Shecanteredforwardasshespoke,andGrantwasobligedtojoinhersister,who,mountedonapowerfulroan,wasmischievouslyexcitingabeautifulquaker-coloredmustangriddenbyMrs.Ashwood,alreadyirritatedbytheunfamiliarpressureoftheEasternwoman\'shanduponhisbit.Thethickdustwhichhadforcedthepartyoftwentytocloseupintwosolidfilesacrosstheroadcompelledthematthefirstopeningintheroadsidefencetotakethefieldinastragglinggallop.Grant,eagertoescapefromhisowndiscontentedselfbydoingsomethingforothers,reinedinbesideEuphemiaandthefairstranger.
\"LetmetakeyourplaceuntilMrs.Ashwood\'shorseisquieted,\"hehalfwhisperedtoEuphemia.
\"Thankyou,——andIsupposeitdoesnotmakeanymattertoClemwhoquietsmine,\"shesaid,withprovokingeyesandatossofherheadworthyofthespiritedanimalshewasriding.
\"Shethinksyouquitecapableofmanagingyourselfandevenothers,\"herepliedwithaplayfulglanceatShipley,whowasridingsomewhatstifflyontheotherside.
\"Don\'tbetoosure,\"retortedPhemiewithanotherdangerouslook;
\"Imaygiveyoutroubleyet.\"
Theywereapproachingthefirstundulationoftherussetplaintheyhademergedupon,——anumbrageousslopethatseemedsuddenlytodivergeintwodefilesamongtheshadedhills.GranthadgivenafewwordsofpracticaladvicetoMrs.Ashwood,andshownherhowtoguidehermustangbythemerestcaressingtouchofthereinuponitssensitiveneck.Hehadnotbeensympatheticallyinclinedtowardsthefairstranger,arichandstillyouthfulwidow,althoughhecouldnotdenyherunquestionedgoodbreeding,mentalrefinement,andacertainlanguorousthoughtfulnessthatwasalmostmelancholy,whichaccentedherblondedelicacy.ButhehadnoticedthathermannerwaspolitelyreservedandslightlyconstrainedtowardstheHarcourts,andhehadalreadyresenteditwithalover\'sinstinctiveloyalty.HehadatfirstattributedittoawantofsympathybetweenMrs.Ashwood\'smoreintellectualsentimentalitiesandtheHarcourts\'undeniablelackofanysentimentwhatever.Buttherewasevidentlysomeotherinnateantagonism.HewasverypolitetoMrs.Ashwood;sherespondedwithagentlewoman\'scourtesy,and,hewasforcedtoadmit,evenabroadercomprehensionofhisownmeritsthantheHarcourtgirlshadevershown,buthecouldstilldetectthatshewasnotinaccordwiththeparty.
\"IamafraidyoudonotlikeCalifornia,Mrs.Ashwood?\"hesaidpleasantly.\"Youperhapsfindthelifeheretoounrestrainedandunconventional?\"
Shelookedathiminquickastonishment.\"Areyouquitesincere?
Why,itstrikesmethatthisisjustwhatitisNOT.AndIhavesolongedforsomethingquitedifferent.FromwhatIhavebeentoldabouttheoriginalityandadventureofeverythinghere,andyourindependenceofoldsocialformsandcustoms,IamafraidI
expectedtheoppositeofwhatI\'veseen.Why,thisveryparty——
exceptthattheladiesareprettierandmoreexpensivelygottenup——
islikeanypartythatmighthaveriddenoutatSaratogaorNewYork.\"
\"Andasstupid,youwouldsay.\"
\"AsCONVENTIONAL,Mr.Grant;alwaysexceptingthislovelycreaturebeneathme,whomIcan\'tmakeoutandwhodoesn\'tseemtocarethatIshould.There!look!Itoldyouso!\"
Hermustanghadsuddenlyboundedforward;butasGrantfollowedhecouldseethatthecausewastheexampleofPhemie,whohad,insomemadfreak,dashedoutinafranticgallop.Ahalf-dozenoftheyoungerpeoplehilariouslyacceptedthechallenge;theexcitementwascommunicatedtotheothers,untilthewholecavalcadewassweepingdowntheslope.GrantwasstillatMrs.
Ashwood\'sside,restraininghermustangandhisownimpatienthorsewhenClementinajoinedthem.\"Phemie\'smarehasreallybolted,I
fear,\"shesaidinaquickwhisper,\"rideon,andnevermindus.\"
Grantlookedquicklyahead;Phemie\'sroan,excitedbytheshoutsbehindherandtoallappearanceungovernable,wasfastdisappearingwithherrider.Withoutaword,trustingtohisowngoodhorsemanshipandbetterknowledgeoftheground,hedartedoutofthecavalcadetoovertakeher.
Buttheunfortunateresultofthiswastogivefurtherimpulsetothenowracinghorsesastheyapproachedapointwheretheslopeterminatedintwodivergingcanyons.Mrs.Ashwoodgaveasharppulluponherbit.Toherconsternationthemustangstoppedshortalmostinstantly,——plantinghistwoforefeetrigidlyinthedustandevenslidingforwardwiththeimpetus.Hadherseatbeenlessfirmshemighthavebeenthrown,butsherecoveredherself,althoughindoingsoshestillboreuponthebit,whentoherastonishmentthemustangdeliberatelystiffenedhimselfasifforashock,andthenbegantobackslowly,quiveringwithexcitement.
Shedidnotknowthathernative-bredanimalfondlybelievedthathewasparticipatinginarodeo,andthattohisequineintelligencehisfairmistresshadjustlassoedsomething!Invainsheurgedhimforward;hestillwaitedfortheshock!Whenthecloudofdustinwhichshehadbeenenwrappeddriftedaway,shesawtoheramazementthatshewasalone.Theentirepartyhaddisappearedintooneofthecanyons,——butwhichoneshecouldnottell!
Whenshesucceededatlastinurginghermustangforwardagainshedeterminedtotaketheright-handcanyonandtrusttobeingeithermetorovertaken.Amorepracticalandlessadventurousnaturewouldhavewaitedatthepointofdivergenceforthereturnofsomeoftheparty,butMrs.Ashwoodwas,intruth,notsorrytobelefttoherselfandthenovelsceneryforawhile,andshehadnodoubtbutshewouldeventuallyfindherwaytothehotelatSanMateo,whichcouldnotbefaraway,intimeforluncheon.
Theroadwasstillwelldefined,althoughitpresentlybegantowindbetweenascendingranksofpinesandlarchesthatmarkedtheterracesofhills,sohighthatshewonderedshehadnotnoticedthemfromtheplains.Anunmistakablesuggestionofsomehauntingprimevalsolitude,asenseofthehushedandmysteriousproximityofanatureshehadneverknownbefore,thestrangehalf-
intoxicatingbreathofunsunnedfoliageanduntroddengrassesandherbs,allcombinedtoexaltherasshecanteredforward.Evenherhorseseemedtohaveacquiredanintelligentliberty,orrathertohaveestablishedasympathywithherinhisneedsandherownlongings;instinctivelyshenolongerpulledhimwiththecurb;thereinshunglooselyonhisself-archedandunfetteredneck;secureinthislonelinessshefoundherselfeventalkingtohimwithbarbaricfreedom.Asshewenton,thevaguehushofallthingsanimateandinanimatearoundherseemedtothicken,untilsheunconsciouslyhaltedbeforeadimandpillaredwood,andavastandheathlessopeningonwhosemutebrownlipsNatureseemedtohavelaidthefingerofsilence.Sheforgotthepartyshehadleft,sheforgottheluncheonshewasgoingto;moreimportantstillsheforgotthatshehadalreadyleftthetraveledtrackfarbehindher,and,tremulouswithanticipation,rodetimidlyintothatarchofshadow.
Asherhorse\'shoofsfellnoiselesslyontheelasticmoss-carpetedaislesheforgotevenmorethanthat.Sheforgottheartificialstimulusandexcitementofthelifeshehadbeenleadingsolong;
sheforgotthesmallmeannessesandsmallerworriesofherwell-to-
doexperiences;sheforgotherself,——rathersheregainedaselfshehadlongforgotten.Forinthesweetseclusionofthishalfdarkenedsanctuarytheclingingfripperiesofherpastslippedfromherasatawdrygarment.Thepetted,spoiled,andvapidlyprecociousgirlhoodwhichhadmergedintoawomanhoodofaimlesstriumphsandmeanerambitions;theworldlybutmiserabletriumphofamarriagethathadleftherdelicacyabusedandherheartsickandunsatisfied;thewifehoodwithouthome,seclusion,ormaternity;
thewidowhoodthatatlastbroughtrelief,butwithittheconsciousnessofhopelesslywastedyouth,——allthisseemedtodropfromherhereaslightlyasthewingedneedlesornoiselesswitheredsprayfromthedimgrayvaultaboveherhead.Inthesovereignbalmofthatwoodlandbreathherbetterspiritwasrestored;somewhereinthesewholesomeshadesseemedtostilllurkwhatshouldhavebeenherinnocentandnymph-likeyouth,andtocomeoutoncemoreandgreether.Oldsongsshehadforgotten,orwhosemusichadfailedinthediscordsofherfrivolouslife,sangthemselvestoheragaininthatsweet,gravesilence;girlishdreamsthatshehadfoolishlybeenashamedof,orhadputawaywithherchildishtoys,stolebacktoheroncemoreandbecamerealinthistendertwilight;oldfancies,oldfragmentsofverseandchildishlore,grewpalpableandmovedfaintlybeforeher.Theboyishprincewhoshouldhavecomewasthere;thebabethatshouldhavebeenherswasthere!——shestoppedsuddenlywithflamingeyesandindignantcolor.ForitappearedthataMANwastheretoo,andhadjustrisenfromthefallentreewherehehadbeensitting.
CHAPTERVIII.
Shehadsofarforgottenherselfinyieldingtothespelloftheplace,andintherevelationofhernakedsoulandinnernature,thatitwaswithsomethingoftheinstinctofoutragedmodestythatsheseemedtoshrinkbeforethisapparitionoftheouterworldandouterworldliness.Inaninstantthenearerpastreturned;sherememberedwhereshewas,howshehadcomethere,fromwhomshehadcome,andtowhomshewasreturning.Shecouldseethatshehadnotonlyaimlesslywanderedfromtheworldbutfromtheroad;andforthatinstantshehatedthismanwhohadremindedherofit,evenwhilesheknewshemustaskhisassistance.Itrelievedherslightlytoobservethatheseemedasdisturbedandimpatientasherself,andashetookapencilfrombetweenhislipsandreturnedittohispockethescarcelylookedather.
Butwithherreturntotheworldofconvenancescameitsrepression,andwithagentlewoman\'seaseandmodulatedvoicesheleanedoverhermustang\'sneckandsaid:\"IhavestrayedfrommypartyandamafraidIhavelostmyway.WeweregoingtothehotelatSanMateo.
Wouldyoubekindenoughtodirectmethere,orshowmehowIcanregaintheroadbywhichIcame?\"
Hervoiceandmannerwerequiteenoughtoarresthimwherehestoodwithapleasedsurpriseinhisfreshandingenuousface.Shelookedathimmoreclosely.Hewas,inspiteofhislongsilkenmustache,soabsurdlyyoung;hemight,inspiteofthatyouth,besoabsurdlyman-like!Whatwashedoingthere?Washeafarmer\'sson,anartist,asurveyor,oracityclerkoutforaholiday?Wasthereperhapsayouthfulfemaleofhisspeciessomewhereforwhomhewaswaitinganduponwhosetrystshewasnowbreaking?Washe——
terriblethought!——theoutlyingpicketofsomefamilypicnic?Hisdress,neat,simple,freefromostentatiousornament,betrayednothing.Shewaitedforhisvoice.
\"Oh,youhaveleftSanMateomilesawaytotheright,\"hesaidwithquickyouthfulsympathy,\"atleastfivemiles!Wheredidyouleaveyourparty?\"
Hisvoicewaswinning,andevenrefined,shethought.Sheanswereditquitespontaneously:\"Ataforkoftworoads.IseenowItookthewrongturning.\"
\"Yes,youtooktheroadtoCrystalSpring.It\'sjustdownthereinthevalley,notmorethanamile.You\'dhavebeentherenowifyouhadn\'tturnedoffatthewoods.\"
\"Icouldn\'thelpit,itwassobeautiful.\"
\"Isn\'tit?\"
\"Perfect.\"
\"Andsuchshadows,andsuchintensityofcolor.\"
\"Wonderful!——andallalongtheridge,lookingdownthatdefile!\"
\"Yes,andthatpointwhereitseemsasifyouhadonlytostretchoutyourhandtopickamanzanitaberryfromtheothersideofthecanyon,halfamileacross!\"
\"Yes,andthatfirstglimpseofthevalleythroughtheGothicgatewayofrocks!\"
\"Andthecolorofthoserocks,——cinnamonandbronzewiththelightgreenoftheYerbabuenavinesplashingoverthem.\"
\"Yes,butforcolorDIDyounoticethathillsideofyellowpoppiespouringdownintothevalleylikeagoldenNiagara?\"
\"Certainly,——andtheperfectclearnessofeverything.\"
\"Andyetsuchcompletesilenceandrepose!\"
\"Oh,yes!\"
\"Ah,yes!\"
Theywerebothgravelynoddingandshakingtheirheadswithsparklingeyesandbrightenedcolor,lookingnotateachotherbutatthefarlandscapevignettedthroughalozenge-shapedwindopeninginthetrees.SuddenlyMrs.Ashwoodstraightenedherselfinthesaddle,lookedgrave,liftedthereinsandapparentlythetenyearswiththemthathaddroppedfromher.Butshesaidinhereasiestwell-bredtones,andahalfsigh,\"ThenImusttaketheroadbackagaintowhereitforks?\"
\"Oh,no!youcangobyCrystalSpring.It\'snofurther,andI\'llshowyoutheway.Butyou\'dbetterstopandrestyourselfandyourhorseforalittlewhileattheSpringsHotel.It\'saveryniceplace.ManypeopleridetherefromSanFranciscotoluncheonandreturn.Iwonderthatyourpartydidn\'tpreferit;andiftheyarelookingforyou,——astheysurelymustbe,\"hesaid,asifwithasuddenconceptionofherimportance,\"they\'llcometherewhentheyfindyou\'renotatSanMateo.\"
Thisseemedreasonable,althoughtheprocessofbeing\"fetched\"andtakingthefivemilesride,whichshehadenjoyedsomuchalone,incompanywasnotattractive.\"Couldn\'tIgoonatonce?\"shesaidimpulsively.
\"Youwouldmeetthemsooner,\"hesaidthoughtfully.
ThiswasquiteenoughforMrs.Ashwood.\"IthinkI\'llrestthispoorhorse,whoisreallytired,\"she,saidwithcharminghypocrisy,\"andstopatthehotel.\"
Shesawhisfacebrighten.Perhapshewasthesonofthehotelproprietor,orayouthfulpartnerhimself.\"Isupposeyoulivehere?\"shesuggestedgently.\"Youseemtoknowtheplacesowell.\"
\"No,\"hereturnedquickly;\"IonlyrundownherefromSanFranciscowhenIcangetadayoff.\"
Adayoff!Hewasinsomeregularemployment.Buthecontinued:
\"AndIusedtogotoboarding-schoolnearhere,andknowallthesewoodswell.\"
Hemustbeanative!Howodd!Shehadnotconceivedthattheremightbeanyotherpopulationherethantheimmigrants;perhapsthatwaswhatmadehimsointerestinganddifferentfromtheothers.\"Thenyourfatherandmotherlivehere?\"shesaid.
Hisfrankface,incapableofdisguise,changedsuddenly.\"No,\"hesaidsimply,butwithoutanytraceofawkwardness.Thenafteraslightpausehelaidhishand——shenoticeditwaswhiteandwellkept——onhermustang\'sneck,andsaid,\"If——ifyoucaretotrustyourselftome,Icouldleadyouandyourhorsedownatrailintothevalleythatisatleastathirdofthedistanceshorter.Itwouldsaveyougoingbacktotheregularroad,andthereareoneortwolovelyviewsthatIcouldshowyou.Ishouldbesopleased,ifitwouldnottroubleyou.There\'sasteepplaceortwo——butI
thinkthere\'snodanger.\"
\"Ishallnotbeafraid.\"
Shesmiledsograciously,and,asshefullybelieved,maternally,thathelookedatherthesecondtime.Tohisfirsthurriedimpressionofherasanelegantanddelicatelynurturedwoman——oneoftheclassofdistinguishedtouriststhatfashionwasbeginningtosendthither——hehadnowtoaddthatshehadaquantityoffinesilken-spunlighthairgatheredinaheavybraidbeneathhergrayhat;thathermouthwasverydelicatelylippedandbeautifullysensitive;thathersoftskin,althoughjustthentouchedwithexcitement,wasapalefadedvelvet,andseemedtobewornwithennuiratherthanexperience;thathereyeswerehiddenbehindastripofgrayveilwhenceonlyafaintglowwasdiscernible.Tothismuststillbeaddedapoeticfancyallhisownthat,asshesatthere,withtheskirtofhergrayhabitfallingfromherlongbodicedwaistoverthemustang\'sfawn-coloredflanks,andwithherslimgauntletedhandslightlyswayingthereins,shelookedlikeQueenGuinevereintheforest.NotthatheparticularlyfanciedQueenGuinevere,orthatheatallimaginedhimselfLauncelot,butitwasquiteinkeepingwiththesuggestion-hauntedbrainofJohnMiltonHarcourt,whomtheastutereaderhasofcourselongsincerecognized.
Precedingherthroughthesoftcarpetedvaultwithawoodman\'sinstinct,——fortherewasapparentlynotrailtobeseen,——thesoftinnertwilightbegantogivewaytotheouterstrongerday,andpresentlyshewasstartledtoseetheclearblueoftheskybeforeheronapparentlythesamelevelasthebrownpine-tessellatedfloorshewastreading.Notonlydidthisshowherthatshewascrossingaridgeoftheupland,butafewmomentslatershehadpassedbeyondthewoodstoagoldenhillsidethatslopedtowardsaleafy,sheltered,andexquisitely-proportionedvalley.Atinybutpicturesquetower,andafewstragglingroofsandgables,theflashingofacrystalstreamthroughtheleaves,andanarrowwhiteribbonofroadwindingbehinditindicatedthehostelrytheywereseeking.Sopeacefulandunfrequenteditlooked,nestlingbetweenthehills,thatitseemedasiftheyhaddiscoveredit.
Withhishandattimesuponthebridle,atothersmerelycaressinghermustang\'sneck,heledtheway;therewereafewbreathlessplaceswherethecrownofhisstrawhatappearedbetweenherhorse\'sreins,andagainwhensheseemedalmostslippingoveronhisshoulder,buttheywerepassedwithsuchfrankfearlessnessandinvincibleyouthfulconfidenceonthepartofherescortthatshefeltnotimidity.Thereweremomentswhenabitofthecharmedlandscapeunfoldingbeforethemoverpoweredthemboth,andtheyhaltedtogaze,——sometimeswithoutaword,oronlyasignificantgestureofsympathyandattention.AtoneofthoseartisticmanifestationsMrs.AshwoodlaidherslimglovedfingerslightlybutunwittinglyonJohnMilton\'sarm,andwithdrewthem,however,withaquickgirlishapologyandafoolishcolorwhichannoyedhermorethantheappearanceoffamiliarity.Buttheywerenowgettingwelldownintothevalley;thecourtofthelittlehotelwasalreadyopeningbeforethem;theirunconventionalrelationsintheidyllicworldabovehadchanged;thenewonerequiredsomedelicacyofhandling,andshehadanideathateventhesimplicityoftheyoungstrangermightbeconfusing.
\"Imustaskyoutocontinuetoactasmyescort,\"shesaid,laughingly.\"IamMrs.AshwoodofPhiladelphia,visitingSanFranciscowithmysisterandbrother,whoare,Iamafraid,evennowhopelesslywaitingluncheonformeatSanMateo.Butasthereseemstobenoprospectofmyjoiningthemintime,Ihopeyouwillbeabletogivemethepleasureofyourcompany,withwhatevertheymaygiveushereinthewayofrefreshment.\"
\"Ishallbeveryhappy,\"returnedJohnMiltonwithunmistakablecandor;\"butperhapssomeofyourfriendswillbearrivinginquestofyou,iftheyarenotalreadyhere.\"
\"Thentheywilljoinusorwait,\"saidMrs.Ashwoodincisively,withherfirstexhibitionoftheimperiousnessofarichandprettywoman.Perhapsshewasalittleannoyedthatherelaborateintroductionofherselfhadproducednoreciprocaldisclosurebyhercompanion.\"Willyoupleasesendthelandlordtome?\"sheadded.
JohnMiltondisappearedinthehotelasshecanteredtotheporch.
Inanothermomentshewasgivingthelandlordherorderswiththeeasyconfidenceofonewhoknewherselfonlyasanalwayswelcomeandhighlyprivilegedguest,whichwasnotwithoutitseffect.
\"And,\"sheaddedcarelessly,\"wheneverythingisreadyyouwillpleasetell——Mr.\"——
\"Harcourt,\"suggestedthelandlordpromptly.
Mrs.Ashwood\'sperfectlytrainedfacegavenottheslightestsignofthesurprisethathadovertakenher.\"Ofcourse,——Mr.Harcourt.\"
\"Youknowhe\'sthesonofthemillionaire,\"continuedthelandlord,notatallunwillingtodisplaytheimportanceofthehabituesofCrystalSpring,\"thoughthey\'vequarreledanddon\'tgetontogether.\"
\"Iknow,\"saidtheladylanguidly,\"and,ifanyonecomeshereforME,askthemtowaitintheparloruntilIcome.\"
Then,submittingherselfandherdustyhabittotheawkwardministrationoftheIrishchambermaid,shewasquitethrilledwithadelightfulcuriosity.ShevaguelyrememberedthatshehadheardsomethingoftheHarcourtfamilydiscord,——butthatwasthedivorceddaughtersurely!AndthisyoungmanwasHarcourt\'sson,andtheyhadquarreled!Aquarrelwithafrank,open,ingenuousfellowlikethat——amereboy——couldonlybethefather\'sfault.
LuckilyshehadnevermentionedthenameofHarcourt!Shewouldnotnow;heneednotknowthatitwashisfatherwhohadoriginatedtheparty;whyshouldshemakehimuncomfortableforthefewmomentstheyweretogether?
Therewasnothingofthisinherfaceasshedescendedandjoinedhim.Hethoughtthatfacehandsome,well-bred,andrefined.Butthisbreedingandrefinementseemedtohim——inhisignoranceoftheworld,possibly——asonlyagracefulconcealmentofaselfofwhichheknewnothing;andhewasnotsurprisedtofindthatherprettygrayeyes,nownolongerhiddenbyherveil,reallytoldhimnomorethanherlips.Hewasalittleafraidofher,andnowthatshehadlosthernaiveenthusiasmhewasconsciousofavagueremorsefulnessforhisinterruptedworkintheforest.Whatwashedoinghere?Hewhohadavoidedthecruel,selfishworldofwealthandpleasure,——aworldthatthiswomanrepresented,——theworldthathadstoodapartfromhimintheonedreamofhislife——andhadletLoodie!Hisquicklyresponsivefacedarkened.
\"IamafraidIreallyinterruptedyouupthere,\"shesaidgently,lookinginhisfacewithanexpressionofunfeignedconcern;\"youwereatworkofsomekind,Iknow,andIhaveveryselfishlythoughtonlyofmyself.Butthewholescenewassonewtome,andIsorarelymeetanyonewhoseesthingsasIdo,thatIknowyouwillforgiveme.\"Shebenthereyesuponhimwithacertainsofttimidity.\"Youareanartist?\"
\"Iamafraidnot,\"hesaid,coloringandsmilingfaintly;\"Idon\'tthinkIcoulddrawastraightline.\"
\"Don\'ttryto;they\'renotpretty,andthemereabilitytodrawthemstraightorcurveddoesn\'tmakeanartist.ButyouareaLOVERofnature,Iknow,andfromwhatIhaveheardyousayI