\"Isupposeyourbrothertaughtyouthattoo？\"
\"Ohdear，no！\"shereturned，withherfrightenedglance;\"Ionlyheardhimsaysomepeoplepreferredthatkindofthingtosacredmusic，andonedayIsawacopyofitinamusic—storewindowinClayStreet，andboughtit。Ohno！Tappingtondidn’tteachittome。\"
Inthepleasantdiscoverythatshewasattimesindependentofherbrother’sperfections，Herbertsmiled，andsympatheticallydrewastepnearertoher。Sheroseatonce，somewhatprimlyholdingbackthesidesofherskirt，school—girlfashion，withthumbandfinger，andhereyescastdown。
\"Goodafternoon，Mr。Bly。\"
\"Mustyougo？Goodafternoon。\"
Shewalkeddirectlytotheopendoor，lookingverytallandstatelyasshedidso，butwithoutturningtowardshim。Whenshereacheditsheliftedhereyes;therewastheslightestsuggestionofareturnofherdimplesintherelaxationofhergravelittlemouth。
Thenshesaid，\"good—bye，Mr。Bly，\"anddeparted。
Theskirtofherdressrustledforaninstantinthepassage。
Herbertlookedafterher。\"Iwonderifsheskippedthen——shelookslikeagirlthatmightskipatsuchatime，\"hesaidtohimself。
\"Howveryoddsheis——andhowsimple！ButImustpullherupinthatslangwhenIknowherbetter。FancyherbrothertellingherTHAT！Whatapairtheymustbe！\"Nevertheless，whenheturnedbackintotheroomagainheforboregoingtothewindowtoindulgefurthercuriosityinregardtohiswickedneighbors。Acertainnewfeelingofrespecttohislatecompanion——andpossiblytohimself——
heldhimincheck。MuchasheresentedTappington’sperfections，heresentedquiteaswarmlythepresumptionthathewasnotquiteasperfect，whichwasimpliedinthatmysteriousoverture。Heglancedatthestoolonwhichshehadbeensittingwithahalf—
brotherlysmile，andputitreverentlyononesidewithaveryvividrecollectionofhershymaidenlyfigure。Insomemysteriouswaytootheroomseemedtohavelostitsformalstrangeness;
perhapsitwasthetouchofindividuality——HERS——thathadbeenwanting？HebeganthoughtfullytodresshimselfforhisregulardinneratthePoodleDogRestaurant，andwhenhelefttheroomheturnedbacktolookoncemoreatthestoolwhereshehadsat。Evenonhiswaytothatfastandfamouscafeoftheperiodhefelt，forthefirsttimeinhisthoughtlessbutlonelylife，thegentlesecurityofthehomehehadleftbehindhim。
II。
Itwasthreeorfourdaysbeforehebecamefirmlyadjustedtohisnewquarters。DuringthistimehehadmetCherrycasuallyonthestaircase，ingoingorcoming，andreceivedhershygreetings;butshehadnotrepeatedhervisit，noragainalludedtoit。Hehadspentpartofaformaleveningintheparlorincompanywithacallingdeacon，who，unappalledbytheIndianshawlforwhichthewidowhadexchangedherhouseholdcerementsonsuchoccasions，appearedtoHerberttohaveremotematrimonialdesigns，asfaratleastasasympatheticdeprecationofthevanitiesofthepresent，anechoingofhersighslikeamodestencore，apreternaturalgentilityofmanner，avagueallusiontothenecessityofbearing\"oneanother’sburdens，\"andaneverlastingpromiseinstore，wouldseemtoimply。ToHerbert’svividimagination，adiscussiononthedoctrinalpointsoflastSabbath’ssermonwasfraughtwithdelicatesuggestionandanacceptancebythewidowofanappointmenttoattendtheWednesdayevening\"Lectures\"hadalltheshyreluctantyieldingofagrantedrendezvous。Oddlyenough，themoreformalattitudeseemedtobereservedfortheyoungpeople，who，inthesuggestiveatmosphereofthisspiritualflirtation，aloneappearedtopreservetheproprietiesand，tosomeextent，decorouslychaperontheirelders。HerbertgravelyturnedtheleavesofCherry’smusicwhilesheplayedandsangoneortwodiscreetbutdepressingsongsexpressiveofherunalterablebutproperdevotiontohermother’sclock，herfather’sarm—chair，andheraunt’sBible;andHerbertjoinedsomewhatboyishlyinthesoul—subduingrefrain。OnlyonceheventuredtosuggestinawhisperthathewouldliketoaddHERmusic—stooltotheadorableinventory;buthewasmetbysuchadisturbedandterrifiedlookthathedesisted。
\"Anothernightofthiswildandrecklessdissipationwillfinishme，\"hesaidlugubriouslytohimselfwhenhereachedthesolitudeofhisroom。\"IwonderhowmanytimesaweekI’dhavetohelpthegirlplaythespiritualgooseberrydownstairsbeforewecouldhaveanyfunourselves？\"
Herethesoundofdistantlaughter，interspersedwithvivaciousfeminineshrieks，camethroughtheopenwindow。Heglancedbetweenthecurtains。Hisneighbor’shousewasbrilliantlylit，andtheshadowsofafewrompingfigureswerechasingeachotheracrossthemuslinshadesofthewindows。Theobjectionableyoungwomenwereevidentlyenjoyingthemselves。Insomeconditionsofthemindthereisacertainexasperationinthespectacleofunmeaningenjoyment，andheshutthewindowsharply。Atthesamemomentsomeoneknockedathisdoor。
ItwasMissBrooks，whohadjustcomeupstairs。
\"Willyoupleaseletmehavemymusic—stool？\"
Hestaredatheramomentinsurprise，thenrecoveringhimself，said，\"Yes，certainly，\"andbroughtthestool。Foraninstanthewastemptedtoaskwhyshewantedit，buthisprideforbadehim。
\"Thankyou。Good—night。\"
\"Good—night！\"
\"Ihopeitwasn’tinyourway？\"
\"Notatall。\"
\"Good—night！\"
\"Good—night。\"
Shevanished。Herbertwasperplexed。Betweenyoungladieswhosenaiveexuberanceimpelledthemtothrowhandkerchiefsathiswindowandyoungladieswhoseequallynaivemodestydemandedthewithdrawalfromhisbedroomofachaironwhichtheyhadoncesat，hislotseemedtohavefalleninatroubledlocality。YetadayortwolaterheheardCherrypractisingontheharmoniumashewasascendingthestairsonhisreturnfrombusiness;shehaddepartedbeforeheenteredtheroom，buthadleftthemusic—stoolbehindher。Itwasnotagainremoved。
OneSunday，thesecondorthirdofhistenancy，whenCherryandhermotherwereatchurch，andhehadfinishedsomeworkthathehadbroughtfromthebank，hisformerrestlessnessandsenseofstrangenessreturned。Theregularafternoonfoghadthickenedearly，and，drivinghimbackfromacheerless，chillyrambleonthehill，hadlefthimstillmoredepressedandsolitary。Insheerdesperationhemovedsomeofthefurniture，andchangedthedispositionofseveralsmallerornaments。Growingbolder，heevenattackedthesacredshelfdevotedtoTappington’sseriousliteratureandmoralstudies。Atfirstglancethebookofsermonslookedsuspiciouslyfreshandnewforavolumeofhabitualreference，butitsleaveswerecarefullycut，andcontainedoneortwobook—marks。Itwasonlyanotherevidenceofthatperfectyouth’scareandneatness。Ashewasreplacingithenoticedasmallobjectfoldedinwhitepaperatthebackoftheshelf。Toputthebookbackintoitsformerpositionitwasnecessarytotakethisout。Hedidso，butitscontentsslidfromhisfingersandthepapertothefloor。Tohisutterconsternation，lookingdownhesawapackofplaying—cardsstrewnathisfeet！
Hehurriedlypickedthemup。Theywerewornandslipperyfromuse，andexhaledafaintodoroftobacco。HadtheybeenlefttherebysometemporaryvisitorunknowntoTappingtonandhisfamily，orhadtheybeenhastilyhiddenbyaservant？Yettheywereofamakeandtexturesuperiortothosethataservantwouldpossess;lookingatthemcarefully，herecognizedthemtobeofaqualityusedbythebetter—classgamblers。Restoringthemcarefullytotheirformerposition，hewastemptedtotakeouttheothervolumes，andwasrewardedwiththefurtherdiscoveryofasmallboxofivorycounters，knownas\"poker—chips。\"Itwasreallyveryextraordinary！Itwasquitethecacheofsomehabitualgambler。
Herbertsmiledgrimlyattheirreverentincongruityofthehiding—
placeselectedbyitsunknownandmysteriousowner，andamusedhimselfbyfancyingthehorrorofhissaintedpredecessorhadhemadethediscovery。Hedeterminedtoreplacethem，andtoputsomemarkuponthevolumesbeforetheminordertodetectanyfuturedisturbanceoftheminhisabsence。
OughthenottotakeMissBrooksinhisconfidence？Orshouldhesaynothingaboutitatpresent，andtrusttochancetodiscoverthesacrilegioushider？CoulditpossiblybeCherryherself，guiltyofthesameinnocentcuriositythathadimpelledhertobuythe\"Ham—fatMan\"？Preposterous！Besides，thecardshadbeenused，andshecouldnotplaypokeralone！
HewatchedtherollingfogextinguishthelineofRussianHill，thelastbitoffarperspectivefromhiswindow。Heglancedathisneighbor’sveranda，alreadydrippingwithmoisture;thewindowswereblank;herememberedtohaveheardthegirlsgigglinginpassingdownthesidestreetontheirwaytochurch，andhadnoticedfrombehindhisowncurtainsthatonewasratherpretty。
ThisledhimtothinkofCherryagain，andtorecallthequaintyetmelancholygraceofherfigureasshesatonthestoolopposite。
Whyhadshewithdrawnitsoabruptly;didsheconsiderhisjestingallusiontoitindecorousandpresuming？Hadhereallymeantitseriously;andwashebeginningtothinktoomuchabouther？Wouldsheevercomeagain？Howniceitwouldbeifshereturnedfromchurchaloneearly，andtheycouldhaveacomfortablechattogetherhere！Wouldshesingthe\"Ham—fatMan\"forhim？Wouldthedimplescomebackifshedid？Shouldheeverknowmoreofthisquaintrepressedsideofhernature？Afterall，whatadear，graceful，tantalizing，lovablecreatureshewas！Oughthenotatallhazardstrytoknowherbetter？Mightitnotbeherethathewouldfindaperfectrealizationofhisboyishdreams，andinHERallthat——whatnonsensehewasthinking！
SuddenlyHerbertwasstartledbythesoundofalightbuthurriedfootuponthewoodenouterstepofhisseconddoor，andthequickbutineffectiveturningofthedoor—handle。Hestartedtohisfeet，hismindstillfilledwithavisionofCherry。Thenheassuddenlyrememberedthathehadlockedthedoorongoingout，puttingthekeyinhisovercoatpocket。Hehadreturnedbythefrontdoor，andhisovercoatwasnowhanginginthelowerhall。
Thedooragainrattledimpetuously。Thenitwassupplementedbyafemalevoiceinahurriedwhisper：\"Openquick，can’tyou？dohurry！\"
Hewasconfounded。Thevoicewasauthoritative，notunmusical;butitwasNOTCherry’s。Neverthelesshecalledoutquickly，\"Onemoment，please，andI’llgetthekey！\"dasheddownstairsandupagain，breathlesslyunlockedthedoorandthrewitopen。
Nobodywasthere！
Heranoutintothestreet。Ononesideitterminatedabruptlyonthecliffonwhichhisdwellingwasperched;ontheother，itdescendedmoregraduallyintothenextthoroughfare;butupanddownthestreet，oneitherhand，noonewastobeseen。Aslightlysuperstitiousfeelingforaninstantcreptoverhim。Thenhereflectedthatthemysteriousvisitorcouldintheintervalofhisgettingthekeyhaveeasilyslippeddownthestepsoftheclifforenteredtheshrubberyofoneoftheadjacenthouses。Butwhyhadshenotwaited？Andwhatdidshewant？Ashereenteredhisdoorhemechanicallyraisedhiseyestothewindowsofhisneighbor’s。
Thistimehecertainlywasnotmistaken。Thetwoamused，mischievousfacesthatsuddenlydisappearedbehindthecurtainashelookedupshowedthattheincidenthadnotbeenunwitnessed。
YetitwasimpossiblethatitcouldhavebeeneitherofTHEM。
Theirhousewasonlyaccessiblebyalongdetour。Itmighthavebeenthetrickofaconfederate;butthetoneofhalffamiliarityandhalfentreatyintheunseenvisitor’svoicedispelledtheideaofanycollusion。Heenteredtheroomandclosedthedoorangrily。
Agrimsmilestoleoverhisfaceasheglancedaroundatthedaintysaint—likeappointmentsoftheabsentTappington，andthoughtwhatthatirreproachableyoungmanwouldhavesaidtotheindecorousintrusion，eventhoughithadbeenamistake。WouldthoseshamelessPikeCountygirlshavedaredtolaughatHIM？
Buthewasagainpuzzledtoknowwhyhehimselfshouldhavebeenselectedforthissingularexperience。WhywasHEconsideredfairgameforthesegirls？And，forthematterofthat，nowthathereflecteduponit，whyhadeventhisgentle，refined，andmelancholyCherrythoughtitnecessarytotalkslangtoHIMontheirfirstacquaintance，andoffertosinghimthe\"Ham—fatMan\"？
Itwastruehehadbeenalittlegay，butneverdissipated。Ofcoursehewasnotasaint，likeTappington——oh，THATwasit！Hebelievedheunderstooditnow。Hewassufferingfromthatextravagantconceptionofwhatworldlinessconsistsof，socommontoverygoodpeoplewithnoknowledgeoftheworld。ComparedtoTappingtonhewasintheireyes，ofcourse，arakeandaroue。Theexplanationpleasedhim。Hewouldnotkeepittohimself。HewouldgainCherry’sconfidenceandenlisthersympathies。Hergentlenaturewouldrevoltatthisinjusticetotheirlonelylodger。Shewouldseethatthereweredegreesofgoodnessbesidesherbrother’s。ShewouldperhapssitonthatstoolagainandNOT
singthe\"Ham—fatMan。\"
Adayortwoafterwardstheopportunityseemedofferedtohim。Ashewascominghomeandascendingthelonghillystreet，hiseyewastakenbyatallgracefulfigurejustprecedinghim。Itwasshe。
Hehadneverbeforeseenherinthestreet，andwasnowstruckwithherladylikebearingandthegravesuperiorityofherperfectlysimpleattire。Inathoroughfarehauntedbyhandsomewomenandstrikingtoilettes，therefinedgraceofhermourningcostume，andacertainstatelinessthatgaveherthelookofayoungwidow，wasacontrastthatevidentlyattractedothersthanhimself。Itwaswithanoddminglingofprideandjealousythathewatchedtheadmiringyetrespectfulglancesofthepassers—by，someofwhomturnedtolookagain，andoneortwotoretracetheirstepsandfollowheratadecorousdistance。Thiscausedhimtoquickenhisownpace，withanewanxietyandaremorsefulsenseofwastedopportunity。Whataboobyhehadbeen，nottohavemademoreofhiscontiguitytothischarminggirl——tohavebeenfrightenedatthenaivedecorumofhermaidenlyinstincts！Hereachedherside，andraisedhishatwithatrepidationathernew—foundgraces——withaboldnessthatwasdefiantofherotheradmirers。Sheblushedslightly。
\"Ithoughtyou’dovertakemebefore，\"shesaidnaively。\"IsawYOU
eversolongago。\"
Hestammered，withanequalsimplicity，thathehadnotdaredto。
Shelookedalittlefrightenedagain，andthensaidhurriedly：\"I
onlythoughtthatIwouldmeetyouonMontgomeryStreet，andwewouldwalkhometogether。Idon’tliketogooutalone，andmothercannotalwaysgowithme。Tappingtonnevercaredtotakemeout——I
don’tknowwhy。Ithinkhedidn’tlikethepeoplestaringandstoppingus。Buttheystaremore——don’tyouthink？——whenoneisalone。
SoIthoughtifyouwerecomingstraighthomewemightcometogether——unlessyouhavesomethingelsetodo？\"
Herbertimpulsivelyreiteratedhisjoyatmeetingher，andaverredthatnootherengagement，eitherofbusinessorpleasure，couldorwouldstandinhisway。Lookingup，however，itwaswithsomeconsternationthathesawtheywerealreadywithinablockofthehouse。
\"Supposewetakeaturnaroundthehillandcomebackbytheoldstreetdownthesteps？\"hesuggestedearnestly。
Thenextmomentheregrettedit。Thefrightenedlookreturnedtohereyes;herfacebecamemelancholyandformalagain。
\"No！\"shesaidquickly。\"ThatwouldbetakingawalkwithyouliketheseyounggirlsandtheiryoungmenonSaturdays。That’swhatEllendoeswiththebutcher’sboyonSundays。Tappingtonoftenusedtomeetthem。Doingthe’Come，Philanders，’ashesaysyoucallit。\"
ItstruckHerbertthatthedidacticTappington’smethodofinculcatingahorrorofslanginhissister’sbreastwasopentosomeobjection;buttheywerealreadyonthestepsoftheirhouse，andhewastoomuchmortifiedatthereceptionofhislastunhappysuggestiontomaketheconfidentialdisclosurehehadintended，eveniftherehadstillbeentime。
\"There’smotherwaitingforme，\"shesaid，afteranawkwardpause，pointingtothefigureofMrs。Brooksdimlyoutlinedontheveranda。\"Isupposeshewasbeginningtobeworriedaboutmybeingoutalone。She’llbesogladImetyou。\"Itdidn’tappeartoHerbert，however，thatMrs。Brooksexhibitedanyextravagantjoyovertheoccurrence，andshealmostinstantlyretiredwithherdaughterintothesitting—room，linkingherarminCherry’s，and，asitwere，empanoplyingherwithherowninvulnerableshawl。
Herbertwenttohisroommoredissatisfiedwithhimselfthanever。
TwoorthreedayselapsedwithouthisseeingCherry;eventhewell—
knownrustleofherskirtinthepassagewasmissing。Onthethirdeveningheresolvedtobeartheformalterrorsofthedrawing—roomagain，andstumbleduponadecorouspartyconsistingofMrs。
Brooks，thedeacon，andthepastor’swife——butnotCherry。ItstruckhimonenteringthatthemomentaryawkwardnessofthecompanyandtheformalbeginningofanewtopicindicatedthatHE
hadbeenthesubjectoftheirpreviousconversation。Inthisideahecontinued，throughthatvaguespiritofoppositionwhichattacksimpulsivepeopleinsuchcircumstances，togenerallydisagreewiththemonallsubjects，andtoexaggeratewhathechosetobelievetheythoughtobjectionableinhim。Hedidnotremainlong;butlearnedinthatbriefintervalthatCherryhadgonetovisitafriendinContraCosta，andwouldbeabsentafortnight;andhewasconsciousthattheinformationwasconveyedtohimwithapeculiarsignificance。
TheresultofwhichwasonlytointensifyhisinterestintheabsentCherry，andforaweektoplungehiminaseaofconflictingdoubtsandresolutions。AtonetimehethoughtseriouslyofdemandinganexplanationfromMrs。Brooks，andofconfidingtoher——
ashehadintendedtodotoCherry——hisfearsthathischaracterhadbeenmisinterpreted，andhisreasonsforbelievingso。Butherehewasmetbythedifficultyofformulatingwhathewishedtohaveexplained，andsomedoubtsastowhetherhisconfidenceswereprudent。AtanothertimehecontemplatedaseriousimitationofTappington’sperfections，arenunciationoftheworld，andanentirechangeinhishabits。Hewouldgoregularlytochurch——HER
church，andtakeupTappington’sdesolateBible—class。Butherethetorturingdoubtarosewhetherayoungladywhobetrayedacertainsecularcuriosity，andwhohadevidentlydependeduponherbrotherforaknowledgeoftheworld，wouldentirelylikeit。Attimeshethoughtofgivinguptheroomandabandoningforeverthisdoublydangerousproximity;buthereagainhewasdeterredbythedifficultyofgivingasatisfactoryreasontohisemployer，whohadprocureditasafavor。Hispassion——forsuchhebegantofearittobe——ledhimoncetotheextravaganceofaskingaday’sholidayfromthebank，whichhevaguelyspentinthestreetsofOaklandinthehopeofaccidentallymeetingtheexiledCherry。
III。
Thefortnightslowlypassed。Shereturned，buthedidnotseeher。
ShewasalwaysoutorengagedinherroomwithsomefemalefriendwhenHerbertwasathome。Thiswassingular，asshehadneverappearedtohimasayounggirlwhowasfondofvisitingorhadeveraffectedfemalefriendships。Infact，therewaslittledoubtnowthat，wittinglyorunwittingly，shewasavoidinghim。
Hewasmoodilysittingbythefireoneevening，havingreturnedearlyfromdinner。Inreplytohishabitualbutaffectedlycarelessinquiry，EllenhadtoldhimthatMrs。Brookswasconfinedtoherroombyaslightheadache，andthatMissBrookswasout。Hewastryingtoread，andlisteningtothewindthatoccasionallyrattledthecasementandcausedthesolitarygas—lampthatwasvisibleinthesidestreettoflickerandleapwildly。Suddenlyheheardthesamefootfalluponhisouterstepandalighttapatthedoor。Determinedthistimetosolvethemystery，hesprangtohisfeetandrantothedoor;buttohisangerandastonishmentitwaslockedandthekeywasgone。YethewaspositivethatHEhadnottakenitout。
Thetapwastimidlyrepeated。Indesperationhecalledout，\"Pleasedon’tgoawayyet。Thekeyisgone;butI’llfinditinamoment。\"Neverthelesshewasathiswits’end。
Therewasahesitatingpauseandthenthesoundofakeycautiouslythrustintothelock。Itturned;thedooropened，andatallfigure，whosefaceandformwerecompletelyhiddeninaveilandlonggrayshawl，quicklyglidedintotheroomandclosedthedoorbehindit。Thenitsuddenlyraiseditsarms，theshawlwasparted，theveilfellaside，andCherrystoodbeforehim！
Herfacewasquitepale。Hereyes，usuallydowncast，frightened，orcoldlyclear，werebrightandbeautifulwithexcitement。Thedimpleswerefaintlythere，althoughthesmilewassadandhalfhysterical。Sheremainedstanding，erectandtall，herarmsdroppedatherside，holdingtheveilandshawlthatstilldependedfromhershoulders。
\"So——I’vecaughtyou！\"shesaid，withastrangelittlelaugh。\"Ohyes。’Pleasedon’tgoawayyet。I’llgetthekeyinamoment，’\"
shecontinued，mimickinghisrecentutterance。
Hecouldonlystammer，\"MissBrooks——thenitwasYOU？\"
\"Yes;andyouthoughtitwasSHE，didn’tyou？Well，andyou’recaught！Ididn’tbelieveit;Iwouldn’tbelieveitwhentheysaidit。Ideterminedtofinditoutmyself。AndIhave;andit’strue。\"
Unabletodeterminewhethershewasseriousorjesting，andconsciousonlyofhisdelightatseeingheragain，headvancedimpulsively。Butherexpressioninstantlychanged：shebecameatoncestiffandschool—girlishlyformal，andsteppedbacktowardsthedoor。
\"Don’tcomenearme，orI’llgo，\"shesaidquickly，withherhanduponthelock。
\"Butnotbeforeyoutellmewhatyoumean，\"hesaidhalflaughinglyhalfearnestly。\"WhoisSHE？andwhatwouldn’tyouhavebelieved？
Foruponmyhonor，MissBrooks，Idon’tknowwhatyouaretalkingabout。\"
Hisevidentfranknessandtruthfulmannerappearedtopuzzleher。
\"Youmeantosayyouwereexpectingnoone？\"shesaidsharply。
\"IassureyouIwasnot。\"
\"And——andnowomanwaseverhere——atthatdoor？\"
Hehesitated。\"Notto—night——notforalongtime;notsinceyoureturnedfromOakland。\"
\"ThenthereWASone？\"
\"Ibelieveso。\"
\"YouBELIEVE——youdon’tKNOW？\"
\"Ibelieveditwasawomanfromhervoice;forthedoorwaslocked，andthekeywasdownstairs。WhenIfetcheditandopenedthedoor，she——orwhoeveritwas——wasgone。\"
\"Andthat’swhyyousaidsoimploringly，justnow，’Pleasedon’tgoawayyet’？YouseeI’vecaughtyou。Ah！Idon’twonderyoublush！\"
Ifhehad，hischeekshadcaughtfirefromherbrillianteyesandtheextravagantlyaffectedsternness——asofaschool—girlmonitor——
inheranimatedface。Certainlyhehadneverseensuchatransformation。
\"Yes;but，yousee，Iwantedtoknowwhotheintruderwas，\"hesaid，smilingathisownembarrassment。
\"Youdid——well，perhapsTHATwilltellyou？ItwasfoundunderyourdoorbeforeIwentaway。\"Shesuddenlyproducedfromherpocketafoldedpaperandhandedittohim。Itwasamisspeltscrawl，andranasfollows：——
\"Whyareyousocruel？Whydoyoukeepmedansingonthesteppsbeforethemgurlsatthewindows？WasitthatstuckupSaint，MissBrooks，thatyouwereafraidof，mydeer？Oh，youfaithlesstrater！WaittillIketchyou！I’lltearyoureyesoutandhern！\"
ItdidnotrequiregreatpenetrationforHerberttobeinstantlyconvincedthatthewriterofthisvulgarepistleandtheowneroftheunknownvoiceweretwoverydifferentindividuals。Thenotewasevidentlyatrick。Asuspicionofitsperpetratorsflasheduponhim。
\"Whoeverthewomanwas，itwasnotshewhowrotethenote，\"hesaidpositively。\"Somebodymusthaveseenheratthedoor。Iremembernowthatthosegirls——yourneighbors——werewatchingmefromtheirwindowwhenIcameout。Dependuponit，thatlettercomesfromthem。\"
Cherry’seyesopenedwidelywithasuddenchildlikeperception，andthenshylydropped。\"Yes，\"shesaidslowly;\"theyDIDwatchyou。
Theyknowit，foritwastheywhomadeitthetalkoftheneighborhood，andthat’showitcametomother’sears。\"Shestopped，and，withafrightenedlook，steppedbacktowardsthedooragain。
\"ThenTHATwaswhyyourmother\"——
\"Ohyes，\"interruptedCherryquickly。\"ThatwaswhyIwentovertoOakland，andwhymotherforbademywalkingwithyouagain，andwhyshehadatalkwithfriendsaboutyourconduct，andwhyshecameneartellingMr。CarstoneallaboutituntilIstoppedher。\"Shecheckedherself——hecouldhardlybelievehiseyes——thepale，nun—
likegirlwasabsolutelyblushing。
\"Ithankyou，MissBrooks，\"hesaidgravely，\"foryourthoughtfulness，althoughIhopeIcouldhavestillprovenmyinnocencetoMr。Carstone，evenifsomeunknownwomantriedmydoorbymistake，andwasseendoingit。ButIampainedtothinkthatYOUcouldhavebelievedmecapableofsowantonandabsurdanimpropriety——andsuchagrossdisrespecttoyourmother’shouse。\"
\"But，\"saidCherrywithchildlikenaivete，\"youknowYOUdon’tthinkanythingofsuchthings，andthat’swhatItoldmother。\"
\"YoutoldyourmotherTHAT？\"
\"Ohyes——ItoldherTappingtonsaysit’squitecommonwithyoungmen。Pleasedon’tlaugh——forit’sverydreadful。Tappingtondidn’tlaughwhenhetoldittomeasawarning。Hewasshocked。\"
\"But，mydearMissBrooks\"——
\"There——nowyou’reangry——andthat’sasbad。Areyousureyoudidn’tknowthatwoman？\"
\"Positive！\"
\"Yetyouseemedveryanxiousjustnowthatsheshouldwaittillyouopenedthedoor。\"
\"Thatwasperfectlynatural。\"
\"Idon’tthinkitwasnaturalatall。\"
\"But——accordingtoTappington\"——
\"Becausemybrotherisverygoodyouneednotmakefunofhim。\"
\"IassureyouIhavenosuchintention。ButwhatmorecanIsay？
IgiveyoumywordthatIdon’tknowwhothatunluckywomanwas。
Nodoubtshemayhavebeensomenearsightedneighborwhohadmistakenthehouse，andIdaresaywasasthoroughlyastonishedatmyvoiceasIwasathers。CanIsaymore？IsitnecessaryformetoswearthatsinceIhavebeenherenowomanhaseverenteredthatdoor——but\"——
\"Butwho？\"
\"Yourself。\"
\"Iknowwhatyoumean，\"shesaidhurriedly，withheroldfrightenedlook，glidingtotheouterdoor。\"It’sshamefulwhatI’vedone。
ButIonlydiditbecause——becauseIhadfaithinyou，anddidn’tbelievewhattheysaidwastrue。\"Shehadalreadyturnedthelock。
Thereweretearsinherprettyeyes。
\"Stop，\"saidHerbertgently。Hewalkedslowlytowardsher，andwithinreachofherfrightenedfigurestoppedwiththetimidrespectofamatureandgenuinepassion。\"Youmustnotbeseengoingoutofthatdoor，\"hesaidgravely。\"Youmustletmegofirst，and，whenIamgone，lockthedooragainandgothroughthehalltoyourownroom。NoonemustknowthatIwasinthehousewhenyoucameinatthatdoor。Good—night。\"
Withoutofferinghishandheliftedhiseyestoherface。Thedimpleswereallthere——andsomethingelse。Hebowedandpassedout。
Tenminuteslaterheostentatiouslyreturnedtothehousebythefrontdoor，andproceededupthestairstohisownroom。Ashecastaglancearoundhesawthatthemusic—stoolhadbeenmovedbeforethefire，evidentlywiththeviewofattractinghisattention。Lyinguponit，carefullyfolded，wastheveilthatshehadworn。Therecouldbenodoubtthatitwaslefttherepurposely。Withasmileatthisstrangegirl’slastcharacteristicactoftimidbutcompromisingrecklessness，afterallhisprecautions，heraisedittenderlytohislips，andthenhastenedtohideitfromthereachofvulgareyes。ButhadCherryknownthatitstemporaryresting—placethatnightwasunderhispillowshemighthavedoubtedhissuperiorcaution。
Whenhereturnedfromthebankthenextafternoon，Cherryrappedostentatiouslyathisdoor。\"Motherwishesmetoaskyou，\"shebeganwithacertainprimformality，whichneverthelessdidnotprecludedimples，\"ifyouwouldgiveusthepleasureofyourcompanyatourChurchFestivalto—night？Therewillbeaconcertandacollation。Youcouldaccompanyusthereifyoucared。OurfriendsandTappington’swouldbesogladtoseeyou，andDr。Stoutwouldbedelightedtomakeyouracquaintance。\"
\"Certainly！\"saidHerbert，delightedandyetastounded。\"Then，\"headdedinalowervoice，\"yourmothernolongerbelievesmesodreadfullyculpable？\"
\"Ohno，\"saidCherryinahurriedwhisper，glancingupanddownthepassage;\"I’vebeentalkingtoheraboutit，andsheissatisfiedthatitisallajealoustrickandslanderoftheseneighbors。
Why，ItoldherthattheyhadevensaidthatIwasthatmysteriouswoman;thatIcamethatwaytoyoubecauseshehadforbiddenmyseeingyouopenly。\"
\"What！Youdaredsaythat？\"
\"Yesdon’tyousee？SupposetheysaidtheyHADseenmecominginlastnight——THATanswersit，\"shesaidtriumphantly。
\"Oh，itdoes？\"hesaidvacantly。
\"Perfectly。Soyouseeshe’sconvincedthatsheoughttoputyouonthesamefootingasTappington，beforeeverybody;andthentherewon’tbeanytrouble。You’llcome，won’tyou？Itwon’tbesoVERY
good。Andthen，I’vetoldmotherthatastherehavebeensomanystreet—fights，andsomuchtalkabouttheVigilanceCommitteelately，IoughttohavesomebodyforanescortwhenIamcominghome。Andifyou’reknown，yousee，asoneofUS，there’llbenoharminyourmeetingme。\"
\"Thankyou，\"hesaid，extendinghishandgratefully。
Herfingersrestedamomentinhis。\"Wheredidyouputit？\"shesaiddemurely。
\"It？Oh！IT’Sallsafe，\"hesaidquickly，butsomewhatvaguely。
\"ButIdon’tcalltheupperdrawerofyourbureausafe，\"shereturnedpoutingly，\"whereEVERYBODYcango。Soyou’llfinditNOW
insidetheharmonium，onthekeyboard。\"
\"Oh，thankyou。\"
\"It’squitenaturaltohaveleftitthereACCIDENTALLY——isn’tit？\"
shesaidimploringly，assistedbyallherdimples。Alas！shehadforgottenthathewasstillholdingherhand。Consequently，shehadnottimetosnatchitawayandvanish，withastifledlittlecry，beforeithadbeenpressedtwoorthreetimestohislips。A
littleashamedofhisownboldness，Herbertremainedforafewmomentsinthedoorwaylistening，andlookinguneasilydownthedarkpassage。PresentlyaslightsoundcameoverthefanlightofCherry’sroom。Couldhebelievehisears？Thesaint—likeCherry——
nodoubttutored，forexample’ssake，bytheperfectTappington——
wassoftlywhistling。
Inthissimplefashionthefirstpagesofthislittleidylwerequietlyturned。Thebookmighthavebeenclosedorlaidasideeventhen。ButitsochancedthatCherrywasanunconsciousprophet;
andpresentlyitactuallybecameaprudentialnecessityforhertohaveamasculineescortwhenshewalkedout。ForagrowingstateoflawlessnessandcrimeculminatedonedaythedeeptocsinoftheVigilanceCommittee，andatitsstrokefiftythousandpeacefulmen，revertingtothefirstprinciplesofsocialsafety，sprangtoarms，assembledattheirquarters，orpatrolledthestreets。InanotherhourthecityofSanFranciscowasinthehandsofamob——themostpeaceful，orderly，wellorganized，andtemperatetheworldhadeverknown，andyetinconceptionaslawless，autocratic，andimperiousastheconditionsitopposed。
IV。
Herbert，enrolledinthesamesectionwithhisemployerandoneortwofellow—clerks，hadparticipatedinthemeetingsofthecommitteewiththelight—heartednessandirresponsibilityofyouth，regrettingonlythelossofhisusualwalkwithCherryandthehoursthatkepthimfromherhouse。Hewasreturningfromaprotractedmeetingonenight，whenthenumberofarrestsandsearchingforproscribedandsuspectedcharactershadbeensolargeastoinducefearsoforganizedresistanceandrescue，andonreachingthefootofthehillfounditalreadysolate，thattoavoiddisturbingthefamilyheresolvedtoenterhisroomdirectlybythedoorinthesidestreet。Oninsertinghiskeyinthelockitmetwithsomeresistingobstacle，which，however，yieldedandapparentlydroppedonthematinside。Openingthedoorandsteppingintotheperfectlydarkapartment，hetroduponthisobject，whichprovedtobeanotherkey。Thefamilymusthaveprocureditfortheirconvenienceduringhisabsence，andafterlockingthedoorhadcarelesslyleftitinthelock。Itwasluckythatithadyieldedsoreadily。
Thefirehadgoneout。Heclosedthedoorandlitthegas，andaftertakingoffhisovercoatmovedtothedoorleadingintothepassagetolistenifanybodywasstillstirring。Tohisutterastonishmenthefounditlocked。Whatwasmoreremarkable——thekeywasalsoINSIDE！Aninexplicablefeelingtookpossessionofhim。
Heglancedsuddenlyaroundtheroom，andthenhiseyefelluponthebed。Lyingthere，stretchedatfulllength，wastherecumbentfigureofaman。
Hewasapparentlyintheprofoundsleepofutterexhaustion。Theattitudeofhislimbsandtheorderofhisdress——ofwhichonlyhiscollarandcravathadbeenloosened——showedthatsleepmusthaveovertakenhimalmostinstantly。Infact，thebedwasscarcelydisturbedbeyondtheactualimpressofhisfigure。Heseemedtobeahandsome，maturedmanofaboutforty;hisdarkstraighthairwasalittlethinnedoverthetemples，althoughhislongheavymoustachewasstillyouthfulandvirgin。Hisclothes，whichwereelegantlycutandoffinermaterialthanthatinordinaryuse，thedelicacyandneatnessofhislinen，thewhitenessofhishands，and，moreparticularly，acertaindissipatedpallorofcomplexionandlinesofrecklessnessonthebrowandcheek，indicatedtoHerbertthatthemanbeforehimwasoneofthatdesperateandsuspectedclass——someofwhoseproscribedmembershehadbeenhunting——theprofessionalgambler！
PossiblythemagnetismofHerbert’sintentandastonishedgazeaffectedhim。Hemovedslightly，halfopenedhiseyes，said\"Halloo，Tap，\"rubbedthemagain，whollyopenedthem，fixedthemwithalazystareonHerbert，andsaid：
\"Now，whothedevilareyou？\"
\"IthinkIhavetherighttoaskthatquestion，consideringthatthisismyroom，\"saidHerbertsharply。
\"YOURroom？\"
\"Yes！\"
Thestrangerhalfraisedhimselfonhiselbow，glancedroundtheroom，settledhimselfslowlybackonthepillows，withhishandsclaspedlightlybehindhishead，droppedhiseyelids，smiled，andsaid：
\"Rats！\"
\"What？\"demandedHerbert，witharesentfulsenseofsacrilegetoCherry’svirginslang。
\"Well，oldratsthen！D’yethinkIdon’tknowthisshebang？Lookhere，Johnny，whatareyouputtingonallthissidefor，eh？
What’syourlittlegame？Where’sTappington？\"
\"IfyoumeanMr。Brooks，thesonofthishouse，whoformerlylivedinthisroom，\"repliedHerbert，withaformalprecisionintendedtoshowadoubtofthestranger’sknowledgeofTappington，\"yououghttoknowthathehaslefttown。\"
\"Lefttown！\"echoedthestranger，raisinghimselfagain。\"Oh，I
see！gettingrathertoowarmforhimhere？Humph！Ioughttohavethoughtofthat。Well，youknow，heDIDtakemightybigrisks，anyway！\"Hewassilentamoment，withhisbrowsknitandaratherdangerousexpressioninhishandsomeface。\"Sosomed——dhoundgavehimaway——eh？\"
\"Ihadn’tthepleasureofknowingMr。Brooksexceptbyreputation，astherespectedsonoftheladyuponwhosehouseyouhavejustintruded，\"saidHerbertfrigidly，yetwithacreepingconsciousnessofsomeunpleasantrevelation。
Thestrangerstaredathimforamoment，againlookedcarefullyroundtheroom，andthensuddenlydroppedhisheadbackonthepillow，andwithhiswhitehandsoverhiseyesandmouthtriedtorestrainaspasmofsilentlaughter。Afteranefforthesucceeded，wipedhismoisteyes，andsatup。
\"Soyoudidn’tknowTappington，eh？\"hesaid，lazilybuttoninghiscollar。
\"No。\"
\"NomoredoI。\"
Heretiedhiscravat，yawned，rose，shookhimselfperfectlyneatagain，andgoingtoHerbert’sdressing—tablequietlytookupabrushandbegantolightlybrushhimself，occasionallyturningtothewindowtoglanceout。PresentlyheturnedtoHerbertandsaid：
\"Well，Johnny，what’syourname？\"
\"IamHerbertBly，ofCarstone’sBank。\"
\"So，andamemberofthissameVigilanceCommittee，Ireckon，\"hecontinued。
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，Mr。Bly，Ioweyouanapologyforcominghere，andsomethanksfortheonlysleepI’vehadinforty—eighthours。Istruckthisoldshebangataboutteno’clock，andit’snowtwo，soI
reckonI’veputinaboutfourhours’squaresleep。Now，lookhere。\"HebeckonedHerberttowardsthewindow。\"Doyouseethosethreemenstandingunderthatgaslight？Well，they’repartofagangofVigilanteswho’vehuntedmetothehill，andarewaitingtoseemecomeoutofthebushes，wheretheyreckonI’mhiding。GotothemandsaythatI’mhere！Tellthemyou’vegotGentlemanGeorge——
GeorgeDornton，themanthey’vebeenhuntingforaweek——inthisroom。IpromiseyouIwon’tstir，norkickuparow，whenthey’vecome。Doit，andCarstone，ifhe’sasquareman，willraiseyoursalaryforit，andpromoteyou。\"Heyawnedslightly，andthenslowlylookingaroundhim，drewtheeasy—chairtowardshimanddroppedcomfortablyinit，gazingattheastoundedandmotionlessHerbertwithalazysmile。
\"You’rewonderingwhatmylittlegameis，Johnny，ain’tyou？Well，I’lltellyou。Whatwithbeinghuntedfrompillartopost，puttingmyoldpardstonoendoftrouble，andthenslippinguponitwheneverIthinkI’vegotasurethinglikethis，\"——hecastanalmostaffectionateglanceatthebed，——\"I’vecometotheconclusionthatit’splayedout，andImightaswellhandinmychecks。It’sonlyaquestionofmybeingRUNOUTof’Frisco，orhidinguntilIcanSLIPOUTmyself;andI’vereckonedImightaswellgivethemthetroubleandexpenseoftransportation。AndifI
canputagoodthinginyourwayindoingit——why，itwillsortofmakethingssquarewithyouforthefussI’vegivenyou。\"
EveninthestupefactionandhelplessnessofknowingthatthemanbeforehimwasthenotoriousduellistandgamblerGeorgeDornton，oneofthefirstmarkedfordeportationbytheVigilanceCommittee，Herbertrecognizedallhehadheardofhisinvinciblecoolness，courage，andalmostphilosophicfatalism。Foraninstanthisyouthfulimaginationcheckedevenhisindignation。Whenherecoveredhimself，hesaid，withrisingcolorandboyishvehemence：
\"WhoeverYOUmaybe，Iamneitherapoliceofficernoraspy。YouhavenorighttoinsultmebysupposingthatIwouldprofitbythemistakethatmadeyoumyguest，orthatIwouldrefuseyouthesanctuaryoftheroofthatcoversyourinsultaswellasyourblunder。\"
Thestrangergazedathimwithanamusedexpression，andthenroseandstretchedouthishand。
\"Shake，Mr。Bly！You’retheonlymanthateverkickedGeorgeDorntonwhenhedeservedit。Good—night！\"Hetookhishatandwalkedtothedoor。
\"Stop！\"saidHerbertimpulsively;\"thenightisalreadyfargone;
gobackandfinishyoursleep。\"
\"Youmeanit？\"
\"Ido。\"
Thestrangerturned，walkedbacktothebed，unfasteninghiscoatandcollarashedidso，andlaidhimselfdownintheattitudeofamomentbefore。
\"Iwillcallyouinthemorning，\"continuedHerbert。\"Bythattime，\"——hehesitated，——\"bythattimeyourpursuersmayhavegivenuptheirsearch。Onewordmore。Youwillbefrankwithme？\"
\"Goon。\"
\"Tappingtonandyouare——friends？\"
\"Well——yes。\"
\"Hismotherandsisterknownothingofthis？\"
\"Ireckonhedidn’tboastofit。Ididn’t。Isthatall？\"
sleepily。
\"Yes。\"
\"Don’tYOUworryaboutHIM。Good—night。\"
\"Good—night。\"
ButevenatthatmomentGeorgeDorntonhaddroppedoffinaquiet，peacefulsleep。
Blyturneddownthelight，and，drawinghiseasy—chairtothewindow，droppedintoitinbewilderingreflection。Thisthenwasthesecret——unknowntomotheranddaughter——unsuspectedbyall！
ThiswasthedoublelifeofTappington，halfrevealedinhisflirtationwiththeneighbors，inthehiddencardsbehindthebooks，inthemysteriousvisitor——stillunaccountedfor——andnowwhollyexplodedbythissleepingconfederate，forwhom，somehow，Herbertfeltthegreatestsympathy！Whatwastobedone？WhatshouldhesaytoCherry——tohermother——toMr。Carstone？Yethehadfelthehaddoneright。Fromtimetotimeheturnedtothemotionlessrecumbentshadowonthebedandlistenedtoitsslowandpeacefulrespiration。Apartfromthatundefinableattractionwhichalloriginalnatureshaveforeachother，thethrice—blessedmysteryofprotectionofthehelpless，forthefirsttimeinhislife，seemedtodawnuponhimthroughthatnight。
Nevertheless，theactualdawncameslowly。Twicehenoddedandawokequicklywithastart。Thethirdtimeitwasday。Thestreet—lampswereextinguished，andwiththemthemoving，restlesswatchersseemedalsotohavevanished。Suddenlyaformaldeliberaterappingatthedoorleadingtothehallstartledhimtohisfeet。
ItmustbeEllen。Somuchthebetter;hecouldquicklygetridofher。Heglancedatthebed;Dorntonsleptonundisturbed。Heunlockedthedoorcautiously，andinstinctivelyfellbackbeforetheerect，shawled，anddecorousfigureofMrs。Brooks。Butanutterlynewresolutionandexcitementhadsupplantedthehabitualresignationofherhandsomefeatures，andgiventhemanangrysparkleofexpression。
Recollectinghimself，heinstantlysteppedforwardintothepassage，drawingtothedoorbehindhim，asshe，withequalcelerity，opposeditwithherhand。
\"Mr。Bly，\"shesaiddeliberately，\"Ellenhasjusttoldmethatyourvoicehasbeenheardinconversationwithsomeoneinthisroomlatelastnight。UptothismomentIhavefoolishlyallowedmydaughtertopersuademethatcertaininfamousscandalsregardingyourconductherewerefalse。Imustaskyouasagentlemantoletmepassnowandsatisfymyself。\"
\"But，mydearmadam，onemoment。Letmefirstexplain——Ibeg\"——
stammeredHerbertwithahalf—hystericallaugh。\"Iassureyouagentlemanfriend\"——
Butshehadpushedhimasideandenteredprecipitately。Withaquickfeminineglanceroundtheroomsheturnedtothebed，andthenhaltedinoverwhelmingconfusion。
\"It’safriend，\"saidHerbertinahastywhisper。\"Afriendofminewhoreturnedwithmelate，andwhom，onaccountofthedisturbedstateofthestreets，Iinducedtostayhereallnight。
HewassotiredthatIhavenothadthehearttodisturbhimyet。\"
\"Oh，praydon’t！——Ibeg\"——saidMrs。Brookswithacertainyouthfulvivacity，butstillgazingatthestranger’shandsomefeaturesassheslowlyretreated。\"Notforworlds！\"
Herbertwasrelieved;shewasactuallyblushing。
\"Yousee，itwasquiteunpremeditated，Iassureyou。Wecameintogether，\"whisperedHerbert，leadinghertothedoor，\"andI\"——
\"Don’tbelieveawordofit，madam，\"saidalazyvoicefromthebed，asthestrangerleisurelyraisedhimselfupright，puttingthelastfinishingtouchtohiscravatasheshookhimselfneatagain。
\"I’manutterstrangertohim，andheknowsit。Hefoundmehere，bidingfromtheVigilantes，whowerechasingmeonthehill。Igotinatthatdoor，whichhappenedtobeunlocked。Heletmestaybecausehewasagentleman——and——Iwasn’t。Ibegyourpardon，madam，forhavinginterruptedhimbeforeyou;butitwasalittleroughtohavehimlieonMYaccountwhenhewasn’tthekindofmantolieonhisOWN。You’llforgivehim——won’tyou，please？——and，asI’mtakingmyselfoffnow，perhapsyou’lloverlookMYintrusiontoo。\"
Itwasimpossibletoconveythelazyfranknessofthisspeech，thecharmingsmilewithwhichitwasaccompanied，ortheeasyyetdeferentialmannerwithwhich，takinguphishat，hebowedtoMrs。
Brooksasheadvancedtowardthedoor。
\"But，\"saidMrs。Brooks，hurriedlyglancingfromHerberttothestranger，\"itmustbetheVigilanteswhoarenowhangingaboutthestreet。Ellensawthemfromherwindow，andthoughttheywereYOUR
friends，Mr。Bly。Thisgentleman——yourfriend\"——shehadbecomealittleconfusedinhernovelexcitement——\"reallyoughtnottogooutnow。Itwouldbemadness。\"
\"Ifyouwouldn’tmindhisremainingalittlelonger，itcertainlywouldbesafer，\"saidHerbert，withwonderinggratitude。
\"Icertainlyshouldn’tconsenttohisleavingmyhousenow，\"saidMrs。Brookswithdignity;\"andifyouwouldn’tmindcallingCherryhere，Mr。Bly——she’sinthedining—room——andthenshowingyourselfforamomentinthestreetandfindingoutwhattheywanted，itwouldbethebestthingtodo。\"
Herbertflewdownstairs;inafewhurriedwordshegavethesameexplanationtotheastoundedCherrythathehadgiventohermother，withthemischievousadditionthatMrs。Brooks’sunjustsuspicionshadprecipitatedherintobecominganamicableaccomplice，andthenranoutintothestreet。HereheascertainedfromoneoftheVigilantes，whomheknew，thattheywerereallyseekingDornton;butthat，concludingthatthefugitivehadalreadyescapedtothewharves，theyexpectedtowithdrawtheirsurveillanceatnoon。Somewhatrelieved，hehastenedback，tofindthestrangercalmlyseatedonthesofaintheparlorwiththesameairoffrankindifference，lazilyrelatingtheincidentsofhisflighttothetwowomen，whowerelisteningwitheveryexpressionofsympathyandinterest。\"Poorfellow！\"saidCherry，takingtheastonishedBlyasideintothehall，\"Idon’tbelievehe’shalfasbadasTHEYsaidheis——orasevenHEmakeshimselfouttobe。ButDIDyounoticemother？\"
Herbert，alittledazed，and，itmustbeconfessed，atrifleuneasyatthisreadyacceptanceofthestranger，abstractedlysaidhehadnot。
\"Why，it’sthemostridiculousthing。She’sactuallygoingroundWITHOUTHERSHAWL，anddoesn’tseemtoknowit。\"
V。
WhenHerbertfinallyreachedthebankthatmorninghewasstillinastateofdoubtandperplexity。Hehadpartedwithhisgratefulvisitor，whosesafetyinafewhoursseemedassured，butwithouttheleastfurtherrevelationoractualallusiontoanythingantecedenttohisselectingTappington’sroomasrefuge。Morethanthat，HerbertwasconvincedfromhismannerthathehadnointentionofmakingaconfidantofMrs。Brooks，andthisconvincedhimthatDornton’spreviousrelationswithTappingtonwerenotonlyutterlyinconsistentwiththatyoungman’sdecorousreputation，butwereunsuspectedbythefamily。Thestranger’sfamiliarknowledgeoftheroom，hismysteriousallusionstothe\"risks\"Tappingtonhadtaken，andhissuddensilenceonthediscoveryofBly’signoranceofthewholeaffairallpointedtosomesecretthat，innocentornot，wasmoreorlessperilous，notonlytothesonbuttothemotherandsister。Ofthelatter’signorancehehadnodoubt——buthadheanyrighttoenlightenthem？AdmittingthatTappingtonhaddeceivedthemwiththeothers，wouldtheythankhimforopeningtheireyestoit？Iftheyhadalreadyasuspicion，wouldtheycaretoknowthatitwassharedbyhim？Haltingbetweenhisfranknessandhisdelicacy，thefinalthoughtthatinhisbuddingrelationswiththedaughteritmightseemacruelbidforherconfidence，orarevengefortheirdistrustofhim，inclinedhimtosilence。Butanunforeseenoccurrencetookthematterfromhishands。AtnoonhewastoldthatMr。Carstonewishedtoseehiminhisprivateroom！
SatisfiedthathiscomplicitywithDornton’sescapewasdiscovered，theunfortunateHerbertpresentedhimself，palebutself—possessed，beforehisemployer。Thatbriefmanofbusinessbadehimbeseated，andstandinghimselfbeforethefireplace，lookeddowncuriously，butnotunkindly，uponhisemployee。
\"Mr。Bly，thebankdoesnotusuallyinterferewiththeprivateaffairsofitsemployees，butforcertainreasonswhichIprefertoexplaintoyoulater，Imustaskyoutogivemeastraightforwardanswertooneortwoquestions。Imaysaythattheyhavenothingtodowithyourrelationstothebank，whicharetousperfectlysatisfactory。\"
MorethaneverconvincedthatMr。Carstonewasabouttospeakofhisvisitor，Herbertsignifiedhiswillingnesstoreply。
\"YouhavebeenseenagreatdealwithMissBrookslately——onthestreetandelsewhere——actingasherescort，andevidentlyontermsofintimacy。Todoyoubothjustice，neitherofyouseemedtohavemadeitasecretoravoidedobservation;butImustaskyoudirectlyifitiswithhermother’spermission？\"
Considerablyrelieved，butwonderingwhatwascoming，Herbertanswered，withboyishfrankness，thatitwas。
\"Areyou——engagedtotheyounglady？\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"Areyou——well，Mr。Bly——briefly，areyouwhatiscalled’inlove’
withher？\"askedthebanker，withacertainbrusquehurryingoverofasentimentevidentlyincompatiblewiththeirpresentbusinesssurroundings。
Herbertblushed。Itwasthefirsttimehehadheardthequestionvoiced，evenbyhimself。
\"Iam，\"hesaidresolutely。
\"Andyouwishtomarryher？\"
\"IfIdaredaskhertoacceptayoungmanwithnopositionasyet，\"
stammeredHerbert。
\"Peopledon’tusuallyconsiderayoungmaninCarstone’sBankofnoposition，\"saidthebankerdryly;\"andIwishforyoursakeTHAT
weretheonlyimpediment。ForIamcompelledtorevealtoyouasecret。\"Hepaused，andfoldinghisarms，lookedfixedlydownuponhisclerk。\"Mr。Bly，TappingtonBrooks，thebrotherofyoursweetheart，wasadefaulterandembezzlerfromthisbank！\"
Herbertsatdumfoundedandmotionless。
\"Understandtwothings，\"continuedMr。Carstonequickly。\"First，thatnopurerorbetterwomenexistthanMissBrooksandhermother。Secondly，thattheyknownothingofthis，andthatonlymyselfandoneothermanareinpossessionofthesecret。\"
Heslightlychangedhisposition，andwentonmoredeliberately。
\"SixweeksagoTappingtonsatinthatchairwhereyouaresittingnow，aconvictedhypocriteandthief。Luckilyforhim，althoughhisguiltwasplain，andthewholesecretofhisdoubleliferevealedtome，asumofmoneyadvancedinpitybyoneofhisgamblingconfederateshadmadehisaccountsgoodandsavedhimfromsuspicionintheeyesofhisfellow—clerksandmypartners。Atfirsthetriedtofightmeonthatpoint;thenheblusteredandsaidhismothercouldhaverefundedthemoney;andaskedmewhatwasapaltryfivethousanddollars！Itoldhim，Mr。Bly，thatitmightbefiveyearsofhisyouthinstateprison;thatitmightbefiveyearsofsorrowandshameforhismotherandsister;thatitmightbeaneverlastingstainonthenameofhisdeadfather——myfriend。Hetalkedofkillinghimself：Itoldhimhewasacowardlyfool。Heaskedmetogivehimuptotheauthorities：ItoldhimI
intendedtotakethelawinmyownhandsandgivehimanotherchance;andthenhebrokedown。Itransferredhimthatveryday，withoutgivinghimtimetocommunicatewithanybody，toourbranchofficeatPortland，withaletterexplaininghispositiontoouragent，andtheinjunctionthatforsixmonthsheshouldbeunderstrictsurveillance。ImyselfundertooktoexplainhissuddendeparturetoMrs。Brooks，andobligedhimtowritetoherfromtimetotime。\"Hepaused，andthencontinued：\"SofarIbelievemyplanhasbeensuccessful：thesecrethasbeenkept;hehasbrokenwiththeevilassociatesthatruinedhimhere——tothebestofmyknowledgehehashadnocommunicationwiththemsince;evenacertainwomanherewhosharedhisvicioushiddenlifehasabandonedhim。\"
\"Areyousure？\"askedHerbertinvoluntarily，asherecalledhismysteriousvisitor。
\"IbelievetheVigilanceCommitteehasconsidereditapublicdutytodeportherandherconfederatesbeyondtheState，\"returnedCarstonedryly。
AnotherideaflasheduponHerbert。\"AndthegamblerwhoadvancedthemoneytosaveTappington？\"hesaidbreathlessly。
\"Wasn’tsuchahoundastherestofhiskind，ifreportsaystrue，\"
answeredCarstone。\"HewaswellknownhereasGeorgeDornton——
GentlemanGeorge——amancapableofbetterthings。Buthewasbeforeyourtime，Mr。Bly——YOUdon’tknowhim。\"
Herbertdidn’tdeemitafelicitousmomenttocorrecthisemployer，andMr。Carstonecontinued：\"IhavenowtoldyouwhatIthoughtitwasmydutytotellyou。ImustleaveYOUtojudgehowfaritaffectsyourrelationswithMissBrooks。\"
Herbertdidnothesitate。\"Ishouldbeverysorry，sir，toseemtoundervalueyourconsiderationordisregardyourwarning;butIamafraidthatevenifyouhadbeenlessmercifultoTappington，andhewerenowaconvictedfelon，Ishouldchangeneithermyfeelingsnormyintentionstohissister。\"
\"Andyouwouldstillmarryher？\"saidCarstonesternly;\"YOU，anemployeeofthebank，wouldsettheexampleofallyingyourselfwithonewhohadrobbedit？\"
\"I——amafraidIwould，sir，\"saidHerbertslowly。
\"Evenifitwereaquestionofyourremaininghere？\"saidCarstonegrimly。
PoorHerbertalreadysawhimselfdismissedandagaintakinguphiswearyquestforemployment;but，nevertheless，heansweredstoutly：
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"AndnothingwillpreventyoumarryingMissBrooks？\"
\"Nothing——savemyinabilitytosupporther。\"
\"Then，\"saidMr。Carstone，withapeculiarlightinhiseyes，\"itonlyremainsforthebanktomarkitsopinionofyourconductbyINCREASINGYOURSALARYTOENABLEYOUTODOSO！Shakehands，Mr。
Bly，\"hesaid，laughing。\"Ithinkyou’lldototieto——andI
believetheyoungladywillbeofthesameopinion。Butnotawordtoeitherherorhermotherinregardtowhatyouhaveheard。AndnowImaytellyousomethingmore。IamnotwithouthopeofTappington’sfuture，nor——d——nit！——withoutsomeexcuseforhisfault，sir。Hewasartificiallybroughtup。Whenmyoldfrienddied，Mrs。Brooks，stillahandsomewoman，likeallhersexwouldn’trestuntilshehadanotherdevotion，andwrappedherselfandherchildrenupintheChurch。Theologymaybeallrightforgrownpeople，butit’sapttomakechildrenartificial;andTappingtonwaspiousbeforehewasfairlygood。Hedrewonareligiouscreditbeforehehadamoralcapitalbehindit。Hewasbroughtupwithnoknowledgeoftheworld，andwhenhewentintoit——itcapturedhim。Idon’tsaytherearenotsaintsbornintotheworldoccasionally;butforeveryoneyou’llfindalotofpromiscuoushumannature。MyoldfriendJoshBrookshadaheapofit，anditwouldn’tbestrangeifsomewasleftinhischildren，andburstthroughtheirstraight—lacinginaqueerway。That’sall！Good—morning，Mr。Bly。ForgetwhatI’vetoldyouforsixmonths，andthenIshouldn’twonderifTappingtonwasonhandtogivehissisteraway。
