Harkuttremainedforamomentwithhisfacepressedagainsttheglass.Afteranintervalhethoughtheheardthefaintsplashofhoofsintheshallowsoftheroad;heopenedthedoorsoftlyandlookedout.
Thelighthaddisappearedfromthenearesthouse;onlyanuncertainbulkofshapelessshadowsremained.Otherremoterandmorevagueoutlinesnearthehorizonseemedtohaveafunerealsuggestionoftombsandgravemounds,andone——alowshedneartheroad——lookednotunlikeahaltedbier.Hehurriedlyputuptheshuttersinamomentarylullingofthewind,andre-enteringthestorebegantofastenthemfromwithin.
Whilethusengagedaninnerdoorbehindthecounteropenedsoftlyandcautiously,projectingabrighterlightintothedesertedapartmentfromsomesacreddomesticinteriorwiththewarmandwholesomeincenseofcooking.Itservedtointroducealsotheequallyagreeablepresenceofayounggirl,who,afterassuringherselfoftheabsenceofeveryonebuttheproprietor,idlyslippedintothestore,andplacingherroundedelbows,fromwhichhersleeveswereuprolled,uponthecounter,leanedlazilyuponthem,withbothhandssupportingherdimpledchin,andgazedindolentlyathim;soindolentlythat,withherprettyfaceoncefixedinthiscomfortableattitude,shewasconstrainedtofollowhismovementswithhereyesalone,andoftenatanuncomfortableangle.ItwasevidentthatsheofferedthefinalbutcharmingillustrationoftheenfeeblinglistlessnessofSidon.
\"Sothoseloafershavegoneatlast,\"shesaid,meditatively.
\"They\'lltakerootheresomeday,pop.Theideaofthreestrongmenlikethatlazingroundfortwomortalhoursdoin\'nothin\'.
Well!\"Asiftoemphasizeherdisgustshethrewherwholeweightuponthecounterbyswingingherfeetfromthefloortotouchtheshelvesbehindher.
Mr.Harkuttonlyrepliedbyaslightgruntashecontinuedtoscrewontheshutters.
\"Wantmetohelpyou,dad?\"shesaid,withoutmoving.
Mr.Harkuttmutteredsomethingunintelligible,which,however,seemedtoimplyanegative,andherattentionherefeeblywanderedtotherollofpaper,andshebeganslowlyandlazilytoreaditaloud.
\"\'Forvaluereceived,Iherebysell,assign,andtransfertoDanielD.Harkuttallmyright,titlesandinterestin,andtotheundividedhalfof,QuarterSection4,Range5,TasajaraTownship\'——
hum——hum,\"shemurmured,runninghereyestothebottomofthepage.\"Why,Lord!It\'sthat\'LigeCurtis!\"shelaughed.\"TheideaofHIMhavingproperty!Why,dad,youain\'tbeenTHATsilly!\"
\"Putdownthatpaper,miss,\"hesaid,aggrievedly;\"bringthecandlehere,andhelpmetofindoneoftheseinfernalscrewsthat\'sdropped.\"
ThegirlindolentlydisengagedherselffromthecounterandElijahCurtis\'stransfer,andbroughtthecandletoherfather.Thescrewwaspresentlyfoundandthelastfasteningsecured.\"Suppergettin\'cold,dad,\"shesaid,withaslightyawn.Herfathersympatheticallyrespondedbystretchinghimselffromhisstoopingposition,andthetwopassedthroughtheprivatedoorintoinnerdomesticity,leavingthealreadyforgottenpaperlyingwithotherarticlesofbarteronthecounter.
CHAPTERII.
Withtheclosingofthelittledoorbehindthemtheyseemedtohaveshutouttheturmoilandvibrationofthestorm.Thereasonbecameapparentwhen,afterafewpaces,theydescendedhalfadozenstepstoalowerlanding.ThisdisclosedthefactthatthedwellingpartoftheSidonGeneralStorewasquitebelowtheleveloftheshopandtheroad,andontheslopeofthesolitaryundulationoftheTasajaraplain,——alittleravinethatfellawaytoabrawlingstreambelow.TheonlyarboreousgrowthofTasajaraclotheditsbanksintheshapeofwillowsandaldersthatsetcompactlyaroundthequaint,irregulardwellingwhichstraggleddowntheravineandlookeduponaslopeofbrackenandfoliageoneitherside.Thetransitionfromtheblack,treeless,storm-sweptplaintothissheltereddeclivitywasstrikingandsuggestive.Fromtheoppositebankonemightfancythattheyouthfulandoriginaldwellinghadambitiouslymountedthecrest,but,appalledatthedrearyprospectbeyond,hadgonenofurther;whilefromtheroaditseemedasifthefastidiousproprietorhadtriedtodrawalinebetweenthevulgartrading-post,withwhichhewasobligedtofacethecoarsercivilizationoftheplace,andtheprivacyofhisdomesticlife.
Therealfact,however,wasthattheravinefurnishedwoodandwater;andasNaturealsoprovidedonewallofthehouse,——asinthewell-knownexampleofaboriginalcavedwellings,——itspeculiarconstructioncommendeditselftoSidononthegroundofinvolvinglittlelabor.
Howbeit,fromthetwoopenwindowsofthesitting-roomwhichtheyhadenteredonlythefaintpatteringofdrippingboughsandaslightmurmurfromtheswollenbrookindicatedthestormthatshooktheupperplain,andthecoolbreathoflaurel,syringa,andalderwaswaftedthroughtheneatapartment.Passingthroughthatpleasantruralatmospheretheyenteredthekitchen,amuchlargerroom,whichappearedtoserveoccasionallyasadining-room,andwheresupperwasalreadylaidout.Astout,comfortable-lookingwoman——whohad,however,asingularlypermanentexpressionofpainedsympathyuponherface——welcomedthemintonesofgentlecommiseration.
\"Ah,thereyoube,youtwo!Nowsityerightdown,dears;DO.Youmustbetiredout;andyou,Phemie,love,drawupbyyourpoorfather.There——that\'sright.You\'llbebettersoon.\"
Therewascertainlynovisiblesignofsufferingorexhaustiononthepartofeitherfatherordaughter,northeslightestapparentearthlyreasonwhytheyshouldbeexpectedtoexhibitany.But,asalreadyintimated,itwaspartofMrs.Harkutt\'sgenerousidiosyncrasytolookuponallhumanityassufferingandtoiling;tobepetted,humored,condoledwith,andfed.Ithad,inthecourseofyears,impartedasingularlycaressingsadnesstohervoice,andgivenherthehabitofendinghersentenceswithamelancholycooingandanunintelligiblemurmurofagreement.Itwasundoubtedlysincereandsympathetic,butattimesinappropriateanddistressing.
IthadlostherthefriendshipoftheonehumoristofTasajara,whosebestjokesshehadreceivedwithsuchheartfeltcommiserationandsuchpainedappreciationoftheevidentlaborinvolvedastoreducehimtosilence.
AccustomedasMr.Harkuttwastohiswife\'speculiarity,hewasnotaboveassumingacertainslightlyfatiguedattitudebefittingit.
\"Yes,\"hesaid,withavaguesigh,\"where\'sClemmie?\"
\"Lyin\'downsincedinner;shereckonedshewouldn\'tgetuptosupper,\"shereturnedsoothingly.\"Phemie\'sgoin\'totakeherupsomesassandtea.Thepoordearchildwantsachange.\"
\"Shewantstogoto\'Frisco,andsodoI,pop,\"saidPhemie,leaningherelbowhalfoverherfather\'splate.\"Come,pop,saydo,——justforaweek.\"
\"Onlyforaweek,\"murmuredthecommiseratingMrs.Harkutt.
\"Perhaps,\"respondedHarkutt,withgloomysarcasm,\"yewouldn\'tmindtellin\'mehowyou\'regoin\'togetthere,andwherethemoney\'scomin\'fromtotakeyou?There\'snoteamin\'overTasajaratilltherainstops,andnomoneycomin\'intilltheranchmencanmovetheirstuff.Thereain\'tahundreddollarsinallTasajara;
atleastthereain\'tbeenthefirstredcentofitpaidacrossmycounterforafortnit!Perhapsifyoudogoyouwouldn\'tmindtakin\'meandthestorealongwithye,andleavin\'usthere.\"
\"Yes,dear,\"saidMrs.Harkutt,withsympatheticbutshamelesstergiversation.\"Don\'tbotheryourpoorfather,Phemie,love;
don\'tyouseehe\'sjusttiredout?Andyou\'renoteatin\'anything,dad.\"
AsMr.Harkuttwasuneasilyconsciousthathehadbeeneatingheartilyinspiteofhisfinancialdifficulties,heturnedthesubjectabruptly.\"Where\'sJohnMilton?\"
Mrs.Harkuttshadedhereyeswithherhand,andgazedmeditativelyonthefloorbeforethefireandinthechimneycornerforheronlyson,baptizedunderthathistorictitle.\"Hewashereaminitago,\"shesaiddoubtfully.\"Ireallycan\'tthinkwherehe\'sgone.
But,\"assuringly,\"itain\'tfar.\"
\"He\'sskippedwithoneo\'thosestory-bookshe\'sborrowed,\"saidPhemie.\"He\'salwaysdoin\'it.Likeasnothe\'sreadingwithacandleinthewood-shed.We\'llallbeburntupsomenight.\"
\"Buthe\'sgotthroughhischores,\"interposedMrs.Harkuttdeprecatingly.
\"Yes,\"continuedHarkutt,aggrievedly,\"butinsteadofgoin\'tobed,oraddin\'upbills,ortakin\'counto\'stock,orevendoin\'
sumsorsuthin\'useful,he\'sruinin\'hiseyesandwastin\'histimeovertrash.\"Heroseandwalkedslowlyintothesitting-room,followedbyhisdaughterandamurmurofcommiserationfromhiswife.ButMrs.Harkutt\'sministrationforthepresentdidnotpassbeyondherdomain,thekitchen.
\"Ireckonyeain\'texpectin\'anybodytonight,Phemie?\"saidMr.
Harkutt,sinkingintoachair,andplacinghisslipperedfeetagainstthewall.
\"No,\"saidPhemie,\"unlesssomethingpossessesthatsappylittleParmleetomakeoneofhisvisitations.JohnMiltonsaysthatoutontheroaditblowssoyoucan\'tstandup.It\'sjustlikethatidiotParmleetobeblowninhere,andnothavestrengthofmindenoughtogetawayagain.\"
Mr.Harkuttsmiled.Itwasthatarchyetapproving,severeyetsatisfiedsmilewithwhichthedeceivedmaleparentusuallyreceivesanydepreciationoftheordinaryyoungmanbyhisdaughters.Euphemiawasnogiddythingtobecarriedawaybyyoungmen\'sattentions,——notshe!Sittingbackcomfortablyinhisrocking-chair,hesaid,\"Playsomething.\"
Theyounggirlwenttotheclosetandtookfromthetopshelfanexcessivelyornamentedaccordion,——theopulentgiftofarecklessadmirer.Itwassoinordinatelydecorated,sogorgeousintheblazeofpapiermache,mother-of-pearl,andtortoise-shellonkeysandkeyboard,andsoostentatiouslyradiantinthepinksilkofitsbellowsthatitseemedtooverawetheplainlyfurnishedroomwithitssplendors.\"Yououghttokeepitonthetableinaglassvase,Phemie,\"saidherfatheradmiringly.
\"AndhaveHIMthinkIworshipedit!Notme,indeed!He\'sconceitedenoughalready,\"shereturned,saucily.
Mr.Harkuttagainsmiledhisapprobation,thendeliberatelyclosedhiseyesandthrewhisheadbackincomfortableanticipationofthecomingstrains.
Itistoberegrettedthatinbrilliancy,finish,andevencheerfulnessofqualitytheywerenotuptothesuggestionsofthekeysandkeyboard.Themostdiscreetandcautiouseffortonthepartoftheyoungperformerseemedonlytoproducestartlinglyunexpected,butinstantlysuppressedcomplaintsfromtheinstrument,accompaniedbyimpatientinterjectionsof\"No,no,\"
fromthegirlherself.Nevertheless,withherprettyeyebrowsknittedinsomecharmingdistressofmemory,herlittlemouthhalfopenbetweenanapologeticsmileandtheexertionofworkingthebellows,withherwhite,roundedarmspartlyliftedupandwavingbeforeher,shewaspleasantlydistractingtotheeye.Gradually,asthescatteredstrainsweremarshaledintosomethinglikeanair,shebegantosingalso,glossingovertheinstrumentalweaknesses,fillingincertaindroppednotesandomissions,andotherwiseassistingtheineffectualaccordionwithayouthfulbutnotunmusicalvoice.Thesongwasalugubriousreligiouschant;underitsinfluencethehouseseemedtosinkintogreaterquiet,permittingintheintervalsthemurmuroftheswollencreektoappearmoredistinct,andeventhefarmoaningofthewindontheplaintobecomefaintlyaudible.Atlast,havingfairlymasteredtheinstrument,Phemiegotintothefullswingofthechant.
Unconstrainedbyanycriticism,carriedawaybythesoundofherownvoice,andperhapsayouthfulloveformereuproar,orpossiblydesiroustodrownherfather\'svoice,whichhadunexpectedlyjoinedinwithadiscomposingbass,theconjoinedutterancesseemedtothreatenthefrailstructureoftheirdwelling,evenasthegalehaddistendedthestorebehindthem.Whentheyceasedatlastitwasinanaccessionofdrippingfromtheapparentlystirredleavesoutside.Andthenavoice,evidentlyfromthemoistdepthsoftheabyssbelow,calledout,——
\"Hullo,there!\"
Phemieputdowntheaccordion,said,\"Who\'sthatnow?\"wenttothewindow,lazilyleanedherelbowsonthesill,andpeeredintothedarkness.Nothingwastobeseen;theopenspaceofdimlyoutlinedlandscapehadthatblank,uncommunicativeimpenetrabilitywithwhichNaturealwaysconfrontsandsurprisesusatsuchmoments.ItseemedtoPhemiethatshewastheonlyhumanbeingpresent.Yetafterthefeelinghadpassedshefanciedsheheardthewashofthecurrentagainstsomeobjectinthestream,halfstationaryandhalfresisting.
\"Isanyonedownthere?Isthatyou,Mr.Parmlee?\"shecalled.
Therewasapause.Someinvisibleauditorsaidtoanother,\"It\'sayounglady.\"Thenthefirstvoiceroseagaininamoredeferentialtone:\"AreweanywherenearSidon?\"
\"ThisisSidon,\"answeredHarkutt,whohadrisen,andwasnowquiteobliteratinghisdaughter\'soutlineatthewindow.
\"Thankyou,\"saidthevoice.\"Canwelandanywherehere,onthisbank?\"
\"Rundown,pop;they\'restrangers,\"saidthegirl,withexcited,almostchildisheagerness.
\"Holdon,\"calledoutHarkutt,\"I\'llbetharinamoment!\"Hehastilythrusthisfeetintoapairofhugeboots,clappedonanoilskinhatandwaterproof,anddisappearedthroughadoorthatledtoalowerstaircase.Phemie,stillatthewindow,albeitwithanewlyaddedsenseofself-consciousness,hungoutbreathlessly.
Presentlyabeamoflightfromthelowerdepthsofthehouseshotoutintothedarkness.Itwasherfatherwithabull\'s-eyelantern.Ashehelditupandclamberedcautiouslydownthebank,itsraysfellupontheturbidrushingstream,andwhatappearedtobearoughraftoflogsheldwithdifficultyagainstthebankbytwomenwithlongpoles.Initscentrewasarollofblankets,avaliseandsaddle-bags,andtheshiningbrassesofsomeodd-lookinginstruments.
AsMr.Harkutt,supportinghimselfbyawillowbranchthatoverhungthecurrent,heldupthelantern,thetwomenrapidlytransferredtheirfreightfromtherafttothebank,andleapedashore.Theactiongaveanimpulsetotheraft,which,nolongerheldinpositionbythepoles,swungbroadsidetothecurrentandwasinstantlysweptintothedarkness.
Notawordhadbeenspoken,butnowthevoicesofthemenrosefreelytogether.Phemielistenedwithintenseexpectation.Theexplanationwassimple.TheyweresurveyorswhohadbeencaughtbytheoverflowonTasajaraplain,hadabandonedtheirhorsesonthebankofTasajaraCreek,andwithahastilyconstructedrafthadintrustedthemselvesandtheirinstrumentstothecurrent.\"But,\"
saidHarkuttquickly,\"thereisnoconnectionbetweenTasajaraCreekandthisstream.\"
Thetwomenlaughed.\"ThereisNOW,\"saidoneofthem.
\"ButTasajaraCreekisapartofthebay,\"saidtheastonishedHarkutt,\"andthisstreamrisesinlandandonlyrunsintothebayfourmileslowerdown.AndIdon\'tseehow——
\"You\'realmosttwelvefeetlowerherethanTasajaraCreek,\"saidthefirstman,withacertainprofessionalauthority,\"andthat\'sWHY.There\'smorewaterthanTasajaraCreekcancarry,andit\'sseekingthebaythisway.Look,\"hecontinued,takingthelanternfromHarkutt\'shandandcastingitsraysonthestream,\"that\'ssaltdriftfromtheupperbay,andpartofTasajaraCreek\'srunningbyyourhousenow!Don\'tbealarmed,\"headdedreassuringly,glancingatthestaringstorekeeper.\"You\'reallrighthere;thisisonlytheoverflowandwillfinditslevelsoon.\"
ButMr.Harkuttremainedgazingabstractedlyatthesmilingspeaker.FromthewindowabovetheimpatientPhemiewaswonderingwhyhekeptthestrangerswaitingintherainwhilehetalkedaboutthingsthatwereperfectlyplain.Itwassolikeaman!
\"Thenthere\'sawaterwaystraighttoTasajaraCreek?\"hesaidslowly.
\"Thereis,aslongasthisfloodlasts,\"returnedthefirstspeakerpromptly;\"andacuttingthroughthebankoftwoorthreehundredyardswouldmakeitpermanent.Well,what\'sthematterwiththat?\"
\"Nothin\',\"saidHarkutthurriedly.\"Iamonlyconsiderin\'!Butcomein,dryyourselves,andtakesuthin\'.\"
Thelightovertherushingwaterwaswithdrawn,andthewholeprospectsankbackintoprofounddarkness.Mr.Harkutthaddisappearedwithhisguests.Thentherewasthefamiliarshuffleofhisfeetonthestaircase,followedbyothermorecautiousfootstepsthatgrewdelicatelyandevencourteouslydeliberateastheyapproached.Atwhichtheyounggirl,insomenewsenseofdecorum,drewinherprettyhead,glancedaroundtheroomquickly,resetthetidyonherfather\'schair,placedtheresplendentaccordionlikeanornamentintheexactcentreofthetable,andthenvanishedintothehallasMr.Harkuttenteredwiththestrangers.
Theywerebothofthesameageandappearance,buttheprincipalspeakerwasevidentlythesuperiorofhiscompanion,andalthoughtheirattitudetoeachotherwasequalandfamiliar,itcouldbeeasilyseenthathewastheleader.Hehadasmooth,beardlessface,withacriticalexpressionofeyeandmouththatmighthavebeenfastidiousandsuperciliousbutforthekindly,humorousperceptionthattemperedit.Hisquickeyeswepttheapartmentandthenfixeditselfupontheaccordion,butasmilelituphisfaceashesaidquietly,——
\"Ihopewehaven\'tfrightenedthemusicianaway.Itwasbadenoughtohaveinterruptedtheyounglady.\"
\"No,no,\"saidMr.Harkutt,whoseemedtohavelosthisabstractioninthenervousnessofhospitality.\"Ireckonshe\'sonlylookin\'
afterhersicksister.Butcomeintothekitchen,bothofyou,straightoff,andwhileyou\'redryin\'yourclothes,mother\'llfixyousuthin\'hot.\"
\"Weonlyneedtochangeourbootsandstockings;we\'vesomedryonesinourpackdownstairs,\"saidthefirstspeakerhesitatingly.
\"I\'llfetch\'emupandyoucanchangeinthekitchen.Theoldwomanwon\'tmind,\"saidHarkuttreassuringly.\"Comealong.\"Heledthewaytothekitchen;thetwostrangersexchangedaglanceofhumorousperplexityandfollowed.
Thequietofthelittleroomwasoncemoreunbroken.Afar-offcommiseratingmurmurindicatedthatMrs.Harkuttwasreceivingherguests.Thecoolbreathofthewetleaveswithoutslightlystirredthewhitedimitycurtains,andsomewherefromthedarkenedeavestherewasastill,somnolentdrip.Presentlyahurriedwhisperandahalf-laughappearedtobesuppressedintheouterpassageorhall.Therewasanothermomentofhesitationandthedooropenedsuddenlyandostentatiously,disclosingPhemie,withatallerandslighteryoungwoman,hereldersister,atherside.Perceivingthattheroomwasempty,theybothsaid\"Oh!\"yetwithacertainartificialityofmannerthatwasevidentlyalingeringtraceofsomepreviousformalattitudetheyhadassumed.Thenwithoutfurtherspeechtheyeachselectedachairandaposition,havingfirstshakenouttheirdresses,andgazedsilentlyateachother.
Itmaybesaidbrieflythatsittingthus——inspiteoftheirunnaturalattitude,orperhapsratherbecauseofitssuggestionofaphotographicpose——theymadeastrikingpicture,andstronglyaccentedtheirseparatepeculiarities.Theywerebothpretty,butthetallergirl,apparentlytheelder,hadanidealrefinementandregularityoffeaturewhichwasnotonlyunlikePhemie,butgratuitouslyunliketherestofherfamily,andashopelesslyandevenwantonlyinconsistentwithhersurroundingsaswastheelaboratelyornamentedaccordiononthecentre-table.Shewasoneofthoseoccasionalcreatures,episodicalintheSouthandWest,whomighthavebeenstampedwithsomevagueante-natalimpressionofamothergiventoover-sentimentalcontemplationofbooksofbeautyandalbumsratherthanthefamilyfeatures;offspringoftypicalmenandwomen,andyetthemselvesincongruoustoanyknownlocalorevengeneraltype.Thelongswan-likeneck,tendriledhair,swimmingeyes,andsmallpatricianhead,hadneverlivedormovedbeforeinTasajaraortheWest,norperhapsevenexistedexceptasapersonified\"Constancy,\"\"Meditation,\"orthe\"Baron\'sBride,\"inmezzotintorcopperplate.Eventhegirl\'scommonpinkprintdresswithitshighsleevesandshoulderscouldnotconventionalizetheseoriginaloutlines;andthehandthatrestedstifflyonthebackofherchair,albeitneitherover-whitenorwellkept,lookedasifithadneverheldanythingbutalyre,arose,oragoodbook.Eventhefewspraysofwildjessaminewhichshehadplacedinthecoilsofherwavinghair,althoughalocalfashion,becameherasaspecialornament.
Thetwogirlskepttheirconstrainedandartificiallyelaboratedattitudeforafewmoments,accompaniedbythemurmurofvoicesinthekitchen,themonotonousdripoftheeavesbeforethewindow,andthefar-offsoughofthewind.ThenPhemiesuddenlybrokeintoaconstrainedgiggle,whichshehoweverquicklysmotheredasshehadtheaccordion,andwiththesamelookofmischievousdistress.
\"I\'mastonishedatyou,Phemie,\"saidClementinainadeepcontraltovoice,whichseemedevendeeperfromitsrestraint.\"Youdon\'tseemtohaveanysense.Anybody\'dthinkyouneverhadseenastrangerbefore.\"
\"Sawhimbeforeyoudid,\"retortedPhemiepertly.Buthereapushingofchairsandshufflingoffeetinthekitchencheckedher.
Clementinafixedanabstractedgazeontheceiling;Phemieregardedaleafonthewindowsillwithphotographicrigidityasthedooropenedtothestrangersandherfather.
Thelookofundisguisedsatisfactionwhichlittheyoungmen\'sfacesrelievedMr.Harkutt\'sawkwardintroductionofanyembarrassment,andalmostbeforePhemiewasfullyawareofit,shefoundherselftalkingrapidlyandinahighkeywithMr.LawrenceGrant,thesurveyor,whilehersisterwasequally,althoughmoresedately,occupiedwithMr.StephenRice,hisassistant.Buttheenthusiasmofthestrangers,andthedesiretopleaseandbepleasedwassogenuineandcontagiousthatpresentlytheaccordionwasbroughtintorequisition,andMr.GrantexhibitedasurprisingfacultyofaccompanimenttoMr.Rice\'stenor,inwhichboththegirlsjoined.
Thenagameofcardswithpartnersfollowed,intowhichtherivalpartiesintroducedsuchdelightfulandshamelessobviousnessofcheating,anddisplayedsuchfascinatingandexaggeratedpartisanshipthatthegameresolveditselfintoahilariousmelee,towhichpeacewasrestoredonlybyanexhibitionoftricksoflegerdemainwiththecardsbytheyoungsurveyor.AllofwhichMr.Harkuttsupervisedpatronizingly,withoccasionalfitsofabstraction,fromhisrocking-chair;andlaterMrs.Harkuttfromherkitchenthreshold,wipingherarmsonherapronandcommiseratinglyobservingthatshe\"declared,theyoungfolkslookedbetteralready.\"
ButitwashereamoredangerouselementofmysteryandsuggestionwasaddedbyMr.LawrenceGrantinthetellingofMissEuphemia\'sfortunefromthecardsbeforehim,andthatyounglady,pinkwithexcitement,flutteredherlittlehandsnotunliketimidbirdsoverthecardstobedrawn,takingthemfromhimwithanaudibletwitterofanxietyandgreatdoubtswhetheracertain\"fair-hairedgentleman\"wasinheartsordiamonds.