\"They\'retakin\'stocko\'themtwofellerssoastogabbleabout\'emwhentheirbacksisturned,\"saidJohnMiltongloomilytohimself,withadismalpremonitionoftheprolongedtea-tablegossiphewouldbeobligedtolistentolater.
\"Wewereveryfortunatetomakealandingatalllastnight,\"saidRice,lookingdownuponthestillswollencurrent,andthenraisinghiseyestoClementina.\"Stillmorefortunatetomakeitwherewedid.Isupposeitmusthavebeenthesingingthatluredusontothebank,——as,youknow,thesirensusedtolurepeople,——onlywithlessdisastrousconsequences.\"
JohnMiltonheredetectedthreeglaringerrors;first,itwasNOT
Clementinawhohadsung;secondly,heknewthatneitherofhissistershadeverreadanythingaboutsirens,buthehad;thirdly,thattheyoungsurveyorwasglaringlyignorantoflocalphenomenaandshouldbecorrected.
\"It\'snothin\'butthecurrent,\"hesaid,withthatfeverishyouthfulhastethatbetraysafatalexperienceofimpendinginterruption.
\"It\'salwaysleavin\'driftandrubbishfromeverywherehere.Thereain\'tanythin\'that\'schuckedintothecreekabovethatain\'tboundtofetchuponthisbank.Why,therewastwosheepandadeadhossherelongaforeYOUthoughtofcoming!\"Hedidnotunderstandwhythisshouldprovokethelaughterthatitdid,andtoprovethathehadnoulteriormeaning,addedwithpointedpoliteness,\"SoITISN\'T
YOURFAULT,youknow——YOUcouldn\'thelpit;\"supplementingthiswiththedistinctcourtesy,\"otherwiseyouwouldn\'thavecome.\"
\"Butitwouldseemthatyourvisitorsarenotallasaccidentalasyourbrotherwouldimply,andone,atleast,seemstohavebeenexpectedlastevening.YourememberyouthoughtwewereaMr.
Parmlee,\"saidMr.RicelookingatClementina.
Itwouldbestrangeindeed,hethought,ifthebeautifulgirlwerenotsurroundedbyadmirers.Butwithoutatraceofself-
consciousness,oranychangeinherreposefulface,sheindicatedhersisterwithaslightgesture,andsaid:\"OneofPhemie\'sfriends.Hegavehertheaccordion.She\'sverypopular.\"
\"AndIsupposeYOUareveryhardtoplease?\"hesaidwithatentativesmile.
Shelookedathimwithherlarge,cleareyes,andthatabsenceofcoquetryorchangedexpressioninherbeautifulfacewhichmighthavestoodforindifferenceordignityasshesaid:\"Idon\'tknow.
Iamwaitingtosee.\"
ButhereMissPhemiebrokeinsaucilywiththeassertionthatMr.
Parmleemightnothavearailroadinhispocket,butthatatleasthedidn\'thavetowaitfortheFloodtocallonyoungladies,nordidheusuallycomeinpairs,foralltheworldasifhehadbeenletoutofNoah\'sArk,butonhorsebackandlikeaChristianbythefrontdoor.Allthisprovokinglyandbewitchinglydelivered,however,andwithasimulatedexaggerationthatwasincitedapparentlymorebyMr.LawrenceGrant\'sevidentenjoymentofit,thanbyanydesiretodefendtheabsentParmlee.
\"Butwhereisthefrontdoor?\"askedGrantlaughingly.
Theyounggirlpointedtoanarrowzigzagpaththatranupthebankbesidethehouseuntilitstoppedatasmallpicketedgateontheleveloftheroadandstore.
\"ButIshouldthinkitwouldbeeasiertohaveadoorandprivatepassagethroughthestore,\"saidGrant.
\"WEdon\'t,\"saidtheyoungladypertly,\"wehavenothingtodowiththestore.Igointoseepawsometimeswhenhe\'sshuttingupandthere\'snobodythere,butClemhasneversetfootinitsincewecame.It\'sbadenoughtohaveitandthelazyloafersthathangarounditasneartousastheyare;butpawbuiltthehouseinsuchafashionthatweain\'ttroubledbytheirnoise,andwemightbet\'othersideofthecreekasfarasourhavingtocomeacrossthem.Andbecausepawhastosellporkandflour,wehaven\'tanycalltogothereandwatchhimdoit.\"
Thetwomenglancedateachother.Thisreserveandfastidiousnessweresomethingrareinapioneercommunity.Harkutt\'smannerscertainlydidnotindicatethathewastroubledbythissensitiveness;itmusthavebeensomeindividualtemperamentofhisdaughters.Stephenfelthisrespectincreaseforthegoddess-likeClementina;Mr.LawrenceGrantlookedatMissPhemiewithacriticalsmile.
\"Butyoumustbeverylimitedinyourcompany,\"hesaid;\"orisMr.
Parmleenotacustomerofyourfather\'s?\"
\"AsMr.Parmleedoesnotcometousthroughthestore,anddon\'ttalktradetome,wedon\'tknow,\"respondedPhemiesaucily.
\"Buthaveyounoladyacquaintances——neighbors——whoalsoavoidthestoreandenteronlyatthestraightandnarrowgateupthere?\"
continuedGrantmischievously,regardlessoftheuneasy,half-
reproachfulglancesofRice.
ButPhemie,triumphantlyobliviousofanysatire,answeredpromptly:\"IfyoumeanthePikeCountyBillingseswholiveontheturnpikeroadasmuchastheydooffit,orthesixdaughtersofthatGeorgiaCrackerwhowearmen\'sbootsandhats,wehaven\'t.\"
\"AndMr.Parmlee,youradmirer?\"suggestedRice.\"Hasn\'theamotherorsistershere?\"
\"Yes,buttheydon\'twanttoknowus,andhavenevercalledhere.\"
Theembarrassmentofthequestioneratthisunexpectedreply,whichcamefromthefaultlesslipsofClementina,wassomewhatmitigatedbythefactthattheyoungwoman\'svoiceandmannerbetrayedneitherannoyancenoranger.
Here,however,Harkuttappearedfromthehousewiththeinformationthathehadsecuredtwohorsesforthesurveyorsandtheirinstruments,andthathewouldhimselfaccompanythemapartofthewayontheirreturntoTasajaraCreek,toshowthemtheroad.Hisusuallistlessdeliberationhadgivenwaytoacertainnervousbutuneasyenergy.Iftheystartedatonceitwouldbebetter,beforetheloungersgatheredatthestoreandconfusedthemwithlazycounselandlanguidcuriosity.HetookitforgrantedthatMr.
Grantwishedtherailroadsurveytobeasecret,andhehadsaidnothing,astheywouldbepesteredwithquestions.\"Sidonwasinquisitive——andold-fashioned.\"Thebenefititsinhabitantswouldgetfromtherailroadwouldnotpreventthemfromthrowingobstaclesinitswayatfirst;herememberedthewaytheyhadactedwithaproposedwagonroad,——infact,anideaofhisown,somethingliketherailroad;heknewthemthoroughly,andifhemightadvisethem,itwouldbetosaynothinghereuntilthethingwassettled.
\"Heevidentlydoesnotintendtogiveusachance,\"saidGrantgood-humoredlytohiscompanion,astheyturnedtopreparefortheirjourney;\"wearetobeconductedinsilencetotheoutskirtsofthetownlikehorse-thieves.\"
\"Butyougavehimthetipforhimself,\"saidRicereproachfully;
\"youcannotblamehimforwantingtokeepit.\"
\"Igaveittohimintrustforhistwoincredibledaughters,\"saidGrantwithagrimace.\"But,hangit!ifIdon\'tbelievethefellowhasmoreconcerninitthanIimagined.\"
\"Butisn\'tsheperfect?\"saidRice,withcharmingabstraction.
\"Who?\"
\"Clementina,andsounlikeherfather.\"
\"Discomposinglyso,\"saidGrantquietly.\"Onefeelsincallingher\'MissHarkutt\'asifoneweretouchinguponamanifestindiscretion.
ButherecomesJohnMilton.Well,mylad,whatcanIdoforyou?\"
Theboy,whohadbeenregardingthemfromadistancewithwistfulandcuriouseyesastheyreplacedtheirinstrumentsforthejourney,hadgraduallyapproachedthem.Afteramoment\'stimidhesitationhesaid,lookingatGrant:\"Youdon\'tknowanybodyinthiskindo\'business,\"pointingtotheinstruments,\"who\'dlikeaboy,aboutmysize?\"
\"I\'mafraidnot,J.M.,\"saidGrant,cheerfully,withoutsuspendinghisoperation.\"Thefactis,yousee,it\'snotexactlythekindofworkforaboyofyoursize.\"
JohnMiltonwassilentforamoment,shiftinghimselfslowlyfromonelegtoanotherashewatchedthesurveyor.Afterapausehesaid,\"Theredon\'tseemtobemuchshowinthisworldforboyso\'
mysize.Theredon\'tseemtobemuchusefor\'emanyway.\"Thisnotbitterly,butphilosophically,andevenpolitely,asiftorelieveGrant\'srejectionofanyincivility.
\"Reallyyouquitepainme,JohnMilton,\"saidGrant,lookingupashetightenedabuckle.\"Ineverthoughtofitbefore,butyou\'reright.\"
\"Now,\"continuedtheboyslowly,\"withgirlsit\'sjustdifferent.
Girlsofmysizeeverybodydoesthingsfor.There\'sClemmy,——she\'sonlytwoyearsoldernorme,anddon\'tknowhalfthatIdo,andyetshekinlieaboutallday,andhasn\'ttogetuptobreakfast.AndPhemie,——who\'sjestthesameage,size,andweightasme,——mawandpawletsherdoeverythingshewantsto.Andsodoeseverybody.
Andsowouldyou.\"
\"Butyousurelydon\'twanttobelikeagirl?\"saidGrant,smiling.
IthereoccurredtoJohnMilton\'syouthfulbutnotillogicalmindthatthiswasnotargument,andheturneddisappointedlyaway.Ashisfatherwastoaccompanythestrangersashortdistance,he,JohnMilton,wasto-dayleftinchargeofthestore.Thatduty,however,didnotinvolveanypecuniarytransactions——thetakingofmoneyormakingofchangebutasimplerecordonaslatebehindthecounterofarticlesselectedbythosecustomerswhoseurgentneedscouldnotwaitMr.Harkutt\'sreturn.Perhapsonaccountofthisdegradinglimitation,perhapsforotherreasons,theboydidnotfancythetaskimposeduponhim.Thepresenceoftheidleloungerswhousuallyoccupiedthearmchairsnearthestove,andoccasionallythecounter,dissipatedanyromancewithwhichhemighthaveinvestedhischarge;heweariedofthemonotonyoftheirdullgossip,butmostlyheloathedtheattitudeofhypercriticalcounselandinstructionwhichtheysawfittoassumetowardshimatsuchmoments.\"Insteado\'lazin\'tharbehindthecounterwhenyourfatherain\'theretoseeye,John,\"remarkedBillingsfromthedepthsofhisarmchairafewmomentsafterHarkutthadriddenaway,\"yeorterbebustlin\'round,dustin\'theshelves.Ye\'llnevercometoanythin\'whenyou\'reamanefyougoonlikethat.Yeneverheardo\'HarryClay——thatwascalled\'theMill-boyoftheSlashes\'——
sittin\'downdoin\'nothin\'whenhewasaboy.\"
\"Ineverheardofhimloafin\'roundinagrocerystorewhenhewasgrownedupeither,\"respondedJohnMilton,darkly.
\"P\'r\'apsyoureckonhegottobeagreatmanbystandin\'upsassin\'
hisfather\'scustomers,\"saidPeters,angrily.\"Ikintellye,youngman,ifyouwasmyboy\"——
\"IfIwasYOURboy,I\'dbeplayin\'hookeyinsteadofgoin\'toschool,jestasyourboyisdoin\'now,\"interruptedJohnMilton,withaliteralrecollectionofhisquarrelandpursuitoftheyouthinquestionthatmorning.
Anundignifiedsilenceonthepartoftheadultsfollowed,theusualsequeltothosepassages;SidongenerallydecliningtoexposeitselftotheyouthfulHarkutt\'sterribleaccuracyofstatement.
ThemenresumedtheirpreviouslazygossipaboutElijahCurtis\'sdisappearance,withoccasionalmysteriousallusionsinalowertone,whichtheboyinstinctivelyknewreferredtohisfather,butwhicheitherfromindolenceorcaution,thetwogreatconservatorsofSidon,wereneverformulateddistinctlyenoughforhisrelentlessinterference.Themorningsunshinewasslowlythickeningagaininanindolentmistthatseemedtorisefromthesaturatedplain.Astrayloungershuffledoverfromtheblacksmith\'sshoptothestoretotaketheplaceofanotheridlerwhohadjoinedanequallylethargiccirclearoundtheslumberingforge.Adullintermittentsoundofhammeringcameoccasionallyfromthewheelwright\'sshed——atsufficientlyprotractedintervalstoindicatetheenfeebledprogressofSidon\'svehicularrepair.A
yellowdoglefthispatchofsunlightontheoppositesideofthewayandwalkeddeliberatelyovertowhatappearedtobemoreluxuriousquartersontheveranda;wasmanifestlydisappointedbutnotequaltotheexertionofreturning,andsankdownwithblinkingeyesandaregretfulsighwithoutgoingfurther.Aprocessionofsixducksgotwellintoalineforalaborious\"marchpast\"thestore,butfelloutatthefirstmudpuddleandgaveitup.A
highlynervousbutrespectablehen,whohadventuredupontheverandaevidentlyagainstherbetterinstincts,walkedpainfullyontiptoetothedoor,apparentlywasmetbylanguagewhichnomotherofafamilycouldlistento,andretiredinstronghysterics.A
littlelaterthesunbecameagainobscured,thewindarose,rainfell,andtheopportunityforgoingindoorsanddoingnothingwasoncemoreavailedofbyallSidon.
ItwasafternoonwhenMr.Harkuttreturned.Hedidnotgointothestore,butenteredthedwellingfromthelittlepicket-gateandsteeppath.Therehecalledafamilycouncilinthesitting-roomasbeingthemostreservedandsecure.Mrs.Harkutt,sympathizingandcheerfullyreadyforanyaffliction,stillholdingadust-clothinherhand,tookherseatbythewindow,withPhemiebreathlessandsparklingatonesideofher,whileClementina,allfaultlessprofileandrepose,satontheother.ToMrs.Harkutt\'smotherlyconcernatJohnMilton\'sabsence,itwaspointedoutthathewaswantedatthestore,——wasamereboyanyhow,andcouldnotbetrusted.Mr.Harkutt,alittleruddierfromweather,excitement,andtheunusualfortificationofaglassofliquor,alittlemoreruggedinthelinesofhisface,andwithanoddringofdefiantself-assertioninhisvoice,stoodbeforetheminthecentreoftheroom.
Hewantedthemtolistentohimcarefully,torememberwhathesaid,foritwasimportant;itmightbeamatterof\"lawing\"
hereafter,——andhecouldn\'tbealwaysrepeatingittothem,——hewouldhaveenoughtodo.Therewasaheapofitthat,aswomen-
folks,theycouldn\'tunderstand,andweren\'texpectedto.Buthe\'dgotitallclearnow,andwhathewassayingwasgospel.He\'dalwaysknowntohimselfthattheonlygoodthatcouldevercometoSidonwouldcomebyrailroad.Whenthosefoolstalkedwagonroadhehadsaidnothing,buthehadhisownideas;hehadworkedforthatideawithoutsayinganythingtoanybody;thatideawastogetpossessionofallthelandalongtheembarcadero,whichnobodycaredfor,and\'LigeCurtiswasreadytosellforasong.Well,now,consideringwhathadhappened,hedidn\'tmindtellingthemthathehadbeengraduallygettingpossessionofit,littlebylittle,paying\'LigeCurtisinadvancesandinstallments,untilitwashisown!Theyhadheardwhatthosesurveyorssaid;howthatitwastheonlyfitterminusfortherailroad.Well,thatland,andthatwater-front,andtheterminuswereHIS!Andallfromhisownforesightandprudence.
Itisneedlesstosaythatthiswasnotthetruth.Butitisnecessarytopointoutthatthisfabricationwastheresultofhislastnight\'scogitationsandhismorning\'sexperience.Hehadresolveduponaboldcourse.Hehadreflectedthathisneighborswouldbemorereadytobelieveinandtorespectahard,mercenary,andspeculativeforesightinhistakingadvantageof\'Lige\'snecessitiesthanifhehad——aswasthecase——merelybenefitedbythemthroughanaccidentofcircumstanceandgoodhumor.Inthelattercasehewouldbeenviedandhated;intheformerhewouldbeenviedandfeared.Bylogicofcircumstancethegreaterwrongseemedtobelessobviouslyoffensivethantheminorfault.Itwastruethatitinvolvedthedoingofsomethinghehadnotcontemplated,andthecertaintyofexposureif\'Ligeeverreturned,buthewasneverthelessresolved.Thestepfrompassivetoactivewrong-doingisnotonlyeasy,itisoftenarelief;itisthatreturntosinceritywhichweallrequire.Howbeit,itgavethatringofassertiontoDanielHarkutt\'svoicealreadynoted,whichmostwomenlike,andonlymenarepronetosuspectorchallenge.Theincompletenessofhisstatementwas,forthesamereason,overlookedbyhisfeminineauditors.
\"Andwhatisitworth,dad?\"askedPhemieeagerly.
\"GrantsaysIoughtergetatleasttenthousanddollarsforthesiteoftheterminusfromthecompany,butofcourseIshallholdontotherestoftheland.Themomenttheygettheterminusthere,andthedepotandwharfbuilt,Icangetmyownpriceandbuyersfortherest.BeforetheyearisoutGrantthinksitoughttogouptenpercentonthevalueoftheterminus,andthatahundredthousand.\"
\"Oh,dad!\"gaspedPhemie,franticallyclaspingherkneeswithbothhandsasiftoperfectlyassureherselfofthisgoodfortune.
Mrs.Harkuttaudiblymurmured\"PoordearDan\'l,\"andstood,asitwere,sympatheticallyby,readytocommiseratethepainsandanxietiesofwealthasshehadthoseofpoverty.Clementinaaloneremainedsilent,clear-eyed,andunchanged.
\"AndtothinkitallcamethroughTHEM!\"continuedPhemie.\"I
alwayshadanideathatMr.Grantwassmart,dad.Anditwasrealkindofhimtotellyou.\"
\"Ireckonfathercouldhavefounditoutwithoutthem.Idon\'tknowwhyweshouldbebeholdentothemparticularly.Ihopeheisn\'texpectedtoletthemthinkthatheisboundtoconsiderthemourintimatefriendsjustbecausetheyhappenedtodropinhereatatimewhenhisplanshavesucceeded.\"
ThevoicewasClementina\'s,unexpectedbutquiet,unemotionalandconvincing.\"Itseemed,\"asMrs.Harkuttafterwardssaid,\"asifthechildhadalreadytouchedthathundredthousand.\"Phemiereddenedwithasenseofconvictedyouthfulextravagance.
\"Youneedn\'tfearforme,\"saidHarkutt,respondingtoClementina\'svoiceasifitwereanechoofhisown,andinstinctivelyrecognizinganunexpectedally.\"I\'vegotmyownideasofthisthing,andwhat\'stocomeofit.I\'vegotmyownideasofopenin\'
upthatpropertyandshowin\'itsresources.I\'mgoin\'torunitmyownway.I\'mgoin\'tohaveatownalongtheembarcaderothat\'lllayoveranytowninContraCosta.I\'mgoin\'tohavethecourt-
houseandcountyseatthere,andacoupleofhotelsasgoodasanyintheBay.I\'mgoin\'tobuildthatwagonroadthroughherethatthoselazyloutsslippedupon,andcarryitclearovertoFiveMileCorner,andopenupthewholeTasajaraPlain!\"
Theyhadneverseenhimlooksostrong,soresolute,sointelligentandhandsome.Adimlypropheticvisionofhiminablackbroadclothsuitandgoldwatch-chainaddressingavaguemultitude,assherememberedtohaveseentheHon.StanleyRiggsofAlascoatthe\"GreatBarbecue,\"rosebeforePhemie\'sblueenrapturedeyes.
WiththeexceptionofMrs.Harkutt,——equaltoanypossibilitiesonthepartofherhusband,——theyhadhonestlyneverexpecteditofhim.Theywerepleasedwiththeirfather\'sattitudeinprosperity,andfeltthatperhapshewasnotunworthyofbeingproudofthemhereafter.
\"Butwe\'regoin\'toleaveSidon,\"saidPhemie,\"ain\'twe,paw?\"
