Buthecouldnotbeartotellthistohiswifewhenheclimbedthehillthatnight,andheinventedsomeexcuseforbringinghisworkhome.Theinvalidnevernoticedanychangeinhisusualbuoyancy,andindeedIfear,whenhewasfairlyinstalledwithhiswritingmaterialsatthefootofherbed,hehadquiteforgottentheepisode.Hewasrecalledtoitbyafaintsigh.
\"Whatisit,dear?\"hesaidlookingup.
\"Iliketoseeyouwriting,Milty.Youalwayslooksohappy.\"
\"Alwayssohappy,dear?\"
\"Yes.Youarehappy,areyounot?\"
\"Always.\"Hegotupandkissedher.Nevertheless,whenhesatdowntohisworkagain,hisfacewasturnedalittlemoretothewindow.
Anotherseriousincident——tobealsokeptfromtheinvalid——shortlyfollowed.Thearticleinthe\"Clarion\"hadborneitsfruit.Thethirddayafterhisresignationarivalpapersharplyretorted.
\"Thecowardlyinsinuationsagainsttherecordofajustlyhonoredcapitalist,\"saidthe\"Pioneer,\"\"althoughquiteinkeepingwiththebrazen\'Clarion,\'mightattracttheattentionsoftheslanderedparty,ifitwerenotknowntohisfriendsaswellashimselfthatitmaybetracedalmostdirectlytoacast-offmemberofhisownfamily,who,itseems,isreducedtohauntingthebackdoorsofcertainblatantjournalstodisposeofhischeapwares.Theslandererissecurefrompublicexposureinthesuperiordecencyofhisrelations,whorefrainfromairingtheirfamilylinenuponeditoriallines.\"
ThiswasthejournaltowhichJohnMiltonhadhopefullyturnedforwork.Whenhereaditthereseemedbutonethingforhimtodo——
andhedidit.Gentleandoptimisticaswashisnature,hehadbeenbroughtupinacommunitywheresinceredirectnessofpersonaloffensewasfollowedbyequallysinceredirectnessofpersonalredress,and——hechallengedtheeditor.ThebearerofhiscartelwasoneJackHamlin,Igrievetosayagamblerbyprofession,butbetweenwhomandJohnMiltonhadsprungupanoddfriendshipofwhichthebestthatcanbesaidisthatitwastoeachequallyandunselfishlyunprofitable.Thechallengewasaccepted,thepreliminariesarranged.\"Isuppose,\"saidJackcarelessly,\"astheoldmanoughttodosomethingforyourwifeincaseofaccident,you\'vemadesomesortofawill?\"
\"I\'vethoughtofthat,\"saidJohnMilton,dubiously,\"butI\'mafraidit\'snouse.Yousee\"——hehesitated——\"I\'mnotofage.\"
\"MayIaskhowoldyouare,sonny?\"saidJackwithgreatgravity.
\"I\'malmosttwenty,\"saidJohnMilton,coloring.
\"Itisn\'texactlyvingt-et-un,butI\'dstandonit;ifIwereyouI
wouldn\'tdrawtosuchahand,\"saidJack,coolly.
Theyounghusbandhadarrangedtobeabsentfromhishomethatnight,andearlymorningfoundhim,withJack,grave,butcourageous,inalittlehollowbehindtheMissionHills.Tothempresentlyapproachedhisantagonist,jauntilyaccompaniedbyColonelStarbottle,hissecond.Theyhalted,butaftertheformalsalutationwereinstantlyjoinedbyJackHamlin.ForafewmomentsJohnMiltonremainedawkwardlyalone——pendingaconversationwhichevenatthatsuprememomenthefeltasbeinglikethegeneralattitudeofhisfriendstowardshim,initscompleteignoringofhimself.Thenextmomentthethreemensteppedtowardshim.\"Wehavecome,sir,\"saidColonelStarbottleinhisprecisestspeechbuthisjauntiestmanner,\"toofferyouafullandampleapology——apersonalapology——whichonlysupplementsthatfullpublicapologythatmyprincipal,sir,thisgentleman,\"indicatingtheeditorofthe\"Pioneer,\"\"hasthismorningmadeinthecolumnsofhispaper,asyouwillobserve,\"producinganewspaper.\"Wehave,sir,\"
continuedthecolonelloftily,\"onlywithinthelasttwelvehoursbecomeawareofthe——er——REALcircumstancesofthecase.Wewouldregretthattheaffairhadgonesofaralready,ifithadnotgivenus,sir,theopportunityoftestifyingtoyourgallantry.Wedosogladly;andif——er——er——aFEWYEARSLATER,Mr.Harcourt,youshouldeverneed——afriendinanymatterofthiskind,Iam,sir,atyourservice.\"JohnMiltongazedhalfinquiringly,halfuneasilyatJack.
\"It\'sallright,Milt,\"hesaidsottovoce.\"Shakehandsallroundandlet\'sgotobreakfast.AndIratherthinkthateditorwantstoemployyouHIMSELF.\"
Itwastrue,forwhenthatnightheclimbedeagerlythesteephomewardhillhecarriedwithhimthewrittenofferofanengagementonthe\"Pioneer.\"Asheenteredthedoorhiswife\'snurseandcompanionmethimwithaseriousface.Therehadbeenastrangeandunexpectedchangeinthepatient\'scondition,andthedoctorhadalreadybeentheretwice.Asheputasidehiscoatandhatandenteredherroom,itseemedtohimthathehadforeverputasideallelseofessayandambitionbeyondthosefourwalls.Andwiththethoughtagreatpeacecameuponhim.Itseemedgoodtohimtoliveforheralone.
Itwasnotforlong.Aseachmonotonousdaybroughtthemorningmistandeveningfogregularlytothelittlehilltopwherehiswholebeingwasnowcentred,sheseemedtogrowdailyweaker,andthelittlecircleofherlifenarroweddaybyday.Onemorningwhentheusualmistappearedtohavebeenwithheldandthesunhadrisenwithastrangeandcruelbrightness;whenthewavesdancedandsparkledonthebaybelowandlightglancedfromdazzlingsails,andeventhewhitetombsonLoneMountainglitteredkeenly;
whencheeryvoiceshailingeachotheronthehillsidecametohimclearlybutwithoutsenseormeaning;whenearth,sky,andseaseemedquiveringwithlifeandmotion,——heopenedthedoorofthatonelittlehouseonwhichtheonlyshadowseemedtohavefallen,andwentforthagainintotheworldalone.
CHAPTERVII.
Mr.DanielHarcourt\'stownmansionwasalsoonaneminence,butitwasthatgentleracclivityoffashionknownasRinconHill,andsunneditselfonasouthernslopeofluxury.Ithadbeendescribedas\"princely\"and\"fairy-like,\"byagratefulreporter;touristsandtravelershadsungitspraisesinletterstotheirfriendsandinprivatereminiscences,forithaddispensedhospitalitytomostofthecelebritieswhohadvisitedthecoast.NeverthelessitscharmwasmainlyduetotherulingtasteofMissClementinaHarcourt,whohadastonishedherfatherbyhermarvelousintuitionofthenicerequirementsandelegantresponsibilitiesoftheirposition;andhadthrownhermotherintothepainedperplexityofamatronlyhen,who,amongtheducks\'eggsintrustedtoherfosteringcare,hadunwittinglyhatchedagracefulbutdiscomposingcygnet.
Indeed,afterholdingoutfeeblyagainstthesiegeofwealthatTasajaraandSanFrancisco,Mrs.Harcourthadabandonedherselfhopelesslytothehorrorsofitsinvasion;hadallowedherselftobedraggedfromherkitchenbyherexultantdaughtersandsetupinblacksilkinacertainconventionalrespectabilityinthedrawing-
room.Strangetosay,hercommiseratinghospitality,orhospital-
likeministration,notonlygaveherpopularity,butacertainkindofdistinction.Anexaltationsosorrowfullydeprecatedbyitspossessorwasfelttobeasignofsuperiority.Shewasspokenofas\"motherly,\"evenbythosewhovaguelyknewthattherewassomewhereadiscardedsonstrugglinginpovertywithahelplesswife,andthatshehadsidedwithherhusbandindisinheritingadaughterwhohadmarriedunwisely.Shewassentimentallyspokenofasa\"truewife,\"whileneveropposingasinglemeannessofherhusband,suggestingasingleactivevirtue,norquestioningherrighttosacrificeherselfandherfamilyforhissake.Withnothingshecaredtoaffect,shewasquitefreefromaffectation,andeventhecriticalLawrenceGrantwasstruckwiththedignitywhichhernarrowsimplicity,thathadseemedsmalleveninSidon,attainedinherpalatialhallinSanFrancisco.Itappearedtobeaperfectlylogicalconclusionthatwhensuchunaffectednessandsimplicitywereforcedtoassumeahostileattitudetoanybody,thelattermustbetoblame.
SincethefestivalofTasajaraMr.GranthadbeenafrequentvisitoratHarcourt\'s,andwasaguestontheeveofhisdeparturefromSanFrancisco.ThedistinguishedpositionofeachmadetheirrelationsappearquitenaturalwithoutincitinggossipastoanyattractioninHarcourt\'sdaughters.ItwaslateoneafternoonashewaspassingthedoorofHarcourt\'sstudythathishostcalledhimin.Hefoundhimsittingathisdeskwithsomepapersbeforehimandafoldedcopyofthe\"Clarion.\"Withhisbacktothefadinglightofthewindowhisfacewaspartlyinshadow.
\"Bytheway,Grant,\"hebegan,withanassumptionofcarelessnesssomewhatinconsistentwiththefactthathehadjustcalledhimin,\"itmaybenecessaryformetopullupthosefellowswhoareblackguardingmeinthe\'Clarion.\'\"
\"Why,theyhaven\'tbeensayinganythingnew?\"askedGrant,laughingly,asheglancedtowardsthepaper.
\"No——thatis——onlyarehashofwhattheysaidbefore,\"returnedHarcourtwithoutopeningthepaper.
\"Well,\"saidGrantplayfully,\"youdon\'tmindtheirsayingthatyou\'reNOTtheoriginalpioneerofTasajara,forit\'strue;northatthatfellow\'LigeCurtisdisappearedsuddenly,forhedid,ifIrememberrightly.Butthere\'snothinginthattoinvalidateyourrightstoTasajara,tosaynothingofyourfiveyears\'undisputedpossession.\"
\"Ofcoursethere\'snoLEGALquestion,\"saidHarcourtalmostsharply.
\"Butasamatterofabsurdreport,Imaywanttocontradicttheirinsinuations.AndYOUrememberallthecircumstances,don\'tyou?\"
\"Ishouldthinkso!Why,mydearfellow,I\'vetolditeverywhere!——
here,inNewYork,Newport,andinLondon;byJove,it\'soneofmybeststories!Howacompanysentmeoutwithasurveyortolookuparailroadandagriculturalpossibilitiesinthewilderness;howjustasIfoundthem——andaratherbigthingtheymade,too——Iwassetafloatbyafloodandaraft,anddriftedashoreonyourbank,andpracticallydemonstratedtoyouwhatyoudidn\'tknowanddidn\'tdaretohopefor——thattherecouldbeawaterwaystraighttoSidonfromtheembarcadero.I\'vetoldwhatacharmingeveningwehadwithyouandyourdaughtersintheoldhouse,andhowIreturnedyourhospitalitybygivingyouatipabouttherailroad;andhowyouslippedoutwhilewewereplayingcards,toclinchthebargainforthelandwiththatdrunkenfellow,\'LigeCurtis\"——
\"What\'sthat?\"interruptedHarcourt,quickly.
ItwaswellthattheshadowhidfromGranttheexpressionofHarcourt\'sface,orhisreplymighthavebeensharper.Asitwas,heansweredalittlestiffly:——
\"Ibegyourpardon\"——
Harcourtrecoveredhimself.\"You\'reallwrong!\"hesaid,\"thatbargainwasmadelongBEFORE;Ineversaw\'LigeCurtisafteryoucametothehouse.Itwasbeforethat,intheafternoon,\"hewentonhurriedly,\"thathewaslastinmystore.Icanproveit.\"
Neverthelesshewassoshockedandindignantatbeingconfrontedinhisownsuppressionsandfalsehoodsbyanevengreaterandmoreastoundingmisconceptionoffact,thatforamomenthefelthelpless.What,hereflected,ifitwereallegedthat\'Ligehadreturnedagainaftertheloafershadgone,orhadneverleftthestoreashadbeensaid?Nonsense!TherewasJohnMilton,whohadbeentherereadingallthetime,andwhocoulddisproveit.Yes,butJohnMiltonwashisdiscardedson,——hisenemy,——perhapsevenhisveryslanderer!
\"But,\"saidGrantquietly,\"don\'tyourememberthatyourdaughterEuphemiasaidsomethingthateveningaboutthelandLigehadOFFEREDyou,andyousnappeduptheyoungladyrathersharplyforlettingoutsecrets,andTHENyouwentout?Atleastthat\'smyimpression.\"
Itwas,however,morethananimpression;withGrant\'sscientificmemoryforcharacteristicdetailshehadnoticedthatparticularcircumstanceaspartofthesocialphenomena.
\"Idon\'tknowwhatPhemieSAID,\"returnedHarcourt,impatiently.
\"IKNOWtherewasnoofferpending;thelandhadbeensoldtomebeforeIeversawyou.Why——youmusthavethoughtmeuptoprettysharppracticewithCurtis——eh?\"headded,withaforcedlaugh.
Grantsmiled;hehadbeenaccustomedtohearofsuchsharppracticeamonghisbusinessacquaintance,althoughhehimselfbynatureandprofessionwasincapableofit,buthehadnotdeemedHarcourtmorescrupulousthanothers.\"Perhapsso,\"hesaidlightly,\"butforHeaven\'ssakedon\'taskmetospoilmyreputationasaraconteurforthesakeofamerefactortwo.Iassureyouit\'samightytakingstoryasItellit——anditdon\'thurtyouinabusinessway.
You\'retheheroofit——hangitall!\"
\"Yes,\"saidHarcourt,withoutnoticingGrant\'shalfcynicalsuperiority,butyou\'llobligemeifyouwon\'ttellitagainIN
THATWAY.Therearemenheremeanenoughtomaketheworstofit.
It\'snothingtome,ofcourse,butmyfamily——thegirls,youknow——
arerathersensitive.\"
\"Ihadnoideatheyevenknewit,——muchlesscaredforit,\"saidGrant,withsuddenseriousness.\"Idaresayifthosefellowsinthe\"Clarion\"knewthattheywereannoyingtheladiesthey\'ddropit.Who\'stheeditor?Lookhere——leaveittome;I\'lllookintoit.Betterthatyoushouldn\'tappearinthematteratall.\"
\"Youunderstandthatifitwasareallyseriousmatter,Grant,\"
saidHarcourtwithaslightattitude,\"Ishouldn\'tallowanyonetotakemyplace.\"
\"Mydearfellow,there\'llbenobody\'calledout\'andno\'shootingatsight,\'whateveristheresultofmyinterference,\"returnedGrant,lightly.\"It\'llbeallright.\"Hewasquiteawareofthepowerofhisownindependentpositionandthefactthathehadbeenoftenappealedtobeforeindelicatearbitration.
Harcourtwasequallyconsciousofthis,butbyastrangeinconsistencynowfeltrelievedatthecoolnesswithwhichGranthadacceptedthemisconceptionwhichhadatfirstseemedsodangerous.IfhewerereadytocondonewhathethoughtwasSHARP
PRACTICE,hecouldnotbelesslenientwiththerealfactsthatmightcomeout,——ofcoursealwaysexceptingthatinterpolatedconsiderationinthebillofsale,which,however,noonebutthemissingCurtiscouldeverdiscover.ThefactthatamanofGrant\'ssecurepositionhadinterestedhimselfinthismatterwouldsecurehimfromtheworkingofthatpersonalvulgarjealousywhichhishumblerantecedentshadprovoked.Andif,ashefancied,GrantreallycaredforClementina——
\"Asyoulike,\"hesaid,withhalf-affectedlightness,\"andnowletustalkofsomethingelse.ClementinahasbeenthinkingofgettinguparidingpartytoSanMateoforMrs.Ashwood.Wemustshowthemsomecivility,andthatBostonbrotherofhers,Mr.Shipley,willhavetobeinvitedalso.Ican\'tgetaway,andmywife,ofcourse,willonlybeabletojointhematSanMateointhecarriage.I
reckonitwouldbeeasierforClementinaifyoutookmyplace,andhelpedherlookaftertheridingparty.Itwillneedaman,andI
thinkshe\'dpreferyou——asyouknowshe\'sratherparticular——
unless,ofcourse,you\'dbewantedforMrs.AshwoodorPhemie,orsomebodyelse.\"
FromhisshadowedcornerhecouldseethatapleasantlighthadsprungintoGrant\'seyes,althoughhisreplywasinhisordinaryeasybanter.\"IshallbeonlytoogladtoactasMissClementina\'svaquero,andlassoherrunaways,orkeepstragglersintheroad.\"
Thereseemedtobesmallnecessity,however,forthisactiveco-
operation,forwhenthecheerfulcavalcadestartedfromthehouseafewmorningslater,Mr.LawrenceGrant\'sonerousdutiesseemedtobesimplyconfinedtothoseofanordinarycavalieratthesideofMissClementina,afewpacesintherearoftheparty.Butthissafedistancegavethemtheopportunityofconversingwithoutbeingoverheard,——anapparentlydiscreetprecaution.
\"YourfatherwassoexceedinglyaffabletometheotherdaythatifIhadn\'tgivenyoumypromisetosaynothing,IthinkIwouldhavefallenonmykneestohimthenandthere,revealedmyfeelings,askedforyourhandandhisblessing——orwhateveronedoesatsuchatime.Buthowlongdoyouintendtokeepmeinthissuspense?\"
Clementinaturnedhercleareyeshalfabstractedlyuponhim,asifimperfectlyrecallingsomeforgottensituation.\"Youforget,\"shesaid,\"thatpartofyourpromisewasthatyouwouldn\'tevenspeakofittomeagainwithoutmypermission.\"
\"Butmytimeissoshortnow.GivemesomedefinitehopebeforeI
go.LetmebelievethatwhenwemeetinNewYork\"——
\"Youwillfindmejustthesameasnow!Yes,IthinkIcanpromiseTHAT.Letthatsuffice.YousaidtheotherdayyoulikedmebecauseIhadnotchangedforfiveyears.YoucansurelytrustthatIwillnotalterinasmanymonths.\"
\"IfIonlyknew\"——
\"Ah,ifIonlyknew,——ifWEALLonlyknew.Butwedon\'t.Come,Mr.Grant,letitrestasitis.UnlessyouwanttogostillfurtherbackandhaveitasitWAS,atSidon.ThereIthinkyoufanciedEuphemiamost.\"
\"Clementina!\"
\"Thatismyname,andthosepeopleaheadofusknowitalready.\"
\"YouarecalledCLEMENTINA,——butyouarenotmerciful!\"
\"Youareverywrong,foryoumightseethatMr.Shipleyhastwicecheckedhishorsethathemighthearwhatyouaresaying,andPhemieisalwaysshowingMrs.Ashwoodsomethinginthelandscapebehindus.\"
AllthiswasthemorehopelessandexasperatingtoGrantsinceintheyounggirl\'sspeechandmannertherewasnottheslightesttraceofcoquetryorplayfulness.Hecouldnothelpsayingalittlebitterly:\"Idon\'tthinkthatanyonewouldimaginefromyourmannerthatyouwerereceivingadeclaration.\"
\"Buttheymightimaginefromyoursthatyouhadtherighttoquarrelwithme,——whichwouldbeworse.\"
\"Wecannotpartlikethis!Itistoocrueltome.\"
\"Wecannotpartotherwisewithouttheriskofgreatercruelty.\"
\"Butsayatleast,Clementina,thatIhavenorival.Thereisnoothermorefavoredsuitor?\"
\"Thatissolikeaman——andyetsounliketheproudoneIbelievedyoutobe.Whyshouldamanlikeyouevenconsidersuchapossibility?IfIwereamanIknowIcouldn\'t.\"Sheturneduponhimaglancesoclearanduntroubledbyeitherconsciousvanityorevasionthathewashopelesslyconvincedofthetruthofherstatement,andshewentoninaslightlyloweredtone,\"Youhavenorighttoaskmesuchaquestion,——butperhapsforthatreasonIamwillingtoansweryou.Thereisnone.Hush!Foragoodrideryouaresettingapoorexampletotheothers,bycrowdingmetowardsthebank.GoforwardandtalktoPhemie,andtellhernottoworryMrs.Ashwood\'shorsenorracewithher;Idon\'tthinkhe\'squitesafe,andMrs.Ashwoodisn\'taccustomedtousingtheSpanishbit.
IsupposeImustsaysomethingtoMr.Shipley,whodoesn\'tseemtounderstandthatI\'Mactingaschaperon,andYOUascaptainoftheparty.\"
