第5章

MeantimethevoiceandmuffledtappinghadbroughtthetremulousfingersofoldForsythtothedoor-latch。Heopenedthedoorpartly；aslightfigurethathadbeenlurkingintheshadowoftheporchpushedrapidlythroughtheopening。Therewasafaintoutcryquicklyhushed，andthedoorclosedagain。Theraysofasinglecandleshowedthetwooldpeoplehystericallyclaspingintheirarmsthefigurethathadentered——aslightbutvicious-lookingyoungfellowoffive-and-twenty。

"There，d——nit!"hesaidimpatiently，inavoicewhoserichdepthwaslikeJosephine"s，butwhosequerulousactionwasthatofthetwooldpeoplebeforehim，"letmego，andquitthat，Ididn"tcomeheretobestrangled!Iwantsomemoney——money，youhear!

Devilishquick，too，forI"vegottobeoffagainbeforedaylight。

Solooksharp，willyou?"

"But，Stevydear，whenyoudidn"tcomethattimethreemonthsago，butwrotefromLosAngeles，yousaidyou"dmadeastrikeatlast，and"——

"Whatareyoutalkingabout?"heinterruptedviolently。"Thatwasjustmylyin"tokeepyoufromworryin"me。Threemonthsago——

threemonthsago!Why，youmusthavebeencrazytohaveswallowedit；Ihadn"tacent。"

"Norhavewe，"saidtheoldwoman，shrilly。"Thathellishsisterofyoursstillkeepsuslikebeggars。Ouronlyhopewasyou，ourownboy。Andnowyouonlycometo——togoagain。"

"ButSHEhasmoney；SHE"Sdoingwell，andSHEshallgiveittome，"

hewenton，angrily。"Shecan"tbullymewithherbusinessairsandmorality。Whoelsehasgotarighttoshare，ifitisnotherownbrother?"

Alasforthefatuousnessofhumanmalevolence!HadtheunhappycouplerelatedonlythesimplefactstheyknewaboutthenewguestofBurntRidgeRanch，andthemannerofhisintroduction，theymighthavesparedwhatfollowed。

Buttheoldwomanbrokeintoavindictivecry:"Whoelse，Steve——

whoelse?Why，thesluthasbroughtaMANhere——asneaking，deceitful，underhanded，crazylover!"

"Oh，hasshe?"saidtheyoungman，fiercely，yetsecretlypleasedatthispromisingevidenceofhissister"shumanweakness。"Whereisshe?I"llgotoher。She"sinherroom，Isuppose，"andbeforetheycouldrestrainhim，hehadthrownofftheirimpedingembracesanddartedacrossthehall。

Thetwooldpeoplestareddoubtfullyateachother。Foreventhispowerfulally，whosestrength，however，theywerebynomeanssureof，mightsuccumbbeforethedeterminedJosephine!Prudencedemandedamiddlecourse。"Ain"ttheybrotherandsister?"saidtheoldman，withanairofvirtuoustoleration。"Let"emfightitout。"

Theyoungmanimpatientlyenteredtheroomherememberedtohavebeenhissister"s。Bythelightofthemoonthatstreameduponthewindowhecouldseeshewasnotthere。Hepassedhurriedlytothedoorofherbedroom；itwasopen；theroomwasempty，thebedunturned。Shewasnotinthehouse——shehadgonetothemill。Ah!

Whatwasthattheyhadsaid?Aninfamousthoughtpassedthroughthescoundrel"smind。Then，inwhathehalfbelievedwasanaccessofvirtuousfury，hebeganbythedimlighttorummageinthedrawersofthedeskforsuchloosecoinorvaluablesas，intheperfectsecurityoftheranch，wereoftenleftunguarded。Suddenlyheheardaheavyfootsteponthethreshold，andturned。

Anawfulvision——arecollection，sounexpected，soghostlikeinthatweirdlightthathethoughthewaslosinghissenses——stoodbeforehim。Itmovedforwardswithstaringeyeballsandwhiteandopenlipsfromwhichahorribleinarticulatesoundissuedthatwasthespeechofnolivingman!Withasingledesperate，almostsuperhumaneffortStephenForsythboundedaside，leapedfromthewindow，andranlikeamadmanfromthehouse。Thentheapparitiontrembled，collapsed，andsankinanundistinguishableheaptotheground。

WhenJosephineForsythreturnedanhourlaterwithhermillforeman，shewasstartledtofindherhelplesspatientinafitonthefloorofherroom。Withtheassistanceofhernowconvertedandpenitentemployee，shehadtheunfortunatemanconveyedtohisroom——butnotuntilshehadthoughtfullyrearrangedthedisorderofherdeskandclosedtheopendrawerswithoutattractingDickShipley"sattention。Inthemorning，hearingthatthepatientwasstillinthesemiconsciousexhaustionofhislateattack，butwithoutseeinghim，shesentforDr。Duchesne。Thedoctorarrivedwhileshewasabsentatthemill，where，afteracarefulexaminationofhispatient，hesoughtherwithsomelittleexcitement。

"Well?"shesaid，witheagergravity。

"Well，itlooksasifyourwishwouldbegratified。Yourfriendhashadanepilepticfit，butthephysicalshockhasstartedhismentalmachineryagain。Hehasrecoveredhisfaculties；hismemoryisreturning:hethinksandspeakscoherently；heisassaneasyouandI。"

"And"——saidJosephine，questioningthedoctor"sknittedeyebrows。

"Iamnotyetsurewhetheritwastheresultofsomeshockhedoesn"tremember；oranirritationofthebrain，whichwouldindicatethattheoperationhadnotbeensuccessfulandthattherewasstillsomephysicalpressureorobstructionthere——inwhichcasehewouldbesubjecttotheseattacksallhislife。"

"Doyouthinkhisreasoncamebeforethefitorafter?"askedthegirl，anxiously。

"Icouldn"tsay。Hadanythinghappened?"

"Iwasaway，andfoundhimontheflooronmyreturn，"sheanswered，halfuneasily。Afterapauseshesaid，"Thenhehastoldyouhisnameandallabouthimself?"

"Yes，it"snothingatall!HewasastrangerjustarrivedfromtheStates，goingtothemines——theoldstory；hadnonearrelations，ofcourse；wasn"tmissedoraskedafter；rememberswalkingalongtheridgeandfallingover；name，JohnBaxter，ofMaine。"Hepaused，andrelaxingintoaslightsmile，added，"I

haven"tspoiledyourromance，haveI?"

"No，"shesaid，withanansweringsmile。Thenasthedoctorwalkedbrisklyawaysheslightlyknittedherprettybrows，hungherhead，pattedthegroundwithherlittlefootbeyondthehemofhergown，andsaidtoherself，"Themanwaslyingtohim。"

CHAPTERIII

Onherreturntothehouse，Josephineapparentlycontentedherselfwithreceivingthebulletinofthestranger"sconditionfromtheservant，forshedidnotenterhisroom。Shehadobtainednotheoryoflastnight"sincidentfromherparents，who，beyondaquerulousagitationthatwasquickenedbythenewsofhisreturntoreason，refrainedfromeventhatinsidiouscommentwhichshehalffearedwouldfollow。Whenanotherdaypassedwithoutherseeinghim，sheneverthelesswasconsciousofalittleembarrassmentwhenhisattendantbroughthertherequestthatshewouldgivehimamoment"sspeechintheporch，whitherhehadbeenremoved。

Shefoundhimphysicallyweaker；indeed，somuchsothatshewasfain，eveninherembarrassment，toassisthimbacktothebenchfromwhichhehadceremoniouslyrisen。Butshewassostruckwiththechangeinhisfaceandmanner，achangesovirileandmasterful，inspiteofitsgentlesadnessofmanner，thatsherecoiledwithaslighttimidityasifhehadbeenastranger，althoughshewasalsoconsciousthatheseemedtobemoreathiseasethanshewas。Hebeganinalowexhaustedvoice，butbeforehehadfinishedhisfirstsentence，shefeltherselfinthepresenceofasuperior。

"Mythankscomeverylate，MissForsyth，"hesaid，withafaintsmile，"butnooneknowsbetterthanyourselfthereasonwhy，orcanbetterunderstandthattheymeanthattheburdenyouhavesogenerouslytakenonyourselfisabouttobelifted。Iknowall，MissForsyth。SinceyesterdayIhavelearnedhowmuchIoweyou，evenmylifeIbelieve，thoughIamafraidImusttellyouinthesamebreaththatTHATisoflittleworthtoanyone。Youhavekindlyhelpedandinterestedyourselfinapoorstrangerwhoturnsouttobeanobody，withoutfriends，withoutromance，andwithoutevenmystery。Youfoundmelyingintheroaddownyonder，afterastupidaccidentthatmighthavehappenedtoanyothercarelesstramp，andwhichscarcelygavemeaclaimtoabedinthecountyhospital，muchlessunderthiskindlyroof。Itwasnotmyfault，asyouknow，thatallthisdidnotcomeoutsooner；butwhileitdoesn"tlessenyourgenerosity，itdoesn"tlessenmydebt，andalthoughIcannothopetoeverrepayyou，Icanatleastkeepthescorefromrunningon。Pardonmyspeakingsobluntly，butmyexcuseforspeakingatallwastosay"Good-by"and"Godblessyou。"Dr。Duchesnehaspromisedtogivemealiftonmywayinhisbuggywhenhegoes。"

Therewasaslighttouchofconsciousnessinhisvoiceinspiteofitssadness，whichstrucktheyounggirlasaweakandevenungentlemanlynoteinhisotherwiseself-abnegatingandundemonstrativeattitude。Ifhewasacommontramp，hewouldn"ttalkinthatway，andifhewasn"t，whydidhelie?Herpracticalgoodsensehereasserteditself。

"Butyouarefarfromstrongyet；infact，thedoctorsaysyoumighthavearelapseatanymoment，andyouhave——thatis，youSEEM

tohavenomoney，"shesaidgravely。

"That"strue，"hesaid，quickly。"IrememberIwasquiteplayedoutwhenIenteredthesettlement，andIthinkIhadpartedfromevensomelittletriflesIcarriedwithme。IamafraidIwasapoorfindtothosewhopickedmeup，andyououghttohavetakenwarning。ButthedoctorhasofferedtolendmeenoughtotakemetoSanFrancisco，ifonlytogiveafairtrialtothemachinehehassetoncemorea-going。"

"ThenyouhavefriendsinSanFrancisco?"saidtheyounggirlquickly。"Thosewhoknowyou?Whynotwritetothemfirst，andtellthemyouarehere?"

"Idon"tthinkyourpostmasterherewouldbepreoccupiedwithlettersforJohnBaxter，ifIdid，"hesaid，quietly。"Buthereisthedoctorwaiting。Good-by。"

Hestoodlookingatherinapeculiar，yethalf-resignedway，andheldouthishand。Foramomentshehesitated。Hadhebeenlessindependentandstrong，shewouldhaverefusedtolethimgo——haveofferedhimsomeslightemploymentattheranch；foroddlyenough，inspiteofthesuspicionthathewasconcealingsomething，shefeltthatshewouldhavetrustedhim，andhewouldhavebeenahelptoher。Buthewasnotonlydetermined，butSHEwasallthetimeconsciousthathewasatotallydifferentmanfromtheoneshehadtakencareof，andmerelyordinaryprudencedemandedthatsheshouldknowsomethingmoreofhimfirst。Shegavehimherhandconstrainedly；hepresseditwarmly。

Dr。Duchesnedroveup，helpedhimintothebuggy，smiledagood-

naturedbuthalf-perfunctoryassurancethathewouldlookafter"herpatient，"anddroveaway。

Thewholethingwasover，butsounexpectedly，sosuddenly，sounromantically，sounsatisfactorily，that，althoughhercommonsensetoldherthatitwasperfectlynatural，proper，business-

like，andreasonable，and，aboveall，finalandcomplete，shedidnotknowwhethertolaughorbeangry。Yetthiswasherpartingfromthemanwhohadbutafewdaysagomovedhertotearswithasinglehopelessgesture。Well，thiswouldteachherwhattoexpect。Well，whathadsheexpected?Nothing!

Yetfortherestofthedayshewasunreasonablyirritable，and，iftheconjointurebenotparadoxical，severelypractical，andinhumanlyjust。FallingfoulofsomepresumptionofMiguel"s，baseduponhisprescriptiverightsthroughlongserviceontheestate，withtherecollectionofherseveritytowardshisantagonistinhermind，sheratedthattrustedretainerwithsuchpitilessequityandunfemininelogicthathishotLatinbloodchilledinhisveins，andhestoodlividontheroad。Then，informingDickShipleywithequallyrelentlesscalmthatshemightfeelitnecessarytochangeALLherforemenunlesstheycouldagreeinharmony，shesoughtthedignifiedseclusionofhercastle。Butherrespectedparents，whosetriumphantreliefatthestranger"sdeparturehademboldenedthemtoawaitherreturnintheirporchwithbendedbowsofinvectiveandliftedjavelinsofaggression，recoiledbeforetheresistlesshelmofthiscold-browedMinerva，whogallopedcontemptuouslypastthem。

Nevertheless，shesatlatethatnightatherdesk。Thecoldmoonlookeddownuponherwindow，andlituptheemptyporchwherehersilentguesthadmutelywatchedher。Foramomentsheregrettedthathehadrecoveredhisreason，excusingherselfonthepracticalgroundthathewouldneverhaveknownhisdependence，andhewouldhavebeenbettercaredforbyher。Shefeltrestlessanduneasy。

Thisslightdivergencefromthepracticalgrooveinwhichherlifehadbeensethaddisturbedherinmanyotherthings，andgivenherthefirstviewsofthenarrownessofit。

Suddenlysheheardastepintheporch。Thelatenessofthehour，perhapssomeotherreason，seemedtostartleher，andshehalfrose。ThenextmomentthefigureofMiguelappearedatthedoorway，andwithaquick，hurriedlookaroundhim，andattheopenwindow，heapproachedher。Hewasevidentlyundergreatexcitement，hishollowshavencheeklookedlikeawaxeneffigyinthemissionchurch；hisyellow，tobacco-stainedeyeglitteredlikephosphorescentamber，hislankgrayhairwasdampandperspiring；butmorestrikingthanthiswastheevidentrestrainthehadputuponhimself，pressinghisbroad-brimmedsombrerowithbothofhistremblingyellowhandsagainsthisbreast。Theyounggirlcastahurriedglanceattheopenwindowandatthegunwhichstoodinthecorner，andthenconfrontedhimwithclearandsteadyeyes，butapalercheek。

Ah，hebeganinSpanish，whichhehimselfhadtaughtherasachild，itwasastrangething，hiscomingthereto-night；but，then，motherofGod!itwasastrange，aterriblethingthatshehaddonetohim——oldMiguel，heruncle"sservant:hethathadknownherasamuchacha；hethathadlivedallhislifeattheranch——ay，andwhosefathersbeforehimhadlivedthereallTHEIRlivesanddriventhecattleovertheveryspotwhereshenowstood，beforethethievingAmericanscamehere!Buthewouldbecalm；yes，thesenorashouldfindhimcalm，evenasshewaswhenshetoldhimtogo。Hewouldnotspeak。No，he——Miguel——wouldcontainhimself；

yes，heHADmasteredhimself，butcouldherestrainothers?Ah，yes，OTHERS——thatwasit。CouldhekeepManuelandPepeandDominguezfromtalkingtothemilkman——thatleakingsieve，thatgabblingbruteofaShipley，forwhosesakeshehadcastoffheroldservantthatveryday?

Shelookedathimwithcoldastonishment，butwithoutfear。Washedrunkwithaguardiente，orhadhisjealousyturnedhisbrain?Hecontinuedgasping，butstillpressinghishatagainsthisbreast。

"Howdareyou?"shesaid，passionately。"Whathasthatstrangertodowithmyaffairsoryourinsolence?"

Hestoppedandgazedatherwithacertainadmiringloyalty。"Ah!

so，"hesaid，withadeepbreath，"thesenoraisthenieceofheruncle。ShedoeswellnottofearHIM——adog，"——withaslightshrug，——"whoismorethanrepaidbythesenora"scondescension。HE

darenotspeak!"

"Whodarenotspeak?Areyoumad?"Shestoppedwithasuddenterribleinstinctofapprehension。"Miguel，"shesaidinherdeepestvoice，"answerme，Icommandyou!Doyouknowanythingofthisman?"

ItwasMiguel"sturntorecoilfromhismistress。"Ah，myGod!isitpossiblethesenorahasnotsuspect?"

"Suspect!"saidJosephine，haughtily，albeitherproudheartwasbeatingquickly。"ISUSPECTnothing。IcommandyoutotellmewhatyouKNOW。"

Miguelturnedwitharapidgestureandclosedthedoor。Then，drawingherawayfromthewindow，hesaidinahurriedwhisper，——

"IknowthatthatmanhasnotthenameofBaxter!IknowthathehasthenameofRandolph，ayounggambler，whohavewonalargesumatSacramento，and，fearingtoberobbedbythosehewonof，havewalktohimselfthroughtheroadindisguiseofaminer。IknowthatyourbrotherEstebanhavedecoyedhimhere，andhavefallenonhim。"

"Stop!"saidtheyounggirl，hereyes，whichhadbeenfixedwiththeagonyofconviction，suddenlyflashingwiththeenergyofdespair。"Andyoucallyourselftheservantofmyuncle，anddaresaythisofhisnephew?"

"Yes，senora，"brokeouttheoldman，passionately。"ItisbecauseIamtheservantofyourunclethatI，andIALONE，daresayittoyou!ItisbecauseIperjuredmysoul，andhaveperjuredmysoultodenyitelsewhere，thatInowdaretosayit!ItisbecauseI，yourservant，knewitfromoneofmycountrymen，whowasofthegang，——becauseI，Miguel，knewthatyourbrotherwasnotfarawaythatnight，andbecauseI，whomyouwoulddismiss，havepickedupthispocket-bookofRandolph"sandyourbrother"sringwhichhehavedropped，andIhavefoundbeneaththebodyofthemanyousentmetofetch。"

Hedrewapacketfromhisbosom，andtosseditonthedeskbeforeher。

"Andwhyhaveyounottoldmethisbefore?"saidJosephine，passionately。

Miguelshruggedhisshoulders。

"Whatgood?PossiblythisdogRandolphwoulddie。Possiblyhewouldlive——asalunatic。Possiblywouldhappenwhathashappened!

Thesenoraisbeautiful。TheAmericanhaseyes。IftheDonaJosephine"sbeautyshallfinishwhatthesillyDonEsteban"sarmhavebegun——whatmatter?"

"Stop!"criedJosephine，pressingherhandsacrosshershudderingeyes。Then，uncoveringherwhiteandsetface，shesaidrapidly，"Saddlemyhorseandyourownatonce。Thentakeyourchoice!

Comewithmeandrepeatallthatyouhavesaidinthepresenceofthatman，orleavethisranchforever。ForifIliveIshallgotohimtonight，andtellthewholestory。"

Theoldmancastasingleglanceathismistress，shruggedhisshoulders，and，withoutaword，lefttheroom。Butintenminutestheywereontheirwaytothecountytown。

DaywasbreakingoverthedistantBurntRidge——afaint，ghostlylevel，likeafuneralpall，inthedimhorizon——astheydrewupbeforethegaunt，white-paintedpileofthehospitalbuilding。

Josephineutteredacry。Dr。Duchesne"sbuggywasbeforethedoor。

Onitsverythresholdtheymetthedoctor，darkandirritated。

"Thenyouheardthenews?"hesaid，quickly。

Josephineturnedherwhitefacetothedoctor"s。"Whatnews?"sheasked，inavoicethatseemedstrangelydeepandresonant。

"Thepoorfellowhadanotherattacklastnight，anddiedofexhaustionaboutanhourago。Iwastoolatetosavehim。"

"Didhesayanything?Washeconscious?"askedthegirl，hoarsely。

"No；incoherent!NowIthinkofit，heharpedonthesamestringashedidthenightoftheoperation。Whatwasithesaid?youremember。"

""You"llhavetokillmefirst，""repeatedJosephine，inachokingvoice。

"Yes；somethingabouthisdyingbeforehe"dtell。Well，hecamebacktoitbeforehewentoff——theyoftendo。Youseemalittlehoarsewithyourmorningride。Youshouldtakecareofthatvoiceofyours。Bytheway，it"sagooddeallikeyourbrother"s。"……

TheChatelaineofBurntRidgenevermarried。

THROUGHTHESANTACLARAWHEAT

CHAPTERI

Itwasanenormouswheat-fieldintheSantaClaravalley，stretchingtothehorizonlineunbroken。Themeridiansunshoneuponitwithoutglintorshadow；butattimes，whenastrongergustofthetradewindspassedoverit，therewasaquickslantingimpressionofthewholesurfacethatwas，however，asunlikeabillowasitselfwasunlikeasea。Evenwhenalighterzephyrplayeddownitslonglevel，theagitationwassuperficial，andseemedonlytomomentarilyliftaveilofgreenishmistthathungaboveitsimmovabledepths。Occasionalpuffsofdustalternatelyroseandfellalonganimaginarylineacrossthefield，asifacurrentofairwerepassingthroughit，butwereotherwiseinexplicable。

Suddenlyafaintshout，apparentlysomewhereinthevicinityoftheline，broughtoutaperfectlyclearresponse，followedbytheaudiblemurmurofvoices，whichitwasimpossibletolocalize。Yetthewholefieldwassodevoidofanysuggestionofhumanlifeormotionthatitseemedratherasifthevastexpanseitselfhadbecomesuddenlyarticulateandintelligible。

"Wotsay?"

"Wheeloff。"

"Whare?"

"Intheroad。"

Oneofthevoiceshereindicateditselfinthedirectionofthelineofdust，andsaid，"Comin"，"andamansteppedoutfromthewheatintoabroadanddustyavenue。

Withhispresencethreethingsbecameapparent。

First，thatthepuffsofdustindicatedtheexistenceoftheinvisibleavenuethroughtheunlimitedandunfencedfieldofgrain；

secondly，thatthestalksofwheatoneithersideofitweresotallastoactuallyhideapassingvehicle；andthirdly，thatavehiclehadjustpassed，hadlostawheel，andbeendraggedpartlyintothegrainbyitsfrightenedhorse，whichadustymanwastryingtorestrainandpacify。

Thehorse，givenuptoequinehysterics，andevidentlyconvincedthattheordinarybuggybehindhimhadbeenchangedintosomedangerousandappallingcreation，stillplungedandkickedviolentlytoridhimselfofit。Themanwhohadsteppedoutofthedepthsofthewheatquicklycrossedtheroad，unhitchedthetraces，drewbackthevehicle，and，glancingatthetraveler"sdustyanddisorderedclothes，said，withcurtsympathy:——

"Spilt，too；butnothurt，eh?"

"No，neitherofus。Iwentoverwiththebuggywhenthewheelcramped，butSHEjumpedclear。"

Hemadeagestureindicatingthepresenceofanother。Themanturnedquickly。Therewasasecondfigure，ayounggirlstandingbesidethegrainfromwhichhehademerged，embracingafewstalksofwheatwithonearmandahandinwhichshestillheldherparasol，whileshegraspedhergatheredskirtswiththeother，andtryingtofindasecurefootholdforhertwoneatnarrowslippersonacrumblingcakeofadobeabovethefathomlessdustoftheroadway。Herface，althoughannoyedanddiscontented，waspretty，andherlightdressandslimfigureweresuggestiveofacertainsuperiorcondition。

Theman"smanneratoncesoftenedwithWesterncourtesy。Heswunghisbroad-brimmedhatfromhishead，andbenthisbodywiththeceremoniousnessofthecountryball-room。"Ireckontheladyhadbettercomeuptotheshantyouto"thedustandsuntillwekinhelpyougetthesethingsfixed，"hesaidtothedriver。"I"llsendroundbytheroadforyourhoss，andhaveoneofminefetchupyourwagon。"

"Isitfar?"askedthegirl，slightlyacknowledginghissalutation，withoutwaitingforhercompaniontoreply。

"Onlyastepthisway，"heanswered，motioningtothefieldofwheatbesideher。

"WhatinTHERE?Inevercouldgointhere，"shesaid，decidedly。

"It"saheapshorterthanbytheroad，andnotsodusty。I"llgowithyou，andpilotyou。"

Theyounggirlcastavexedlookathercompanionastheprobablecauseofallthistrouble，andshookherhead。Butatthesamemomentonelittlefootslippedfromtheadobeintothedustagain。

Sheinstantlyclamberedbackwithalittlefeminineshriek，andejaculated:"Well，ofallthings!"andthen，fixingherblueannoyedeyesonthestranger，askedimpatiently，"Whycouldn"tIgotherebytheroad"nthewagon?Icouldmanagetoholdonandkeepin。"

"BecauseIreckonyou"dfindittoopow"fulhotwaitin"heretillwegotroundtoye。"

Therewasnodoubtitwasveryhot；theradiationfromthebakingroadwaybeatingupunderherparasol，andprickinghercheekbonesandeyeballslikeneedles。Shegaveafastidiouslittleshudder，furledherparasol，gatheredherskirtsstilltighter，facedabout，andsaid，"Goon，then。"Themanslippedbackwardsintotheranksofstalks，partingthemwithonehand，andholdingouttheotherasiftoleadher。Butsheevadedtheinvitationbyholdinghertightly-drawnskirtwithbothhands，andbendingherheadforwardasifshehadnotnoticedit。Thenextmomenttheroad，andeventhewholeouterworld，disappearedbehindthem，andtheyseemedfloatinginachokinggreentranslucentmist。

Buttheeffectwasonlymomentary；afewstepsfurthershefoundthatshecouldwalkwithlittledifficultybetweentheranksofstalks，whichwereregularlyspaced，andtheresemblancenowchangedtothatofalongpillaredconservatoryofgreenishglass，thattouchedallobjectswithitspervadinghue。Shealsofoundthatthecloseairaboveherheadwascontinuallyfreshenedbytheinterchangeofcurrentsoflowertemperaturefrombelow，——asifthewholevastfieldhadacirculationofitsown，——andthattheadobebeneathherfeetwasgratefullycooltohertread。Therewasnodust，ashehadsaid；whathadatfirsthalfsuffocatedherseemedtobesomestimulatingaromaofcreationthatfilledthenarrowgreenaisles，andnowimpartedastrangevigorandexcitementtoherasshewalkedalong。Meantimeherguidewasnotconversationallyidle。Now，nodoubt，shehadneverseenanythinglikethisbefore?

Itwasordinarywheat，onlyitwasgrownonadobesoil——therichestinthevalley。Thesestalks，shecouldseeherself，weretenandtwelvefeethigh。Thatwasthetrouble，theyallrantoomuchtostalk，thoughthegrainyieldwas"suthen"pow"ful。"Shecouldtellthattoherfriends，forhereckonedshewastheonlyyoungladythathadeverwalkedundersuchagrowth。PerhapsshewasnewtoCaliforny?Hethoughtsofromthestart。Well，thiswasCaliforny，andthiswasnottheleastofthewaysitcould"layover"everyothercountryonGod"syearth。Manyfolksthoughtitwasthegoldandtheclimate，butshecouldseeforherselfwhatitcoulddowithwheat。Hewonderedifherbrotherhadevertold，herofit?No，thestrangerwasn"therbrother。Norcousin，norcompany?No；onlythehireddriverfromaSanJosehotel，whowastakin"herovertoMajorRandolph"s。Yes，heknewtheoldmajor；theranchwasaprettyplace，nighuntothreemilesfurtheron。Nowthatheknewthedriverwasnorelationofhershedidn"tmindtellingherthatthebuggywasa"ratheroldconsarn，"andthedriverdidn"tknowhisbusiness。Yes，itmightbefixedupsoastotakeherovertothemajor"s；therewasoneoftheirownmen——ayoungfellow——whocoulddoanythingthatCOULDbedonewithwoodandiron，——areg"largenius!——andHE"Dtackleit。Itmighttakeanhour，butshe"dfinditquitecoolwaitingintheshanty。Itwasaroughplace，fortheyonlycampedoutthereduringtheseasontolookafterthecrop，andlivedattheirownhomestherestofthetime。Wasshegoingtostaylongatthemajor"s?Henoticedshehadnotbroughthertrunkwithher。Hadsheknownthemajor"swifelong?Perhapsshethoughtofsettlingintheneighborhood?

Allthisnaive，good-humoredquestioning——sooftencruellymisunderstoodasmerevulgarcuriosity，butasoftenthecourteousinstinctofsimpleunaffectedpeopletoentertainthestrangerbyinvitinghimtotalkofwhatconcernshimselfratherthantheirownselves——wasnevertheless，Ifear，metonlybymonosyllablesfromtheyoungladyoranimpatientquestioninreturn。Shescarcelyraisedhereyestothebroadjean-shirtedbackthatprecededherthroughthegrainuntilthemanabruptlyceasedtalking，andhismanner，withoutlosingitshalf-paternalcourtesy，becamegraver。

Shewasbeginningtobeconsciousofherincivility，andwastryingtothinkofsomethingtosay，whenheexclaimedwithaslightairofrelief，"Hereweare!"andtheshantysuddenlyappearedbeforethem。