Whattheywouldhavesaidisnotknown,foratthatmomentthevoicesofClementinaandMrs.Ramirezwereheardinthepassage,andtheybothenteredthegallery.Thetwomenwerestandingtogether;itwasimpossibletoseeonewithouttheother.
AndyetGrant,whoseeyeswereinstantlydirectedtoClementina,thoughtthatshehadnotedneither.Sheremainedforaninstantstandinginthedoorwayinthesameself-possessed,coldlygracefulposeherememberedshehadtakenontheplatformatTasajara.Hereyelidswereslightlydowncast,asifshehadbeenarrestedbysomesuddenthoughtorsomeshymaidensensitiveness;inherhesitationMrs.Ramirezpassedimpatientlybeforeher.
\"MotherofGod!\"saidthatlivelylady,regardingthetwospeechlessmen,\"isitanindiscretionwearemakinghere——orareyoudumb?You,DonDiego,areloudenoughwhenyouandDonJosearetogether;atleastintroduceyourfriend.\"
Grantquicklyrecoveredhimself.\"Iamafraid,\"hesaid,comingforward,\"unlessMissHarcourtdoes,thatIamameretrespasserinyourhouse,Senora.Isawherpassinyourcarriageafewmomentsago,andhavingamessageforherIventuredtofollowherhere.\"
\"ItisMr.Grant,afriendofmyfather\'s,\"saidClementina,smilingwithequanimity,asifjustawakeningfromamomentaryabstraction,yetapparentlyunconsciousofGrant\'simploringeyes;
\"buttheothergentlemanIhavenotthepleasureofknowing.\"
\"Ah!DonDiegoFletcher,acountrymanofyours;andyetIthinkheknowsyounot.\"
Clementina\'sfacebetrayednoindicationofthepresenceofherfather\'sfoe,andyetGrantknewthatshemusthaverecognizedhisname,asshelookedtowardsFletcherwithperfectself-possession.
HewastoomuchengagedinwatchinghertotakenoteofFletcher\'smanifestdisturbance,ortheevidenteffortwithwhichheatlastbowedtoher.Thatthisunexpecteddoublemeetingwiththedaughterofthemanhehadwronged,andthemanwhohadespousedthequarrel,shouldbeconfoundingtohimappearedonlynatural.
ButhewasunpreparedtounderstandthefeverishalacritywithwhichheacceptedDonaMaria\'sinvitationtochocolate,ortheequallyanimatedwayinwhichClementinathrewherselfintoherhostess\'sSpanishlevity.Heknewitwasanawkwardsituation,thatmustbesurmountedwithoutascene;hewasquitepreparedinthepresenceofClementinatobeciviltoFletcher;butitwasoddthatinthisfeverishexchangeofcourtesiesandcomplimentsHE,Grant,shouldfeelthegreaterawkwardnessandbethemostillatease.Hesatdownandtookhispartintheconversation;heletittranspireforClementina\'sbenefitthathehadbeentoLosGatosonlyonbusiness,yettherewasnoopportunityforevenasignificantglance,andhehadtheaddedembarrassmentofseeingthatsheexhibitednosurprisenorseemedtoattachtheleastimportancetohisinopportunevisit.Inamiserableindecisionheallowedhimselftobecarriedawaybythehigh-flownhospitalityofhisSpanishhostess,andconsentedtostaytoanearlydinner.ItwaspartoftheinfelicityofcircumstancethatthevolubleDonaMaria——electinghimasthedistinguishedstrangerabovetheresidentFletcher——monopolizedhimandattachedhimtoherside.
Shewoulddothehonorsofherhouse;shemustshowhimtheruinsoftheoldMissionbesidethecorral;DonDiegoandClementinawouldjointhempresentlyinthegarden.HecastadespairingglanceattheplacidlysmilingClementina,whowasapparentlyequallyindifferenttotheevidentconstraintandassumedeaseofthemanbesideher,andturnedawaywithMrs.Ramirez.
AsilencefelluponthegallerysodeepthattherecedingvoicesandfootstepsofGrantandhishostessinthelongpassageweredistinctlyhearduntiltheyreachedtheend.ThenFletcherarosewithaninarticulateexclamation.Clementinainstantlyputherfingertoherlips,glancedaroundthegallery,extendedherhandtohim,andsaying\"Come,\"half-led,half-draggedhimintothepassage.Totherightsheturnedandpushedopenthedoorofasmallroomthatseemedacombinationofboudoirandoratory,litbyaFrenchwindowopeningtothegarden,andflankedbyalargeblackandwhitecrucifixwithaprieDieubeneathit.Closingthedoorbehindthemsheturnedandfacedhercompanion.Butitwasnolongerthefaceofthewomanwhohadbeensittinginthegallery;
itwasthefacethathadlookedbackatherfromthemirroratTasajarathenightthatGranthadlefther——eager,flushed,materialwithcommonplaceexcitement!
\"\'LigeCurtis,\"shesaid.
\"Yes,\"heansweredpassionately,\"LigeCurtis,whomyouthoughtdead!\'LigeCurtis,whomyouoncepitied,condoledwithanddespised!\'LigeCurtis,whoselandsandpropertyhaveenrichedyou!\'LigeCurtis,whowouldhaveshareditwithyoufreelyatthetime,butwhomyourfatherjuggledanddefraudedofit!\'LigeCurtis,brandedbyhimasadrunkenoutcastandsuicide!\'LigeCurtis\"——
\"Hush!\"Sheclappedherlittlehandoverhismouthwithaquickbutawkwardschoolgirlgesture,inconceivabletoanywhohadknownherusuallanguideleganceofmotion,andhelditthere.Hestruggledangrily,impatiently,reproachfully,andthen,withasuddencharacteristicweaknessthatseemedasmuchofarevelationasheroncehoydenishmanner,kissedit,whensheletitdrop.
Thenplacingbothherhandsstillgirlishlyonherslimwaistandcurtseyinggrotesquelybeforehim,shesaid:\"\'LigeCurtis!Oh,yes!\'LigeCurtis,whosworetodoeverythingforme!\'LigeCurtis,whopromisedtogiveupliquorforme,——whowastoleaveTasajaraforme!\'LigeCurtis,whowastoreform,andkeephislandasanest-eggforusbothinthefuture,andthenwhosoldit——
andhimself——andme——todadforaglassofwhiskey!\'LigeCurtis,whodisappeared,andthenletusthinkhewasdead,onlythathemightattackusoutoftheambushofhisgrave!\"
\"Yes,butthinkwhatIhavesufferedalltheseyears;notforthecursedland——youknowInevercaredforthat——butforYOU,——you,Clementina,——YOUrich,admiredbyeveryone;idolized,heldfaraboveme,——ME,theforgottenoutcast,thewretchedsuicide——andyetthemantowhomyouhadonceplightedyourtroth.Whichofthosegreedyfortune-hunterswhommymoney——mylife-bloodasyoumighthavethoughtitwas——attractedtoyou,didyoucaretotellthatyouhadeverslippedoutofthelittlegardengateatSidontomeetthatoutcast!DoyouwonderthatastheyearspassedandYOUwerehappy,Ididnotchoosetobesoforgotten?DoyouwonderthatwhenYOUshutthedooronthepastImanagedtoopenitagain——ifonlyalittleway——thatitslightmightstartleyou?\"
Yetshedidnotseemstartledordisturbed,andremainedonlylookingathimcritically.
\"Yousaythatyouhavesuffered,\"sherepliedwithasmile.\"Youdon\'tlookit!Yourhairiswhite,butitisbecomingtoyou,andyouareahandsomerman,\'LigeCurtis,thanyouwerewhenIfirstmetyou;youarefiner,\"shewenton,stillregardinghim,\"strongerandhealthierthanyouwerefiveyearsago;youarerichandprosperous,youhaveeverythingtomakeyouhappy,but\"——hereshelaughedalittle,heldoutbothherhands,takinghisandholdinghisarmsapartinarustic,homelyfashion——\"butyouarestillthesameold\'LigeCurtis!Itwaslikeyoutogooffandhideyourselfinthatidioticway;itwaslikeyoutoletthepropertyslideinthatstupid,unselfishfashion;itwaslikeyoutogetrealmad,andsayallthosemean,sillythingstodad,thatdidn\'thurthim——inyourregularlooneystyle;forrichorpoor,drunkorsober,raggedorelegant,plainorhandsome,——you\'realwaysthesame\'LigeCurtis!\"
Inproportionasthatmaterial,practical,rusticself——whichnobodybut\'LigeCurtishadeverseen——camebacktoher,soinproportiontheirresolute,wavering,weakandemotionalvagabondofSidoncameouttomeetit.Helookedatherwithavaguesmile;
hisfiveyearsofchildishresentment,albeitcarriedontheshouldersofamanmentallyandmorallyhersuperior,meltedaway.
Hedrewhertowardshim,yetatthesamemomentaquicksuspicionreturned.
\"Well,andwhatareyoudoinghere?Hasthismanwhohasfollowedyouanyright,anyclaimuponyou?\"
\"Nonebutwhatyouinyourfollyhaveforceduponhim!Youhavemadehimfather\'sally.Idon\'tknowwhyhecamehere.IonlyknowwhyIdid——tofindYOU!\"
\"Yoususpectedthen?\"
\"IKNEW!Hush!\"
ThereturningvoicesofGrantandofMrs.Ramirezwereheardinthecourtyard.Clementinamadeawarningyetgirlishlymirthfulgesture,againcaughthishand,drewhimquicklytotheFrenchwindow,andslippedthroughitwithhimintothegarden,wheretheywerequicklylostintheshadowsofaceanothushedge.
\"TheyhaveprobablymetDonJoseintheorchard,andasheandDonDiegohavebusinesstogether,DonaClementinahaswithoutdoubtgonetoherroomandleftthem.Foryouarenotveryentertainingtotheladiesto-day,——youtwocaballeros!Youhavemuchpoliticstogether,eh?——oryouhavediscussedanddisagreed,eh?IwilllookfortheSenorita,andletyougo,DonDistraido!\"
ItistobefearedthatGrant\'sapologiesandattemptstodetainherwereequallyfeeble,——asitseemedtohimthatthiswastheonlychancehemighthaveofseeingClementinaexceptincompanywithFletcher.AsMrs.Ramirezlefthelitacigaretteandlistlesslywalkedupanddownthegallery.ButClementinadidnotcome,neitherdidhishostessreturn.Asubduedstepinthepassageraisedhishopes,——itwasonlythegrizzledmajordomo,toshowhimhisroomthathemightpreparefordinner.
Hefollowedmechanicallydownthelongpassagetoasecondcorridor.TherewasachancethathemightmeetClementina,buthereachedhisroomwithoutencounteringanyone.Itwasalargevaultedapartmentwithasinglewindow,adeepembrasureinthethickwallthatseemedtofocuslikeatelescopesomeforgotten,sequesteredpartoftheleafygarden.Whilewashinghishands,gazingabsentlyatthegreenvignetteframedbythedarkopening,hisattentionwasdrawntoamovementofthefoliage,stirredapparentlybytherapidpassageoftwohalf-hiddenfigures.Thequickflashofafeminineskirtseemedtoindicatethecoyflightofsomerompingmaidofthecasa,andthepursuitandstruggleofhervaqueroswain.Toadespairinglovereventhespectacleofinnocent,pastoralhappinessinothersisnotapttobesoothing,andGrantwasturningimpatientlyawaywhenhesuddenlystoppedwitharigidfaceandquicklyapproachedthewindow.InherstruggleswiththeunseenCorydon,theclusteringleavesseemedtohaveyieldedatthesamemomentwiththecoyChloris,andparting——
disclosedastolenkiss!Grant\'shandlaylikeiceagainstthewall.For,disengagingFletcher\'sarmfromherwaistandfreeingherskirtfromthefoliage,itwasthecalm,passionlessClementinaherselfwhosteppedout,andmovedpensivelytowardsthecasa.
CHAPTERXI.
\"Readersofthe\'Clarion\'willhavenoticedthatallusionhasbeenfrequentlymadeinthesecolumnstocertainrumorsconcerningtheearlyhistoryofTasajarawhichweresupposedtoaffectthepioneerrecordofDanielHarcourt.Itwasdeemedbytheconductorsofthisjournaltobeonlyconsistentwiththefearlessandindependentdutyundertakenbythe\'Clarion\'thattheserumorsshouldbefullychronicledaspartoftheinformationrequiredbythereadersofafirst-classnewspaper,unbiasedbyanyconsiderationofthesocialpositionoftheparties,butsimplyasamatterofnews.Forthisthe\'Clarion\'doesnotdeemitnecessarytoutterawordofapology.Butforthateditorialcommentorattitudewhichtheproprietorsfeltwasjustifiedbythereliablesourcesoftheirinformationtheynowconsideritonlydueinhonortothemselves,theirreaders,andMr.Harcourttofullyandfreelyapologize.A
patientandlaboriousinvestigationenablesthemtostatethattheallegedfactspublishedbythe\'Clarion\'andcopiedbyotherjournalsareutterlyunsupportedbytestimony,andthecharges——
althoughmoreorlessvague——whichwerebaseduponthemareequallyuntenable.Wearenowsatisfiedthatone\'ElijahCurtis,\'aformerpioneerofTasajarawhodisappearedfiveyearsago,andwassupposedtobedrowned,hasnotonlymadenoclaimtotheTasajaraproperty,asalleged,buthasgivennosignofhisequallyallegedresuscitationandpresentexistence,andthatontheminutestinvestigationthereappearsnothingeitherinhisdisappearance,orthetransferofhispropertytoDanielHarcourt,thatcouldinanywaydisturbtheuncontestedtitletoTasajaraortheunimpeachablecharacterofitspresentowner.ThewholestorynowseemstohavebeentheoutcomeofoneofthosestupidruralhoaxestoocommoninCalifornia.\"
\"Well,\"saidMrs.Ashwood,layingasidethe\'Clarion\'withaskepticalshrugofherprettyshoulders,assheglancedupatherbrother;\"Isupposethismeansthatyouaregoingtoproposeagaintotheyounglady?\"
\"Ihave,\"saidJackShipley,\"that\'stheworstofit——andgotmyanswerbeforethiscameout.\"
\"Jack!\"saidMrs.Ashwood,thoroughlysurprised.
\"Yes!Yousee,Conny,asItoldyouthreeweeksago,shesaidshewantedtimetoconsider,——thatshescarcelyknewme,andallthat!
Well,Ithoughtitwasn\'texactlyagentleman\'sbusinesstoseemtostandoffafterthatlastattackonherfather,andso,lastweek,IwentdowntoSanJose,whereshewasstaying,andbeggedhernottokeepmeinsuspense.And,byJove!shefrozemewithalook,andsaidthatwiththeseaspersionsonherfather\'scharacter,shepreferrednottobeunderobligationstoanyone.\"
\"Andyoubelievedher?\"
\"Oh,hangitall!Lookhere,Conny,——Iwishyou\'djusttryforoncetofindoutsomegoodinthatfamily,besideswhatthatsentimentalyoungwidowerJohnMiltonmayhave.Youseemtothinkbecausethey\'vequarreledwithHIMthereisn\'tavirtueleftamongthem.\"
Farfromseemingtoofferanysuggestionoffeminineretaliation,Mrs.Ashwoodsmiledsweetly.\"MydearJack,IhavenodesiretokeepyoufromtryingyourluckagainwithMissClementina,ifthat\'swhatyoumean,andindeedIshouldn\'tbesurprisedifafamilywhofeltamesallianceassensitivelyastheHarcourtsfeltthataffairoftheirson\'s,wouldbeaskeenlyalivetotheadvantagesofagoodmatchfortheirdaughter.AstoyoungMr.
Harcourt,henevertalkedtomeofthevicesofhisfamily,norhashelatelytroubledmemuchwiththepresenceofhisownvirtues.
Ihaven\'theardfromhimsincewecamehere.\"
\"Isupposeheissatisfiedwiththegovernmentberthyougotforhim,\"returnedherbrotherdryly.
\"HewasverygratefultoSenatorFlynn,whoappreciateshistalents,butwhoofferedittohimasamerequestionoffitness,\"
repliedMrs.Ashwoodwithgreatprecisionofstatement.\"Butyoudon\'tseemtoknowhedeclineditonaccountofhisotherwork.\"
\"PreferredhisoldBohemianways,eh?Youcan\'tchangethosefellows,Conny.Theycan\'tgetoverthefascinationsofvagabondage.Sorryyourlady-patronessschemedidn\'twork.Pityyoucouldn\'thavepromotedhiminthelineofhisprofession,astheGrandDuchessofGirolsteindidFritz.\"
\"ForHeaven\'ssake,Jack,gotoClementina!Youmaynotbesuccessful,butthereatleasttheperfectgentlemanlinessandgoodtasteofyourillustrationswillnotbethrownaway.\"
\"IthinkofgoingtoSanFranciscotomorrow,anyway,\"returnedJackwithaffectedcarelessness.\"I\'mgettingratherboredwiththiswildseasidewateringplaceanditsglitterofoceanandhopelessbackgroundofmountain.It\'snothingtomethat\'there\'snolandnearerthanJapan\'outthere.Itmaybeveryhealthfultothetissues,butit\'swearinesstothespirit,andIdon\'tseewhywecan\'twaitatSanFranciscotilltherainssendusfurthersouth,aswellashere.\"
Hehadwalkedtothebalconyoftheirsitting-roominthelittleseasidehotelwherethisconversationtookplace,andgazeddiscontentedlyoverthecurvingbayandsandyshorebeforehim.
AfteraslightpauseMrs.Ashwoodsteppedoutbesidehim.
\"VerylikelyImaygowithyou,\"shesaid,withaperceptibletoneofweariness.\"Wewillseeafterthepostarrives.\"
\"Bytheway,thereisalittlepackageforyouinmyroom,thatcamethismorning.Ibroughtitup,butforgottogiveittoyou.
You\'llfinditonmytable.\"
Mrs.Ashwoodabstractedlyturnedawayandenteredherbrother\'sroomfromthesamebalcony.Theforgottenparcel,whichlookedlikearollofmanuscript,waslyingonhisdressing-table.Shegazedattentivelyatthehandwritingonthewrapperandthengaveaquickglancearoundher.Asuddenandsubtlechangecameoverher.
Sheneitherflushednorpaled,nordidthedelicatelinesofexpressioninherfacequiverorchange.Butassheheldtheparcelinherhandherwholebeingseemedtoundergosomeexquisitesuffusion.AsthemedicineswhichtheArabianphysicianhadconcealedinthehollowhandleofthemalletpermeatedthelanguidroyalbloodofPersia,sosomevolatilebalmofyouthseemedtoflowinuponherwiththecontactofthatstrangemissiveandtransformherwearyspirit.
\"Jack!\"shecalled,inahighclearvoice.ButJackhadalreadygonefromthebalconywhenshereacheditwithanelasticstepandaquickyouthfulswirlandrustlingofherskirt.Hewaslightinghiscigarinthegarden.
\"Jack,\"shesaid,leaninghalfovertherailing,\"comebackhereinanhourandwe\'lltalkoverthatmatterofyoursagain.\"
Jacklookedupeagerlyandasifhemightevencomeupthen,butsheaddedquickly,\"Inaboutanhour——Imustthinkitover,\"andwithdrew.
Shere-enteredthesitting-room,shutthedoorcarefullyandlockedit,halfpulleddowntheblind,walkingonceortwicearoundthetableonwhichtheparcellay,withoneeyeonitlikeagracefulcat.Thenshesuddenlysatdown,tookitupwithagravepracticalface,examinedthepostmarkcuriously,andopeneditwithseveredeliberation.Itcontainedamanuscriptandaletteroffourcloselywrittenpages.Sheglancedatthemanuscriptwithbrightapprovingeyes,ranherfingersthroughitsleavesandthenlaiditcarefullyandsomewhatostentatiouslyonthetablebesideher.
Then,stillholdingtheletterinherhand,sheroseandglancedoutofthewindowatherboredbrotherloungingtowardsthebeachandattheheavingbillowsbeyond,andreturnedtoherseat.Thisapparentlyimportantpreliminaryconcluded,shebegantoread.
Therewere,asalreadystated,fourblessedpagesofit!Allvital,earnest,palpitatingwithyouthfulenergy,preposterousinpremises,precipitateinconclusions,——yetirresistibleandconvincingtoeverywomanintheirillogicalsincerity.Therewasnotawordofloveinit,yeteverypagebreathedawholesomeadoration;therewasnotanepithetorexpressionthatagreaterprudethanMrs.Ashwoodwouldhaveobjectedto,yeteverysentenceseemedtoendinacaress.Therewasnotalineofpoetryinit,andscarcelyafigureorsimile,andyetitwaspoetical.Boyishlyegotisticasitwasinattitude,itseemedtobewrittenlessOF
himselfthanTOher;initsdelicatebecauseunconsciousflattery,itmadeheratoncetheprovocationandexcuse.Andyetsopotentwasitsindividualitythatitrequirednosignature.NoonebutJohnMiltonHarcourtcouldhavewrittenit.HispersonalitystoodoutofitsostronglythatonceortwiceMrs.Ashwoodalmostunconsciouslyputupherlittlehandbeforeherfacewithahalfmischievous,half-deprecatingsmile,asifthebighonesteyesofitswriterwereuponher.
Itbeganbyanelaborateapologyfordecliningtheappointmentofferedhimbyoneofherfriends,whichhewasboldenoughtothinkhadbeenpromptedbyherkindheart.Thatwaslikeher,butyetwhatshemightdotoanyone;andhepreferredtothinkofherasthesweetandgentleladywhohadrecognizedhismeritwithoutknowinghim,ratherthanthepowerfulandgraciousbenefactresswhowantedtorewardhimwhenshedidknowhim.ThecrownthatshehadallunconsciouslyplaceduponhisheadthatafternoonatthelittlehotelatCrystalSpringwasmoretohimthantheSenator\'sappointment;perhapshewasselfish,buthecouldnotbearthatshewhohadgivensomuchshouldbelievethathecouldacceptalessergift.Allthisandmuchmore!SomeofithehadwantedtosaytoherinSanFranciscoattimeswhentheyhadmet,buthecouldnotfindthewords.Butshehadgivenhimthecouragetogoonanddotheonlythinghewasfitfor,andhehadresolvedtosticktothat,andperhapsdosomethingoncemorethatmightmakehimhearagainhervoiceashehadhearditthatday,andagainseethelightthathadshoneinhereyesasshesatthereandread.Andthiswaswhyhewassendingheramanuscript.Shemighthaveforgottenthatshehadtoldhimastrangestoryofhercousinwhohaddisappeared——whichshethoughthemightatsometimeworkup.
Hereitwas.Perhapsshemightnotrecognizeitagain,inthewayhehadwrittenithere;perhapsshedidnotreallymeanitwhenshehadgivenhimpermissiontouseit,butherememberedhertruthfuleyesandbelievedher——andinanyeventitwasherstodowithwhatsheliked.Ithadbeenagreatpleasureforhimtowriteitandthinkthatshewouldseeit;itwaslikeseeingherhimself——thatwasinHISBETTERSELF——moreworthythecompanionshipofabeautifulandnoblewomanthanthepooryoungmanshewouldhavehelped.Thiswaswhyhehadnotcalledtheweekbeforeshewentaway.Butforallthat,shehadmadehislifelesslonely,andheshouldbeevergratefultoher.Hecouldneverforgethowsheunconsciouslysympathizedwithhimthatdayoverthelossthathadblightedhislifeforever,——yeteventhenhedidnotknowthatshe,herself,hadpassedthroughthesamesuffering.Butjustherethestrickenwidowofthirty,afteravainattempttokeepuptheknittedgravityofhereyebrows,bowedherdimplingfaceovertheletteroftheblightedwidoweroftwenty,andlaughedsolongandsilentlythatthetearsstoodoutlikedewonherlight-browneyelashes.
Butshebecamepresentlysevereagain,andfinishedherreadingofthelettergravely.Thenshefoldeditcarefully,depositeditinaboxonhertable,whichshelocked.Afterafewminutes,however,sheunlockedtheboxagainandtransferredthelettertoherpocket.Theserenityofherfeaturesdidnotrelaxagain,althoughherpreviousprettyprepossessionofyouthfulspiritwasstillindicatedinhermovements.Goingintoherbedroom,shereappearedinafewminuteswithalightcloakthrownoverhershouldersandawhite-trimmedbroad-brimmedhat.Thensherolledupthemanuscriptinapaper,andcalledherFrenchmaid.Asshestoodthereawaitingherwiththerollinherhand,shemighthavebeensomeyounggirlonherwaytohermusiclesson.
\"IfmybrotherreturnsbeforeIdo,tellhimtowait.\"
\"Madameisgoing\"——
\"Out,\"saidMrs.Ashwoodblithely,andtrippeddownstairs.
Shemadeherwaydirectlytotheshorewheresherememberedtherewasagroupofrocksaffordingashelterfromthenorthwesttradewinds.Itwasreachedatlowwaterbyanarrowridgeofsand,andhereshehadoftenbaskedinthesunwithherbook.ItwasherethatshenowunrolledJohnMilton\'smanuscriptandread.
Itwasthestoryshehadtoldhim,butinterpretedbyhispoetryandadornedbyhisfancyuntilthefactsassherememberedthemseemedtobenolongerhers,orindeedtruthsatall.Shehadalwaysbelievedhercousin\'sunhappytemperamenttohavebeentheresultofamoralandphysicalidiosyncrasy,——shefounditheretobetheeffectofalifelongandhopelesspassionforherself!TheingeniousJohnMiltonhadgivenapoet\'sprecocitytotheyouthwhomshehadonlyknownasasuspicious,moodyboy,hadidealizedhimasasensitivebutsonglessByron,hadgivenhimtheaddedinfirmityofpulmonaryweakness,andahandkerchiefthatinmomentsofgreatexcitement,afterhavingbeenhurriedlypressedtohispalelips,waswithdrawn\"withacrimsonstain.\"Opposedtothisinterestingfigure——themorestrikingtoherasshehadbeenhithertohauntedbytheimpressionthathercousinduringhisboyhoodhadbeensubjecttofacialeruptionandboils——washerownequallyidealizedself.Cruellykindtohercousinandgentlewithhisweaknesseswhilecalmlyignoringtheircause,leadinghimunconsciouslystepbystepinhisfatalpassion,heonlybecameawarebyaccidentthatshenourishedanidealherointhepersonofahard,proud,middle-agedpracticalmanoftheworld,——herfuturehusband!AtthispictureofthelateMr.Ashwood,whohadreallybeenanindistinctivesocialbonvivant,hisamiablerelictgrewsomewhathysterical.Thediscoveryofherrealfeelingsdrovetheconsumptivecousinintoasecret,self-imposedexileontheshoresofthePacific,wherehehopedtofindagrave.Butthecompleteandsuddenchangeoflifeandscene,thebalmofthewildwoodsandthewholesomebarbarismofnature,wroughtamagicalchangeinhisphysicalhealthandaphilosophicalrestinhismind.HemarriedthedaughterofanIndianchief.Yearspassed,theheroine——arichandstillyoungandbeautifulwidow——unwittinglysoughtthesamemedicinalsolitude.Hereinthedepthoftheforestsheencounteredherformerplaymate;thepassionwhichhehadfondlysupposedwasdeadrevivedinherpresence,andforthefirsttimeshelearnedfromhisbeardedlipsthesecretofhispassion.Alas!notSHE