\"Becausehedidnotcareforit.\"
\"Whatdidhecarefor,then?\"
\"Me,Isuppose.\"
\"Butthiscalumnyisnotlikeamanwholovesyou.\"
\"ItislikeaJEALOUSone.\"
WithaneffortHarcourtthrewoffhisbewilderedincredulityandgraspedthesituation.Hewouldhavetocontendwithhisenemyinthefleshandblood,butthatfleshandbloodwouldbeveryweakinthehandsoftheimpassivegirlbesidehim.Hisfacelightened.
ThesameideamighthavebeeninClementina\'smindwhenshespokeagain,althoughherfacehadremainedunchanged.\"IdonotseewhyYOUshouldbotheryourselffurtheraboutit,\"shesaid.\"Itisonlyamatterbetweenmyselfandhim;youcanleaveittome.\"
\"Butifyouaremistakenandheshouldnotbeliving?\"
\"Iamnotmistaken.IamevencertainnowthatIhaveseenhim.\"
\"Seenhim!\"
\"Yes,\"saidthegirlwiththefirsttraceofanimationinherface.
\"ItwasfourorfivemonthsagowhenwewerevisitingtheBrionesatMonterey.WehadriddenouttotheoldMissionbymoonlight.
ThereweresomeMexicansloungingaroundtheposada,andoneofthemattractedmyattentionbythewayheseemedtowatchme,withoutrevealinganymoreofhisfacethanIcouldseebetweenhisserapeandtheblacksilkhandkerchiefthatwastiedaroundhisheadunderhissombrero.ButIknewhewasanAmerican——andhiseyeswerefamiliar.Ibelieveitwashe.\"
\"Whydidyounotspeakofitbefore?\"
Thelookofanimationdiedoutofthegirl\'sface.\"WhyshouldI?\"
shesaidlistlessly.\"Ididnotknowofthesereportsthen.Hewasnothingmoretous.Youwouldn\'thavecaredtoseehimagain.\"
Sherose,smoothedoutherskirtandstoodlookingatherfather.
\"Thereisonething,ofcourse,thatyou\'lldoatonce.\"
Hervoicehadchangedsooddlythathesaidquickly:\"What\'sthat?\"
\"CallGrantoffthescent.He\'llonlyfrightenorexasperateyourgame,andthat\'swhatyoudon\'twant.\"
Hervoicewasasimperiousasithadbeenpreviouslylistless.Anditwasthefirsttimehehadeverknownhertouseslang.
Itseemedasstartlingasifithadfallenfromthemarblelipsabovehim.
\"ButI\'vepromisedhimthatweshouldgotogethertomylawyerto-
morrow,andbeginasuitagainsttheproprietorsofthe\'Clarion.\'\"
\"Donothingofthekind.GetridofGrant\'sassistanceinthismatter;andseethe\'Clarion\'proprietoryourself.Whatsortofamanishe?Canyouinvitehimtoyourhouse?\"
\"Ihaveneverseenhim;IbelievehelivesatSanJose.Heisawealthymanandalargelandownerthere.Youunderstandthatafterthefirstarticleappearedinhispaper,andIknewthathehademployedyourbrother——althoughGrantsaysthathehadnothingtodowithitandleftFletcheronaccountofit——Icouldhavenointercoursewithhim.EvenifIinvitedhimhewouldnotcome.\"
\"HeMUSTcome.LeaveittoME.\"Shestoppedandresumedherformerimpassivemanner.\"Ihadsomethingtosaytoyoutoo,father.Mr.ShipleyproposedtomethedaywewenttoSanMateo.\"
Herfather\'seyeslitwithaneagersparkle.\"Well,\"hesaidquickly.
\"IremindedhimthatIhadknownhimonlyafewweeks,andthatI
wantedtimetoconsider.\"
\"Consider!Why,Clemmy,he\'soneoftheoldestBostonfamilies,richfromhisfatherandgrandfather——richwhenIwasashopkeeperandyourmother\"——
\"IthoughtyoulikedGrant?\"shesaidquietly.
\"Yes,butifYOUhavenochoicenorfeelinginthematter,whyShipleyisfarthebetterman.Andifanyofthescandalshouldcometohisears\"——
\"Somuchthebetterthatthehesitationshouldcomefromme.Butifyouthinkitbetter,Icansitdownhereandwritetohimatoncedecliningtheoffer.\"Shemovedtowardsthedesk.
\"No!No!Ididnotmeanthat,\"saidHarcourtquickly.\"Ionlythoughtthatifhedidhearanythingitmightbesaidthathehadbackedout.\"
\"Hissisterknowsofhisoffer,andthoughshedon\'tlikeitnorme,shewillnotdenythefact.Bytheway,yourememberwhenshewaslostthatdayontheroadtoSanMateo?\"
\"Yes.\"
\"Well,shewaswithyourson,JohnMilton,allthetime,andtheylunchedtogetheratCrystalSpring.Itcameoutquiteaccidentallythroughthehotel-keeper.\"
Harcourt\'sbrowdarkened.\"Didsheknowhimbefore?\"
\"Ican\'tsay;butshedoesnow.\"
Harcourt\'sfacewasheavywithdistrust.\"TakingShipley\'sofferandthesescandalsintoconsideration,Idon\'tlikethelookofthis,Clementina.\"
\"Ido,\"saidthegirlsimply.
Harcourtgazedatherkeenlyandwiththeshadowofdistruststilluponhim.Itseemedtobequiteimpossible,evenwithwhatheknewofhercalmlycoldnature,thatsheshouldbeequallyuninfluencedbyGrantorShipley.Hadshesomesteadfast,loftyideal,orperhapssomealreadyabsorbingpassionofwhichheknewnothing?
Shewasnotagirltobetrayit——theywouldonlyknowitwhenitwastoolate.Coulditbepossiblethattherewasstillsomethingbetweenherand\'Ligethatheknewnothingof?Thethoughtstruckachilltohisbreast.Shewaswalkingtowardsthedoor,whenherecalledhimselfwithaneffort.
\"IfyouthinkitadvisabletoseeFletcher,youmightrundowntoSanJoseforadayortwowithyourmother,andcallontheRamirez.
Theymayknowhimorsomebodywhodoes.OfcourseifYOUmeethimandcasuallyinvitehimitwouldbedifferent.\"
\"It\'sagoodidea,\"shesaidquickly.\"I\'lldoit,andspeaktomothernow.\"
Hewasstruckbythechangeinherfaceandvoice;theyhadbothnervouslylightened,asoddlyanddistinctlyastheyhadbeforeseemedtogrowsuddenlyharshandaggressive.Shepassedoutoftheroomwithgirlishbrusqueness,leavinghimalonewithanewandvaguefearinhisconsciousness.
AfewhourslaterClementinawasstandingbeforethewindowofthedrawing-roomthatoverlookedtheoutskirtsofthetown.ThemoonlightwasfloodingthevastbluishTasajaralevelswithafaintlustre,asifthewatersofthecreekhadoncemorereturnedtothem.IntheshadowofthecurtainbesideherGrantwasfacingherwithanxiouseyes.
\"ThenImusttakethisasyourfinalanswer,Clementina?\"
\"Youmust.AndhadIknownofthesecalumniesbefore,hadyoubeenfrankwithmeeventhedaywewenttoSanMateo,myanswerwouldhavebeenasfinalthen,andyoumighthavebeensparedanyfurthersuspense.Iamnotblamingyou,Mr.Grant;Iamwillingtobelievethatyouthoughtitbesttoconcealthisfromme,——evenatthattimewhenyouhadjustpledgedyourselftofindoutitstruthorfalsehood,——yetmyanswerwouldhavebeenthesame.Solongasthisstainrestsonmyfather\'snameIshallneverallowthatnametobecoupledwithyoursinmarriageorengagement;norwillmyprideoryoursallowustocarryonasimplefriendshipafterthis.
Ithankyouforyourofferofassistance,butIcannotevenacceptthatwhichmighttoothersseemtoallowsomecontingentclaim.I
wouldratherbelievethatwhenyouproposedthisinquiryandmyfatherpermittedit,youbothknewthatitputanendtoanyotherrelationsbetweenus.\"
\"But,Clementina,youarewrong,believeme!SaythatIhavebeenfoolish,indiscreet,mad,——stillthefewwhoknewthatImadetheseinquiriesonyourfather\'sbehalfknownothingofmyhopesofYOU!\"
\"ButIdo,andthatisenoughforme.\"
Eveninthehopelesspreoccupationofhispassionhesuddenlylookedatherwithsomethingofhisoldcriticalscrutiny.Butshestoodtherecalm,concentrated,self-possessedandupright.Yes!
itwaspossiblethattheprideofthisSouthwesternshopkeepersdaughterwasgreaterthanhisown.
\"Thenyoubanishme,Clementina?\"
\"ItiswewhomYOUhavebanished.\"
\"Good-night.\"
\"Good-by.\"
Hebentforaninstantoverhercoldhand,andthenpassedoutintothehall.Sheremainedlisteninguntilthefrontdoorclosedbehindhim.Thensheranswiftlythroughthehallandupthestaircase,withanalacritythatseemedimpossibletothestatelygoddessofamomentbefore.Whenshehadreachedherbedroomandclosedthedoor,soexuberantstillandsouncontrollablewasherlevityandaction,thatwithoutgoingroundthebedwhichstoodbeforeherinthecentreoftheroom,sheplacedhertwohandsuponitandlightlyvaultedsidewaysacrossittoreachthewindow.
ThereshewatchedthefigureofGrantcrossingthemoonlitsquare.
Thenturningbackintothehalf-litroom,sherantothesmalldressing-glassplacedatanangleonatoilettableagainstthewall.Withherpalmsgraspingherkneesshestoopeddownsuddenlyandcontemplatedthemirror.ItshowedwhatnoonebutClementinahadeverseen,——andsheherselfonlyatrareintervals,——thelaughingeyesandsoulofaself-satisfied,material-minded,ordinarycountry-girl!
CHAPTERX.
ButMr.LawrenceGrant\'scharacterincertaincircumstanceswouldseemtohaveasstartlingandinexplicablecontradictionsasClementinaHarcourt\'s,andthreedayslaterhehaltedhishorseattheentranceofLosGatosRancho.TheHomeoftheCats——socalledfromthecatamountswhichinfestedthelocality——whichhadforoveracenturylazilybaskedbeforeoneofthehottestcanyonsintheCoastRange,hadlatelybeenstirredintosomeactivitybytheAmerican,DonDiegoFletcher,whohadboughtit,putupasaw-mill,anddeforestedthecanyon.StillthereremainedenoughsuggestionofafelinehauntaboutittomakeGrantfeelasifhehadtrackedhithersomestealthyenemy,inspiteofthepeacefulintimationconveyedbythesignonaroughboardedshedatthewayside,thatthe\"LosGatosLandandLumberCompany\"heldtheirofficethere.
Acigarette-smokingpeonloungedbeforethedoor.Yes;DonDiegowasthere,butashehadarrivedfromSantaClaraonlylastnightandwasgoingtoColonelRamirezthatafternoon,hewasengaged.
Unlessthebusinesswasimportant——butthecool,determinedmannerofGrant,evenmorethanhiswords,signifiedthatitWAS
important,andtheservantledthewaytoDonDiego\'spresence.
TherecertainlywasnothingintheappearanceofthissylvanproprietorandnewspapercapitalisttojustifyGrant\'ssuspicionofasurreptitiousfoe.Ahandsomemanscarcelyolderthanhimself,inspiteofawavymassofperfectlywhitehairwhichcontrastedsingularlywithhisbrownmustacheanddarksunburnedface.Sodisguisingwastheeffectofthesecontradictions,thathenotonlylookedunlikeanybodyelse,butevenhisnationalityseemedtobeamatterofdoubt.Onlyhiseyes,lightblueandintelligent,whichhadasingularexpressionofgentlenessandworry,appearedindividualtotheman.Hismannerwascultivatedandeasy.Hemotionedhisvisitorcourteouslytoachair.
\"Iwasreferredtoyou,\"saidGrant,almostabruptly,\"asthepersonresponsibleforaseriesofslanderousattacksagainstMr.
DanielHarcourtinthe\'Clarion,\'ofwhichpaperIbelieveyouaretheproprietor.Iwastoldthatyoudeclinedtogivetheauthorityforyouraction,unlessyouwereforcedtobylegalproceedings.\"
Fletcher\'ssensitiveblueeyesresteduponGrant\'swithanexpressionofconstrainedpainandpity.\"Iheardofyourinquiries,Mr.Grant;youweremakingthemonbehalfofthisMr.
HarcourtorHarkutt\"——hemadethedistinctionwithintentionaldeliberation——\"withaview,Ibelieve,tosomearbitration.Thecasewasstatedtoyoufairly,Ithink;IbelieveIhavenothingtoaddtoit.\"
\"ThatwasyouranswertotheambassadorofMr.Harcourt,\"saidGrant,coldly,\"andassuchIdeliveredittohim;butIamhereto-daytospeakonmyownaccount.\"
WhatcouldbeseenofMr.Fletcher\'slipsappearedtocurlinanoddsmile.\"Indeed,Ithoughtitwas——orwouldbe——allinthefamily.\"
Grant\'sfacegrewmorestern,andhisgrayeyesglittered.\"You\'llfindmystatusinthismattersofarindependentthatIdon\'tpropose,likeMr.Harcourt,eithertobeginasuitortorestquietlyunderthecalumny.Briefly,Mr.Fletcher,asyouoryourinformantknows,IwasthesurveyorwhorevealedtoMr.Harcourtthevalueofthelandtowhichheclaimedatitlefromyourman,thisElijahor\'LigeCurtisasyoucallhim,\"——hecouldnotresistthisimitationofhisadversary\'ssuperciliousaffectationofprecisenomenclature,——\"anditwasuponmyrepresentationofitsvalueasaninvestmentthathebegantheimprovementswhichhavemadehimwealthy.Ifthistitlewasfraudulentlyobtained,allthefactspertainingtoitaresufficientlyrelatedtoconnectmewiththeconspiracy.\"
\"Areyounotalittlehastyinyourpresumption,Mr.Grant?\"saidFletcher,withunfeignedsurprise.
\"ThatisforMEtojudge,Mr.Fletcher,\"returnedGrant,haughtily.
\"ButthenameofProfessorGrantisknowntoallCaliforniaasbeyondthebreathofcalumnyorsuspicion.\"
\"ItisbecauseofthatfactthatIproposetokeepitso.\"
\"AndmayIaskinwhatwayyouwishmetoassistyouinsodoing?\"
\"Bypromptlyandpubliclyretractinginthe\'Clarion\'everywordofthisslanderagainstHarcourt.\"
Fletcherlookedsteadfastlyatthespeaker.\"AndifIdecline?\"
\"IthinkyouhavebeenlongenoughinCalifornia,Mr.Fletcher,toknowthealternativeexpectedofagentleman,\"saidGrant,coldly.
Mr.Fletcherkepthisgentleblueeyes——inwhichsurprisestilloverbalancedtheirexpressionofpainedconcern——onGrant\'sface.
\"ButisnotthismoreinthestyleofColonelStarbottlethanProfessorGrant?\"heasked,withafaintsmile.
Grantroseinstantlywithawhiteface.\"Youwillhaveabetteropportunityofjudging,\"hesaid,\"whenColonelStarbottlehasthehonorofwaitinguponyoufromme.Meantime,Ithankyouforremindingmeoftheindiscretionintowhichmyfolly,instillbelievingthatthisthingcouldbesettledamicably,hasledme.\"
Hebowedcoldlyandwithdrew.Nevertheless,ashemountedhishorseandrodeaway,hefelthischeeksburning.Yethehadacteduponcalmconsideration;heknewthattotheordinaryCalifornianexperiencetherewasnothingquixoticnorexaggeratedintheattitudehehadtaken.Menhadquarreledandfoughtonlessgrounds;hehadevenhalfconvincedhimselfthatheHADbeeninsulted,andthathisownprofessionalreputationdemandedthewithdrawaloftheattackonHarcourtonpurelybusinessgrounds;
buthewasnotsatisfiedofthepersonalresponsibilityofFletchernorofhisgratuitousmalignity.Nordidthemanlooklikeatoolinthehandsofsomeunscrupulousandhiddenenemy.However,hehadplayedhiscard.IfhesucceededonlyinprovokingaduelwithFletcher,heatleastwoulddivertthepublicattentionfromHarcourttohimself.Heknewthathissuperiorpositionwouldthrowthelesservictiminthebackground.Hewouldmakethesacrifice;thatwashisdutyasagentleman,evenifSHEwouldnotcaretoacceptitasanearnestofhisunselfishlove!
HehadreachedthepointwherethemountaintrackenteredtheSantaClaraturnpikewhenhisattentionwasattractedbyahandsomebutold-fashionedcarriagedrawnbyfourwhitemules,whichpasseddowntheroadbeforehimandturnedsuddenlyoffintoaprivateroad.
ButitwasnotthispicturesquegalaequipageofsomelocalSpanishgrandeethatbroughtathrilltohisnervesandaflashtohiseye;
itwastheunmistakable,tall,elegantfigureandhandsomeprofileofClementina,reclininginlightgauzywrapsagainstthebackseat!Itwasnofancifulresemblance,theoutcomeofhisreverie,——
thereneverwasanyonelikeher!——itWASsheherself!Butwhatwasshedoinghere?
Avaquerocanteredfromthecrossroadwherethedustofthevehiclestillhung.Granthailedhim.Ah!itwasafinecarrozadecuatromulasthathehadjustpassed!Si,Senor,truly;itwasofDonJoseRamirez,wholivedjustunderthehill.Itwasbringingcompanytothecasa.
Ramirez!ThatwaswhereFletcherwasgoing!HadClementinaknownthathewasoneofFletcher\'sfriends?Mightshenotbeexposedtounpleasantness,markedcoolness,oreveninsultinthatunexpectedmeeting?Oughtshenottobewarnedorpreparedforit?ShehadbanishedGrantfromherpresenceuntilthisstainwasremovedfromherfather\'sname,butcouldsheblamehimfortryingtosaveherfromcontactwithherfather\'sslanderer?No!Heturnedhishorseabruptlyintothecrossroadandspurredforwardinthedirectionofthecasa.
Itwasquitevisiblenow——alow-walled,quadrangularmassofwhitewashedadobelyinglikeadriftonthegreenhillside.Thecarriageandfourhadfarprecededhim,andwasalreadyhalfupthewindingroadtowardsthehouse.Laterhesawthemreachthecourtyardanddisappearwithin.Hewouldbequiteintimetospeakwithherbeforesheretiredtochangeherdress.HewouldsimplysaythatwhilemakingaprofessionalvisittoLosGatosLandCompanyofficehehadbecomeawareofFletcher\'sconnectionwithit,andaccidentallyofhisintendedvisittoRamirez.Hischancemeetingwiththecarriageonthehighwayhaddeterminedhiscourse.
Asherodeintothecourtyardheobservedthatitwasalsoapproachedbyanotherroad,evidentlynearerLosGatos,andprobablytheolderandshortercommunicationbetweenthetworanchos.Thefactwassignificantlydemonstratedamomentlater.Hehadgivenhishorsetoaservant,sentinhiscardtoClementina,andhaddroppedlistlesslyononeofthebenchesofthegallerysurroundingthepatio,whenahorsemanrodebrisklyintotheoppositegateway,anddismountedwithafamiliarair.AwaitingpeonwhorecognizedhiminformedhimthattheDonawasengagedwithavisitor,butthattheywerebothreturningtothegalleryforchocolateinamoment.Thestrangerwasthemanhehadleftonlyanhourbefore——DonDiegoFletcher!
Inaninstanttheidioticfatuityofhispositionstruckhimfully.
HisonlyexcuseforfollowingClementinahadbeentowarnherofthecomingofthismanwhohadjustentered,andwhowouldnowmeetherasquicklyashimself.Forabriefmomenttheideaofquietlyslippingouttothecorral,mountinghishorseagain,andflyingfromtherancho,crossedhismind;butthethoughtthathewouldberunningawayfromthemanhehadjustchallenged,andperhapssomenewhostilitythathadsprungupinhisheartagainsthim,compelledhimtoremain.Theeyesofbothmenmet;Fletcher\'sinhalf-wonderingannoyance,Grant\'sinill-concealedantagonism.
