforyoungladies。Hecouldadviseher，perhaps，ofsomegoodopportunity。Herowngirlswerefarenoughadvancedtoassistherinteaching；oneparticularly，Cynthia，wasquiteclever，andspokeFrenchandSpanishfluently。
AsMr。BowerswasfamiliarwithmanyofthesecountsinthefeminineAmericanindictmentoflifegenerally，hewasnotperhapsgreatlymoved。Butinthelastsentencehethoughthesawanopeningtoreturntohismainobject，and，lookingupcautiously，said:——
"Andmebbewritepo"trynowandthen?"Tohisgreatdiscomfiture，theonlyeffectofthissuggestionwastocheckhiscompanion"sspeechforsomemomentsandapparentlythrowherbackintoherformerabstraction。Yet，afteralongpause，astheywereturningintothelane，shesaid，asifcontinuingthesubject:——
"Ionlyhopethat，whatevermydaughtersmaydo，theywon"tmarryyoung。"
TheyawningbreachesintheDelatourgatesandfencespresentlycameinview。Theyweresupposedtobereinforcedbyhalfadozendogs，who，however，didtheirdutywithwhatwouldseemtobetheprevailinginefficiency，retiringafterasingleperfunctoryyelptoshamelessstretching，scratching，andslumber。Theirplacesweretakenontheverandabytwonegroservants，twogirlsrespectivelyofeightandeleven，andaboyoffourteen，whoremainedsilentlystaring。AsMr。Bowershadacceptedthewidow"spoliteinvitationtoenter，shewascompelled，albeitinanequallydazedandhelplessway，toissuesomepreliminaryorders:——
"Now，Chloe——ImeanauntDinah——dotakeEunice——ImeanVictorineandUna——away，and——youknow——tidythem；andyou，Sarah——it"sSarah，isn"tit?——laysomerefreshmentintheparlorforthisgentleman。And，Bob，tellyoursisterCynthiatocomeherewithEunice。"AsBobstillremainedstaringatMr。Bowers，sheadded，inwearyexplanation，"Mr。BowersbroughtmeoverfromtheSummitwoodsinhisbuggy——itwassohot。There——shakehandsandthankhim，andrunaway——do!"
Theycrossedabroadbutscantily-furnishedhall。Everywherethesamelookofhopelessincompleteness，temporaryutility，andprematuredecay；mostofthefurniturewasmismatchedandmisplaced；manyoftheroomshadchangedtheiroriginalfunctionsordoubledthem；asmellofcookingcamefromthelibrary，onwhoseshelves，mingledwithbooks，weredressesandhouseholdlinen，andthroughthedoorofaroomintowhichMrs。DelatourretiredtoremoveherdusterMr。Bowerscaughtaglimpseofabed，andofatablecoveredwithbooksandpapers，atwhichatall，fairgirlwaswriting。InafewmomentsMrs。Delatourreturned，accompaniedbythisgirl，andEunice，hershort-lippedsister。Bob，whojoinedthepartyseatedaroundMr。Bowersandatablesetwithcake，adecanter，andglasses，completedthegroup。EmboldenedbythepresenceofthetallCynthiaandhisglimpseofherpreviousliteraryattitude，Mr。Bowersresolvedtomakeonemoreattempt。
"Isupposetheseyeryoungladiessometimesgotothewood，too?"
AshiseyerestedonCynthia，shereplied:——
"Oh，yes。"
"Ireckononaccountofthepurtyshadowsdowninthebrush，andthesoftlight，eh?andallthat?"hecontinued，withaplayfulmannerbutaseriousaccessionofcolor。
"Why，thewoodsbelongtous。It"smar"sproperty!"brokeinEunicewithaflashofteeth。
"Well，Lordy，Iwanterknow!"saidMr。Bowers，insomeastonishment。
"Why，that"srightinmyline，too!I"vebeensightin"timberallalonghere，andthat"showIdroppedinonyermar。"Then，seeingalookofeagernesslightupthefacesofBobandEunice，hewasencouragedtomakethemostofhisopportunity。"Why，ma"am，"hewenton，cheerfully，"Ireckonyou"reholdin"thatwoodataprettystifffigger，now。"
"Why?"askedMrs。Delatour，simply。
Mr。BowersdeliveredawinkatBobandEunice，whowerestillwatchinghimwithanxiety。"Well，notonaccountoftheactooltimber，forthebestofitain"tsound，"hesaid，"butonaccountofitsbein"famous!Everybodythatreadsthatpow"fulprettypoemaboutitinthe"ExcelsiorMagazine"wantstoseeit。Why，itwouldpaytheGreenSpringshotel-keepertobuyitupforhiscustomers。ButIs"poseyoureckontokeepit——alongwiththepoetess——inyourfamerly?"
AlthoughMr。Bowerslongconsideredthisspeechasthehappiestandmostbrillianteffortofhislife，itsimmediateeffectwasnot，perhaps，allthatcouldbedesired。Thewidowturneduponhimarestrainedanddarkeningface。Cynthiahalfrosewithanappealing"Oh，mar!"andBobandEunice，havingapparentlypinchedeachothertothelaststageofendurance，retiredprecipitatelyfromtheroominaprolongedgiggle。
"IhavenotyetthoughtofdisposingoftheSummitwoods，Mr。
Bowers，"saidMrs。Delatour，coldly，"butifIshoulddoso，Iwillconsultyou。Youmustexcusethechildren，whoseesolittlecompany，theyarequiteunmanageablewhenstrangersarepresent。
Cynthia，WILLyouseeiftheservantshavelookedafterMr。
Bowers"shorse?YouknowBobisnottobetrusted。"
TherewasclearlynothingelseforMr。Bowerstodobuttotakehisleave，whichhedidrespectfully，ifnotaltogetherhopefully。Butwhenhehadreachedthelane，hishorseshiedfromtheunwontedspectacleofBob，swinginghishat，andapparentlyawaitinghim，fromtheforkofawaysidesapling。
"Hol"up，mister。Lookhere!"
Mr。Bowerspulledup。Bobdroppedintotheroad，and，afterabackwardglanceoverhisshoulder，said:——
"Drive"longsidethefenceintheshadder。"AsMr。Bowersobeyed，Bobapproachedthewheelsofthebuggyinamannerhalfshy，halfmysterious。"YouwanterbuythemSummitwoods，mister?"
"Well，per"aps，sonny。Why?"smiledMr。Bowers。
"CozI"lltellyesuthin"。Don"tyoubefooledintoallowin"thatCynthiawrotethatpo"try。Shedidn"t——nomore"nEunicenorme。
Markinderletyethinkit，"cosshedon"twantfolkstothinkSHE
didit。Butmarwrotethatpo"tryherself；wroteitouto"themtharwoods——allbyherself。Thar"saheapmorepo"trythar，youbet，andjistasgood。Andshe"stheonethatkinwriteit——youhearme?That"smymar，everytime!Youbuythattharwood，andgetmartorunitforpo"try，andyou"llmakeyourpile，sure!I
ain"tlyin"。You"dbetterlookspry:thar"sanotherfellersnoopin""roundyere——onlyhebarkedupthewrongtree，andthoughtitwasCynthia，jistasyoudid。"
"Anotherfeller?"repeatedtheastonishedBowers。
"Yes；arig"larsport。Hewasorfulkeenonthatpo"try，too，youbet。Soyou"dbetterhumpyourselfaforesomebodyelsecutsin。
Margotahundreddollarsforthatpome，fromthateditorfellerandhispardner。Ireckonthat"stherig"larprice，eh?"headded，withasuddensuspiciouscaution。
"Ireckonso，"repliedMr。Bowers，blankly。"But——lookhere，Bob!
Doyoumeantosayitwasyourmother——yourMOTHER，Bob，whowrotethatpoem?Areyousure?"
"D"yethinkI"mlyin"?"saidBob，scornfully。"Don"tIknow?
Don"tIcopy"emoutplainforher，soasfolkswon"tknowherhandwrite?Go"way!you"reloony!"Then，possiblydoubtingifthislatterexpressionwerestrictlydiplomaticwiththebusinessinhand，headded，inhalf-reproach，half-apology，"Don"tyeseeI
don"twantyetobefooledintolosin"yerchanceo"buyingupthatSummitwood?It"sthecoldtruthI"mtellin"ye。"
Mr。Bowersnolongerdoubtedit。Disappointedasheundoubtedlywasatfirst，——andevenself-deceived，——herecognizedinaflashthegrimfactthattheboyhadstated。Herecalledtheapparitionofthesad-facedwomaninthewood——herdistressedmanner，thattohisinexperiencedmindnowtookuponitselftheagitatedtremblingofdisturbedmysticinspiration。Asenseofsadnessandremorsesucceededhisfirstshockofdisappointment。
"Well，areyegoingtobuythewoods?"saidBob，eyinghimgrimly。
"Ye"dbettersay。"
Mr。Bowersstarted。"Ishouldn"twonder，Bob，"hesaid，withasmile，gatheringuphisreins。"Anyhow，I"mcomin"backtoseeyourmotherthisafternoon。Andmeantime，Bob，youkeepthefirstchanceforme。"
Hedroveaway，leavingtheyouthfuldiplomatiststandingwithhisbarefeetinthedust。Foraminuteortwotheyounggentlemanamusedhimselfbyafewlightsaltatorystepsintheroad。Thenasmileofscornfulsuperiority，mingledperhapswithasenseofpreviousslightsandunappreciation，drewbackhislittleupperlip，andbrightenedhismottledcheek。
"I"dliketerknow，"hesaid，darkly，"whatthisyerGod-forsakenfamerlywoulddowithoutME!"
CHAPTERV
ItistobepresumedthattheeditorandMr。Hamlinmutuallykepttotheirtacitagreementtorespecttheimpersonalityofthepoetess，forduringthenextthreemonthsthesubjectwasseldomalludedtobyeither。YetinthatperiodWhiteViolethadsenttwoothercontributions，andoneachoccasionMr。Hamlinhadinsisteduponincreasingthehonorariumtotheamountofhisformergift。
Invaintheeditorpointedoutthedangerofthisformofmunificence；Mr。Hamlinretortedbysayingthatifherefusedhewouldappealtotheproprietor，whocertainlywouldnotobjecttotakingthecreditofthisliberality。"Astotherisks，"concludedJack，sententiously，"I"lltakethem；andasfarasyou"reconcerned，youcertainlygettheworthofyourmoney。"
Indeed，ifpopularitywasanindiction，thishadbecomesuddenlytrue。Forthepoetess"sthirdcontribution，withoutchangingitsstronglocalcolorandindividuality，hadbeenanunexpectedoutburstofhumanpassion——alove-song，thattouchedthosetowhomthesubtlermeditativegracesofthepoetesshadbeenunknown。
Manypeoplehadlistenedtothisimpassionedbutdespairingcryfromsomeremoteandcharmedsolitude，whohadneverreadpoetrybefore，whotranslateditintotheirownlimitedvocabularyandmorelimitedexperience，andwereinexpressiblyaffectedtofindthatthey，too，understoodit；itwascaughtupandechoedbythefeverish，adventurous，andunsatisfiedlifethatfilledthatdayandtime。Eventheeditorwassurprisedandfrightened。Likemostcultivatedmen，hedistrustedpopularity:likeallmenwhobelieveintheirownindividualjudgment，hedoubtedcollectivewisdom。
Yetnowthathisprotegeehadbeenacceptedbyothers，hequestionedthatjudgmentandbecamehercritic。Itstruckhimthathersuddenoutburstwasstrained；itseemedtohimthatinthismerecontortionofpassionthesibyl"srobehadbecomerudelydisarranged。HespoketoHamlin，andevenapproachedthetabooedsubject。
"Didyouseeanythingthatsuggestedthissortofbusinessin——in——
thatwoman——Imeanin——yourpilgrimage，Jack?"
"No，"respondedJack，gravely。"Butit"seasytoseeshe"sgotholdofsomehay-footedfellowupthereinthemountainswithstrawsinhishair，andisplayinghimforallhe"sworth。Youwon"tgetmuchmorepoetryoutofher，Ireckon。"
Iswasnotlongafterthisconversationthatoneafternoon，whentheeditorwasalone，Mr。JamesBowersenteredtheeditorialroomwithmuchofthehesitationandirresolutionofhispreviousvisit。
Astheeditorhadnotonlyforgottenhim，buteven，dissociatedhimwiththepoetess，Mr。Bowerswasfaintomeethisunresponsiveeyeandmannerwithsomeexplanation。
"Yedisremembermycomin"here，Mr。Editor，toaskyouthenameo"
theladywhocalledherself"WhiteViolet，"andhowyouallowedyoucouldn"tgiveit，butwouldwriteandaskforit?"
Mr。Editor，leaningbackinhischair，nowrememberedtheoccurrence，butwasdistressedtoaddthatthesituationremainedunchanged，andthathehadreceivednosuchpermission。
"NevermindTHAT，mylad，"saidMr。Bowers，gravely，wavinghishand。"Iunderstandallthat；but，ezI"veknowntheladyeversince，andamnowvisitingheratherhouseontheSummit，Ireckonitdon"tmakemuchmatter。"
ItwasquitecharacteristicofMr。Bowers"ssmilelessearnestnessthathemadenoostentationofthisdramaticretort，noroftheundisguisedstupefactionoftheeditor。
"DoyoumeantosaythatyouhavemetWhiteViolet，theauthorofthesepoems?"repeatedtheeditor。
"WhichhernameisDelatour，——thewidderDelatour，——ezshehasherselfgivemepermissiontotellyou，"continuedMr。Bowers，withacertainabstractedandautomaticprecisionthatdissipatedanysuggestionofmaliceinthereversedsituation。
"Delatour!——awidow!"repeatedtheeditor。
"Withfivechildren，"continuedMr。Bowers。Then，withunalterablegravity，hebrieflygaveanoutlineofherconditionandthecircumstancesofhisacquaintancewithher。
"ButIreckonedYOUmighthaveknownsuthin"o"this；thoughsheneverletonyoudid，"heconcluded，eyingtheeditorwithtroubledcuriosity。
TheeditordidnotthinkitnecessarytoimplicateMr。Hamlin。Hesaid，briefly，"I?Oh，no!"
"Ofcourse，YOUmightnothaveseenher?"saidMr。Bowers，keepingthesamegrave，troubledgazeontheeditor。
"Ofcoursenot，"saidtheeditor，somewhatimpatientunderthesingularscrutinyofMr。Bowers；"andI"mveryanxioustoknowhowshelooks。Tellme，whatisshelike?"
"Sheisafine，pow"ful，eddicatedwoman，"saidMr。Bowers，withslowdeliberation。"Yes，sir，——apow"fulwoman，havin"grandideasofherown，andholdin"to"em。"Hehadwithdrawnhiseyesfromtheeditor，andapparentlyaddressedtheceilinginconfidence。
"Butwhatdoesshelooklike，Mr。Bowers?"saidtheeditor，smiling。
"Well，sir，shelooks——LIKE——IT!Yes，"——withdeliberatecaution，——
"Ishouldsay，justlikeit。"
Afterapause，apparentlytoallowtheeditortomaterializethisravishingdescription，hesaid，gently，"Areyoubusyjustnow?"
"Notvery。WhatcanIdoforyou?"
"Well，notmuchforME，Ireckon，"hereturned，withadeeperrespiration，thatwashisnearestapproachtoasigh，"butsuthin"
perhapsforyourselfand——another。Areyoumarried?"
"No，"saidtheeditor，promptly。
"Norengagedtoany——younglady?"——withgreatpoliteness。
"No。"
"Well，mebbeyouthinkitaqueerthingformetosay，——mebbeyoureckonyouKNOWitezwellezanybody，——butit"smyopinionthatWhiteVioletisinlovewithyou。"
"Withme?"ejaculatedtheeditor，inahopelessastonishmentthatatlastgavewaytoanincredulousandirresistiblelaugh。
AslighttouchofpainpassedoverMr。Bowers"sdejectedface，butleftthedeepoutlinessetwitharudedignity。"It"sSO，"hesaid，slowly，"though，asayoungmanandagayfeller，yemaythinkit"sfunny。"
"No，notfunny，butaterribleblunder，Mr。Bowers，forIgiveyoumywordIknownothingoftheladyandhaveneverseteyesuponher。"
"No，butshehasonYOU。Ican"tsay，"continuedMr。Bowers，withsublimenaivete，"thatI"deverrecognizeyoufromherdescription，butawomano"thatkinddon"tseewithhereyeslikeyouandme，butwithallhersensestoonct，andaheapmorethatain"tsensesasweknow"em。ThesameeyesthatseeddownthroughthebrushandfernsintheSummitwoods，thesameearsthatheerdthemusicofthewindtrailin"throughthepines，don"tseeyouwithmyeyesorhearyouwithmyears。Andwhenshepaintsyou，it"snat"rilforawomanwiththatpow"fulmindandgrandideestodipherbrushintoherheart"sbloodforwarmthandcolor。Yersmilin"，youngman。
Well，goonandsmileatme，mylad，butnotather。Foryoudon"tknowher。WhenyouknowherstoryasIdo，whenyouknowshewasmadeawifeaforesheeverknewwhatitwastobeayoungwoman，whenyouknowthatthemanshemarriedneverunderstoodthekindo"
critterhewastiedtonomorethanefhe"dbeenasteeryokedtoaMorgancolt，whenyeknowshehadchildrengrowin"uparoundheraforeshehadgivenoverbein"asortofchildherself，whenyeknowsheworkedandslavedforthatmanandthosechildrenaboutthehouse——herheart，hersoul，andallherpow"fulmindbein"allthetimeinthewoodsalongwiththeflickeringleavesandtheshadders，——whenyemindshecouldn"tgetthesmallwayso"theranchbecauseshehadthebigwayso"Natur"thatmadeit，——thenyou"llunderstandher。"
Impressedbythesincerityofhisvisitor"smanner，touchedbytheunexpectedpoetryofhisappeal，andyetkeenlyalivetotheabsurdityofanincomprehensibleblundersomewherecommitted，theeditorgaspedalmosthysterically，——
"ButwhyshouldallthismakeherinlovewithME?"
"Becauseyearebothgifted，"returnedMr。Bowers，withsadbutunconquerableconviction；"becauseye"reboth，sotospeak，inalineo"ideesandbusinessthatdrawsyetogether，——toleanoneachotherandtrusteachotherezpardners。NotthatYEareezaklyherekal，"hewenton，withareturntohispreviousexasperatingnaivete，"thoughI"veheerdpromisin"thingsofye，andye"restillyoung，butinmatterso"thiskindthereisallersoneezheztobelookeduptobytheother，——andgin"rallythewrongone。Shelooksuptoyou，Mr。Editor，——it"spartofherpo"try，——ezshelooksdowninterthebrushandseesmorethanisplaintoyouandme。Not，"
hecontinued，withacourteouslydeprecatingwaveofthehand，"ezyouhain"tbinkindtoher——mebbeTOOkind。Forthar"sthepurtyletteryouwrither，thar"stheperlite，easy，captivatin"wayyouhadwithhergalsandthatboy——holdon!"——astheeditormadeagestureofdespairingrenunciation，——"Iain"tsayin"youain"trightinkeepin"ittoyourself，——andthar"stheextrymoneyyousenthereverytime。Stop!sheknowsitwasEXTRY，forshemadeap"into"gettin"metofindoutthemarketpriceo"po"tryinpapersandmagazines，andshereckonsyou"vebinpayin"herfourhundredpercent。abovethemfiggers——holdon!Iain"tsayin"itain"tfreeandliberalinyou，andI"dhavedonethesamething；
yetSHEthinks"——
Buttheeditorhadrisenhastilytohisfeetwithflushingcheeks。
"Onemoment，Mr。Bowers，"hesaid，hurriedly。"Thisisthemostdreadfulblunderofall。Thegiftisnotmine。Itwasthespontaneousofferingofanotherwhoreallyadmiredourfriend"swork，——agentlemanwho"——Hestoppedsuddenly。
Thesoundofafamiliarvoice，lightlyhumming，wasbornealongthepassage；thelighttreadofafamiliarfootwasapproaching。Theeditorturnedquicklytowardstheopendoor，——soquicklythatMr。
Bowerswasfaintoturnalso。
ForacharminginstantthefigureofJackHamlin，handsome，careless，andconfident，wasframedinthedoorway。Hisdarkeyes，withtheirhabitualscornofhisaveragefellow-man，sweptsuperciliouslyoverMr。Bowers，andrestedforaninstantwithcaressingfamiliarityontheeditor。
"Well，sonny，anynewsfromtheoldgirlattheSummit?"
"No-o，"hastilystammeredtheeditor，withahalf-hystericallaugh。
"No，Jack。Excusemeamoment。"
"Allright；busy，Isee。Hastamanana。"
Thepicturevanished，theframewasempty。
"Yousee，"continuedtheeditor，turningtoMr。Bowers，"therehasbeenamistake。I"——buthestoppedsuddenlyattheashenfaceofMr。Bowers，stillfixedinthedirectionofthevanishedfigure。
"Areyouill?"
Mr。Bowersdidnotreply，butslowlywithdrewhiseyes，andturnedthemheavilyontheeditor。Then，drawingalonger，deeperbreath，hepickeduphissoftfelthat，and，mouldingitintoshapeinhishandsasifpreparingtoputiton，hemoistenedhisdry，grayishlips，andsaid，gently:——
"Friendo"yours?"
"Yes，"saidtheeditor——"JackHamlin。Ofcourse，youknowhim?"
"Yes。"
Mr。Bowershereputhishatonhishead，and，afterapause，turnedroundslowlyonceortwice，asifhehadforgottenit，andwasstillseekingit。Finallyhesucceededinfindingtheeditor"shand，andshookit，albeithisowntrembledslightly。Thenhesaid:——
"Ireckonyou"reright。There"sbinamistake。Iseeitnow。