thedressofhermodelhadbeenframeduponasymmetricallyattenuatedFrenchcorset，andtheunfortunateMinty\'sfullerandamplercurveshadunderhersimplecountrystaysknownnomorerestrainingcincturethanknewtheVenusofMilo。Thealterationwasahideousfailure，itwasneitherMinty\'sstatuesqueoutlinenorLouiseMacy\'sgracefulcontour。Mintywasnofool，andtherevelationofthissloweducationofthefigureandtrainingofoutline——whetherfairorfalseinart——struckherquickintelligencewithallitsfullandhopelesssignificance。Abitterlightsprangtohereyes；shetorethewretchedshamfromhershoulders，andthenwrappingashawlaroundher，threwherselfheavilyandsullenlyonthebed。ButinactionwasnotacharacteristicofMinty\'semotion；
shepresentlyroseagain，and，takinganoldwork-boxfromhertrunk，begantorummageinitsrecesses。Itwasanoldshell-
incrustedaffair，andtheapparentreceptacleofsuchcheapoddsandendsofjewelryasshepossessed；ahideouscameoring，thepropertyofthelateMrs。Sharpe，wasmissing。Sheagainrapidlyexploredthecontentsofthebox，andthenaninspirationseizedher，andshedartedintoherbrother\'sbedroom。
ThatprecociousandgallantLovelaceoften，despiteallsentiment，hadbaselysuccumbedtothegrossmaterialismofyouthfulslumber。
Onacotinthecorner，halfhiddenunderthewreckofhisowncarelessandhurrieddisrobing，withonearmhangingoutofthecoverlid，Richelieulaysupremelyunconscious。Ontheforefingerofhissmallbutdirtyhandthemissingcameowasstillglitteringguiltily。WithaswiftmovementofindignationMintyrushedwithupliftedpalmtowardsthetemptingexpanseofyouthfulcheekthatlayinvitinglyexposeduponthepillow。Thenshestoppedsuddenly。
Shehadseenhimlyingthusahundredtimesbefore。Onthepillownearhimanindistinguishablemassofgoldenfur——thehelplessbulkofasquirrelchainedtothelegofhiscot；athisfeetawall-
eyedcat，whohadfollowedhistyrannouscapriceswiththelong-
sufferingdevotionofhersex；ontheshelfabovehimaloathsomecollectionoffliesandtarantulasindullgreenbottles:aslabofginger-breadforlightnocturnalrefection，andherownpotofbear\'sgrease。Perhapsitwasthepiteousdefencelessnessofyouthfulsleep，perhapsitwassomelingeringmemoryofherfather\'scaress；butasshegazedathimwithtroubledeyes，thejuvenilereprobateslippedbackintothebaby-boythatshehadcarriedinherownchildisharmssuchashorttimeago，whenthematernalresponsibilityhaddescendedwiththedeadmother\'sill-
fittingdressesuponherlankgirlishfigureandscantvirginbreast——andherhandfelllistlesslyatherside。
Thesleeperstirredslightlyandawoke。Atthesamemoment，bysomemysterioussympathy，apairofbeadybrighteyesappearedinthebulkoffurnearhiscurls，thecatstretchedherself，andevenavagueagitationwasheardinthebottlesontheshelf。Richelieu\'sblinkingeyeswanderedfromthecandletohissister，andthentheguiltyhandwassuddenlywithdrawnunderthebedclothes。
\"Nomatter，dear，\"saidMinty；\"it\'smar\'s，andyoukinwearitwhenyoulike，ifyou\'llonlyaskforit。”
Richelieuwonderedifhewasdreaming!Thisunexpectedmildness——
thisinexplicabletremorinhissister\'svoice:itmustbesomeoccultinfluenceofthenightseasononthesisterlymind，possiblyakintoafearofghosts!Hemadeamentalnoteofitinviewoffuturefavors，yetforthemomenthefeltembarrassedlygratified。
\"Yeain\'twantin\'anything，Minty，\"hesaidaffectionately；\"apailo\'coldwaterfromthefarspring——nonothin\'？\"Hemadeanostentatiousmovementasiftorise，yetsufficientlyprotractedtopreventanyhastyacceptanceofhisprodigaloffer。
\"No，dear，\"shesaid，stillgazingathimwithanabsorbedlookinherdarkeyes。
Richelieufeltaslightcreepysensationunderthatlonelyfar-offgaze。\"Youreyeslookawfulbigatnight，Minty，\"hesaid。Hewouldhaveadded\"andpretty，\"butshewashissister，andhehadtheloftyfraternalconvictionofhisdutyinrepressingtheinordinatevanityofthesex。\"Ye\'resureyeain\'twantin\'
nothin\'？\"
\"Notnow，dear。”Shepausedamoment，andthensaiddeliberately:
\"Butyouwouldn\'tmindturnin\'outaftersun-upandrunnin\'anerrandformeovertoTheLookout？\"
Richelieu\'seyessparkledsosuddenlythateveninherabsorptionMintynoticedthechange。\"Butye\'renotgoin\'totarryoverthere，nergossip——youhear？Yertotakethisyermessage。Yertosay\'thatitwillbeonpossibleformetocomebackthere，onaccount——onaccountof——\'\"
\"Importantbusiness，\"suggestedRichelieu；\"that\'stheperlitestyle。”
\"Efyoulike。”Sheleanedoverthebedandputherlipstohisforehead，stilldampwiththedewsofsleep，andthentohislong-
lashedlids。\"MindNip!\"——thesquirrel——hepracticallysuggested。
Foraninstanttheirblondcurlsmingledonthepillow。\"Nowgotosleep，\"shesaidcurtly。
ButRichelieuhadtakenherwhiteneckintheshortstrangulatoryhugofthesmallboy，andheldherfast。\"Ye\'llletmeputonmybestpants？\"
\"Yes。”
\"Andwearthatring？\"
\"Yes\"——alittlesadly。
\"Thenyerkincountmein，Minty；andseehere\"——hisvoicesanktoaconfidentialwhisper——\"mebbeesomedayye\'llbebeholdentoME
foraloto\'realjewelry。”
Shereturnedslowlytoherroom，and，openingthewindow，lookedoutuponthenight。ThesamemoonthathadlentsuchsupererogatorygracetothenaturalbeautyofTheLookout，hereseemedtohavefailed；asMintyhad，indisguisingtherelentlesslimitationsofNatureorthecruelbondsofcustom。Theblackplainofgranite，underitsrays，appearedonlytoextenditspovertytosomeremoterbarrier；theblackenedstumpsoftheburntforeststoodbleakeragainstthesky，likebrokenandtwistedpillarsofiron。ThecavityofthebrokenledgewhereRichelieuhadprospectedwasahideouschasmofbluishblackness，overwhichapurplevaporseemedtohover；the\"brushdump\"besidethehouseshowedacavernofwrithinganddistortedobjectsstiffenedintodarkrigidity。Shehadoftenlookedupontheprospect:ithadneverseemedsohardandchangeless；yetsheacceptedit，asshehadaccepteditbefore。
Sheturnedaway，undressedherselfmechanically，andwenttobed。
Shehadanideathatshehadbeenveryfoolish；thatherescapefrombeingstillmorefoolishwassomethingmiraculous，andinsomemeasureconnectedwithProvidence，herfather，herlittlebrother，andherdeadmother，whosedressshehadrecklesslyspoiled。Butthatshehadevensoslightlytouchedthebitternessandgloryofrenunciation——aswrittenofheroinesandfineladiesbynovelistsandpoets——neverenteredthefoolishheadofMintySharpe，theblacksmith\'sdaughter。
CHAPTERIV。
ItwasalittleafterdaybreaknextmorningthatMainwaringawokefromthefirstunrefreshingnighthehadpassedatTheLookout。Hewassofeverishandrestlessthathedressedhimselfatsunrise，andcautiouslysteppedoutuponthestillsilentveranda。ThechairswhichheandLouiseMacyhadoccupiedwerestill，itseemedtohim，conspicuouslyconfidentialwitheachother，andheseparatedthem，butashelookeddownintotheGreatCanyonathisfeethewasconsciousofsomeundefinablechangeintheprospect。Aslightmistwasrisingfromthevalley，asifitwerethelastoflastnight\'sillusions；thefirstlevelsunbeamswereobtrusivelysearching，andthekeenmorningairhadadrylypracticalinsistencewhichirritatedhim，untilalightfootsteponthefartherendoftheverandacausedhimtoturnsharply。
Itwasthesingularapparitionofasmallboy，bearingasurprisingresemblancetoMintySharpe，anddressedinanuniquefashion。Onatumbledseaofblondcurlsa\"chip\"sailorhat，withabroadredribbon，rodejauntily。Butherethenauticalsuggestionchanged，ashadthedesireofbecomingapiratewhichinducedit。Aredshirt，withawhitecollar，andayellowplaidribbontie，thatalsorecalledMintySharpe，lightlyturnedthesuggestionofhiscostumetomining。Shortblackvelvettrousers，comingtohisknee，andostentatiouslynewshort-leggedboots，withvisiblestrapslikecurlingears，completedtheentirelyoriginalcharacterofhislowerlimbs。
Mainwaring，alwayseasilygentleandfamiliarwithchildrenandhisinferiors，lookedathimwithanencouragingsmile。Richelieu——foritwashe——advancedgravelyandheldouthishand，withthecameoringapparent。Mainwaring，withequalgravity，shookitwarmly，andremovedhishat。Richelieu，keenlyobservant，didthesame。
\"IsJimBradleyoutyet？\"askedRichelieu，carelessly。
\"No；Ithinknot。ButI\'mFrankMainwaring。WillIdo？\"
Richelieusmiled。Thedimples，thewhiteteeth，thedark，laughingeyes，weresurelyMinty\'s？
\"I\'mRichelieu，\"herejoinedwithequalcandor。
\"Richelieu？\"
\"Yes。ThatFrenchman——theLordCardinal——youknow。MarsawForrestdohimoutinSt。Louis。”
\"Dohim？\"
\"Yes，inthetheayter。”
Withaconfusedmisconceptionofhismeaning，MainwaringtriedtorecallthehistoricaldressofthegreatCardinalandfitittothemasquerader——ifsuchhewere——beforehim。ButRichelieurelievedhimbyadding，——
\"RichelieuSharpe。”
\"Oh，that\'syourNAME!\"saidMainwaring，cheerfully。\"Thenyou\'reMissMinty\'sbrother。Iknowher。Howjollylucky!\"
Theybothshookhandsagain。Richelieu，eagertogetridoftheburdenofhissister\'smessage，whichhefeltwasinthewayoffree-and-easyintercoursewiththischarmingstranger，lookeduneasilytowardsthehouse。
\"Isay，\"saidMainwaring，\"ifyou\'reinahurry，you\'dbettergointhereandknock。Ihearsomeonestirringinthekitchen。”
Richelieunodded，butfirstwentbacktothestepsoftheveranda，pickedupasmallblueknottedhandkerchief，apparentlycontainingsomeheavyobjects，andrepassedMainwaring。
\"What!haveyoucutit，Richelieu，withyourvaluables？Whathaveyougotthere？\"
\"Specimins，\"saidRichelieu，shortly，andvanished。
Hereturnedpresently。\"Well，Cardinal，didyouseeanybody？\"
askedMainwaring。
\"Mrs。Bradley；butJim\'sovertothemill。I\'mgoin\'there。”
\"DidyouseeMissMacy？\"continuedMainwaring，carelessly。
\"Loo？\"
\"Loo!——well；yes。”
\"No。She\'sphilanderin\'withCaptainGreyson。”
\"PhilanderingwithGreyson？\"echoedMainwaring，inwonder。
\"Yes；onhorsebackontheridge。”
\"Youmeanshe\'sridingoutwithMr——withCaptainGreyson？\"
\"Yes；ridin\'ANDphilanderin\'，\"persistedRichelieu。
\"Andwhatdoyoucallphilandering？\"
\"Well；Ireckonyouandsheoughterknow，\"returnedRichelieu，withaprecociousair。
\"Certainly，\"saidMainwaring，withafaintsmile。RichelieureallywaslikeMinty。
Therewasalongsilence。ThisyoungEnglishmanwasbecomingexceedinglyuninteresting。Richelieufeltthathewasgainingneitherprofitnoramusement，andlosingtime。\"I\'mgoing，\"hesaid。
\"Goodmorning，\"saidMainwaring，withoutlookingup。
Richelieupickeduphisspecimens，thoroughlyconvincedofthestranger\'sglitteringdeceitfulness，andvanished。
Itwasnearlyeighto\'clockwhenMrs。Bradleycamefromthehouse。
Sheapologized，withaslightlydistraitsmile，forthetardinessofthehousehold。\"Mr。Bradleystayedatthemillallnight，andwillnotbehereuntilbreakfast，whenhebringsyourfriendMr。
Richardsonwithhim\"——Mainwaringscarcelyrepressedamovementofimpatience——\"whoarrivesearly。It\'sunfortunatethatMissSharpecan\'tcometo-day。”
InhisabstractionMainwaringdidnotnoticethatMrs。BradleyslightlyaccentedMinty\'sformalappellation，andsaidcarelessly，——
\"Oh，that\'swhyherbrothercameoverheresoearly!\"
\"DidYOUseehim？\"askedMrs。Bradley，almostabruptly。
\"Yes。Heisanamusinglittlebeggar；butIthinkheshareshissister\'spreferenceforMr。Bradley。Hedesertedmehereintheverandaforhimatthemill。”
\"Louisewillkeepyoucompanyassoonasshehaschangedherdress，\"continuedMrs。Bradley。\"Shewasoutridingearlythismorningwithafriend。She\'sveryfondofearlymorningrides。”
\"ANDphilandering，\"repeatedMainwaringtohimself。ItwasquitenaturalforMissMacytorideoutinthemorning，afterthefashionofthecountry，withanescort；butwhyhadthecubinsistedonthe\"philandering\"？Hehadsaid，\"ANDphilandering，\"distinctly。Itwasanastythingforhimtosay。Anyotherfellowbuthe，Mainwaring，mightmisunderstandthewholething。Perhapsheoughttowarnher——butno!hecouldnotrepeatthegossipofachild，andthatchildthebrotherofoneofherinferiors。ButwasMintyaninferior？DidsheandMintytalktogetheraboutthisfellowGreyson？Atallevents，itwouldonlyrevivetheawkwardnessoftheprecedingday，andheresolvedtosaynothing。
Hewasrewardedbyahalf-inquiring，half-confidinglookinLouise\'sbrighteyes，whenshepresentlygreetedhimontheveranda。\"Shehadquiteforgotten，\"shesaid，\"totellhimlastnightofhermorning\'sengagement；indeed，shehadhalfforgottenIT。Itusedtobeafavoritepracticeofhers，withCaptainGreyson；butshehadlatelygivenitup。Shebelievedshehadnotriddensince——since——\"
\"Sincewhen？\"askedMainwaring。
\"Well，sinceyouwereill，\"shesaidfrankly。
AquickpleasureshoneinMainwaring\'scheekandeye；butLouise\'sprettylidsdidnotdrop，norherfaint，quietbloomdeepen。
BreakfastwasalreadywaitingwhenMr。Richardsonarrivedalone。
HeexplainedthatMr。Bradleyhadsomeimportantandunexpectedbusinesswhichhaddelayedhim，butwhich，headded，\"Mr。Bradleysaysmayproveinterestingenoughtoyoutoexcusehisabsencethismorning。”Mainwaringwasnotdispleasedthathiscriticalandobservanthostwasnotpresentattheirmeeting。LouiseMacywas，however，asdemurelyconsciousofthedifferentbearingofthetwocompatriots。Richardson\'ssomewhatself-importantpatronageofthetwoladies，andthatCalifornianfamiliarityhehadacquired，changedtoacertainuneasydeferencetowardsMainwaring；whiletheyoungerEnglishman\'sslightlystiffanddeliberatecordialitywas，nevertheless，mingledwithamysteriousunderstandingthatappearedinnateandunconscious。Louisewasquicktoseethatthesetwomen，morewidelydivergentinqualitythananytwoofherowncountrymen，wereyetmoresubtlyconnectedbysomeunknownsympathythanthemostequalofAmericans。Minty\'spropheticbeliefoftheeffectofthetwowomenuponRichardsonwascertainlytrueasregardedMrs。Bradley。Thebanker——alargematerialnature——wasquicklyfascinatedbythedemure，puritanicgracesofthatlady，andwasinclinedtoexhibitasomewhatbroadandostentatiousgallantrythatannoyedMainwaring。Whentheywereseatedaloneontheveranda，whichtheladieshaddiscreetlylefttothem，Richardsonsaid，——
\"OddIdidn\'thearofBradley\'swifebefore。Sheseemsaspicy，pretty，comfortablecreature。Regularlythrownawaywithhimuphere。”
Mainwaringrepliedcoldlythatshewas\"anadmirablehelpmeetofaveryadmirableman，\"not，however，withoutanuneasyrecollectionofherpreviousconfidencesrespectingherhusband。\"Theyhavebeenmostthoroughlygoodandkindtome；myownbrotherandsistercouldnothavedonemore。Andcertainlynotwithbettertasteordelicacy，\"headded，markedly。
\"Certainly，certainly，\"saidRichardson，hurriedly。\"IwrotetoLadyMainwaringthatyouweretakencapitalcareofbysomeveryhonestpeople；andthat——\"
\"LadyMainwaringalreadyknowswhatIthinkofthem，andwhatsheowestotheirkindness，\"saidMainwaring，dryly。
\"True，true，\"saidRichardson，apologetically。\"Ofcourseyoumusthaveseenagooddealofthem。IonlyknowBradleyinabusinessway。He\'sbeentryingtogettheBanktohelphimtoputupsomenewmillshere；butwedidn\'tseeit。Idaresayheisgoodcompany——ratheramusing，eh？\"
Mainwaringhadthegiftofhisclassofsnubbingbythepoliteandforgivingoblivionofsilence。Richardsonshifteduneasilyinhischair，butcontinuedwithassumedcarelessness:——
\"No；Ionlyknewofthiscousin，MissMacy。IheardofherwhenshewasvisitingsomefriendsinMenloParklastyear。Ratheranattractivegirl。TheysayColonelJohnson，ofSacramento，tookquiteafancytoher——itwouldhavebeenagoodmatch，Idaresay，forheisveryrich——butthethingfellthroughinsomeway。Then，theysay，SHEwantedtomarrythatSpaniard，youngPico，oftheAmadorRanche；buthisfamilywouldn\'thearofit。Somehow，she\'sdeucedunlucky。Isupposeshe\'llmakeamessofitwithCaptainGreysonshewasoutridingwiththismorning。”
\"Didn\'ttheBankthinkBradley\'smillsagoodinvestment？\"askedMainwaringquietly，whenRichardsonpaused。
\"Notwithhiminit；heisnotabusinessman，youknow。”
\"Ithoughthewas。Heseemstomeanenergeticman，whoknowshiswork，andisnotafraidtolookafterithimself。”
\"That\'sjustit。Hehasgotabsurdideasofco-operatingwithhisworkmen，youknow，anddoingeverythingslowlyandonalimitedscale。Theonlythingtobedoneistobuyupallthelandonthisridge，runoffthesettlers，freezeoutalltheothermills，andputitintoabigSanFranciscocompanyonshares。That\'stheonlywaywewouldlookatit。”
\"Butyoudon\'tconsidertheinvestmentbad，evenfromHISpointofview？\"
\"Perhapsnot。”
\"Andyouonlydeclineitbecauseitisn\'tbigenoughfortheBank？\"
\"Exactly。”
\"Richardson，\"saidMainwaring，slowlyrising，puttinghishandsinhistrouserspockets，andsuddenlylookingdownuponthebankerfromtheeasylevelofhabitualsuperiority，\"Iwishyou\'dattendtothisthingforme。IdesiretomakesomereturntoMr。Bradleyforhiskindness。Iwishtogivehimwhathelphewants——inhisownway——youunderstand。Iwishit，andIbelievemyfatherwishesit，too。Ifyou\'dlikehimtowritetoyoutothateffect——\"
\"Bynomeans，it\'snotatallnecessary，\"saidRichardson，droppingwithequalsuddennessintohisold-worldobsequiousness。\"Ishallcertainlydoasyouwish。Itisnotabadinvestment，Mr。
Mainwaring，andasyousuggest，averyproperreturnfortheirkindness。And，beinghere，itwillcomequitenaturallyformetotakeuptheaffairagain。”
\"And——Isay，Richardson。”
\"Yes，sir？\"
\"Astheseladiesarerathershort-handedintheirdomesticservice，youknow，perhapsyou\'dbetternotstaytoluncheonordinner，butgoontotheSummitHouse——it\'sonlyamileortwofarther——andcomebackherethisevening。Ishan\'twantyouuntilthen。”
\"Certainly!\"stammeredRichardson。\"I\'lljusttakeleaveoftheladies!\"
\"It\'snotatallnecessary，\"saidMainwaring，quietly；\"youwouldonlydisturbthemintheirhouseholdduties。I\'lltellthemwhatI\'vedonewithyou，iftheyask。You\'llfindyourstickandhatinthepassage，andyoucanleavetheverandabythesesteps。Bytheway，youhadbettermanageattheSummittogetsomeonetobringmytrapsfromheretobeforwardedtoSacramentoto-morrow。I\'llwantaconveyance，orahorseofsomekind，myself，forI\'vegivenupwalkingforawhile；butwecansettleaboutthatto-night。
Comeearly。Goodmorning？\"
Heaccompaniedhisthoroughlysubjugatedcountryman——who，however，farfromattemptingtoreasserthimself，actuallyseemedeasierandmorecheerfulinhissubmission——totheendoftheveranda，andwatchedhimdepart。Asheturnedback，hesawtheprettyfigureofLouiseMacyleaningagainstthedoorway。Howgracefulandrefinedshelookedinthatsimplemorningdress!WhatwonderthatshewasadmiredbyGreyson，byJohnson，andbythatSpaniard!——no，byJove，itwasSHEthatwantedtomarryhim!
\"WhathaveyousentawayMr。Richardsonfor？\"askedtheyounggirl，withahalf-reproachful，half-mischievouslookinherbrighteyes。
\"IpackedhimoffbecauseIthoughtitwasalittletoohardonyouandMrs。Bradleytoentertainhimwithouthelp。”
\"ButashewasOURguest，youmighthaveleftthattous，\"saidMissMacy。
\"ByJove!Ineverthoughtofthat，\"saidMainwaring，coloringinconsternation。\"Prayforgiveme，MissMacy——butyouseeIknewtheman，andcouldsayit，andyoucouldn\'t。”
\"Well，Iforgiveyou，foryoulookreallysocutup，\"saidLouise，laughing。\"ButIdon\'tknowwhatJennywillsayofyourdisposingofherconquestsosummarily。”Shestoppedandregardedhimmoreattentively。\"Hashebroughtyouanybadnews？ifso，it\'sapityyoudidn\'tsendhimawaybefore。He\'squitespoilingourcure。”
Mainwaringthoughtbitterlythathehad。\"Butit\'sacureforallthat，MissMacy，\"hesaid，withanattemptatcheerfulness，\"andbeingacure，yousee，there\'snolongeranexcuseformystayinghere。Ihavebeenmakingarrangementsforleavinghereto-morrow。”
\"Sosoon？\"
\"Doyouthinkitsoon，MissMacy？\"askedMainwaring，turningpaleinspiteofhimself。
\"Iquiteforgot——thatyouwerehereasaninvalidonly，andthatweoweourpleasuretotheaccidentofyourpain。”
Shespokealittleartificially，hethought，yethercheekshadnotlosttheirpinkbloom，norhereyestheirtranquillity。HadheheardMinty\'scriticismhemighthavebelievedthattheorganicomissionnoticedbyherwasafact。
\"AndnowthatyourgoodworkasSisterofCharityiscompleted，you\'llbeabletoentertheworldofgayetyagainwithaclearconscience，\"saidMainwaring，withasmilethatheinwardlyfeltwasamiserablefailure。\"You\'llbeabletoresumeyourmorningrides，youknow，whichthewretchedinvalidinterrupted。”
Louiseraisedhercleareyestohis，withoutreproach，indignation，orevenwonder。Hefeltasifhehadattemptedaninsultandfailed。
\"Doesmycousinknowyouaregoingsosoon？\"sheaskedfinally。
\"No，Ididnotknowmyselfuntilto-day。Yousee，\"headdedhastily，whilehishonestbloodblazonedthelieinhischeek，\"I\'veheardofsomemiserablebusinessaffairsthatwillbringmebacktoEnglandsoonerthatIexpected。”
\"Ithinkyoushouldconsideryourhealthmoreimportantthananymerebusiness，\"saidLouise。\"Idon\'tmeanthatyoushouldremainHERE，\"sheaddedwithahastylaugh，\"butitwouldbeapity，nowthatyouhavereapedthebenefitofrestandtakingcareofyourself，thatyoushouldnotmakeityouronlybusinesstoseekitelsewhere。”
Mainwaringlongedtosaythatwithinthelasthalfhour，livingordyinghadbecomeoflittlemomenttohim；buthedoubtedthetruthorefficacyofthistimewornheroicofpassion。Hefelt，too，thatanythinghesaidwasameresubterfugefortherealreasonofhissuddendeparture。Andhowwashetoquestionherastothatreason？Inescapingfromthesesubterfuges——hewascompelledtolieagain。Withanassumptionofchangingthesubject，hesaidcalmly，\"Richardsonthoughthehadmetyoubefore——inMenloPark，I
think。”
Amazedattheevidentirrelevanceoftheremark，Louisesaidcoldly，thatshedidnotrememberhavingseenhimbefore。
\"IthinkitwasataMr。Johnson\'s——orWITHaMr。Johnson——orperhapsatoneofthoseSpanishranches——IthinkhementionedsomenamelikePico!\"
Louiselookedathimwonderinglyforaninstant，andthengavewaytoafrank，irrepressiblelaugh，whichlentherdelicatebutrathersetlittlefaceallthecolorhehadmissed。Partiallyrelievedbyherunconcern，andyetmortifiedthathehadonlyprovokedhersenseoftheludicrous，hetriedtolaughalso。
\"Then，tobequiteplain，\"saidLouise，wipinghernowhumideyes，\"youwantmetounderstandthatyoureallydidn\'tpaysufficientattentiontohearcorrectly!Thankyou；that\'saprettyEnglishcompliment，Isuppose。”
\"Idaresayyouwouldn\'tcallit\'philandering\'？\"
\"Icertainlyshouldn\'t，forIdon\'tknowwhat\'philandering\'
means。”
Mainwaringcouldnotreply，withRichelieu，\"Yououghttoknow\"；
nordidhedareexplainwhathethoughtitmeant，andhowheknewit。Louise，however，innocentlysolvedthedifficulty。
\"There\'sacountrysongI\'veheardMintysing，\"shesaid。\"Itruns——
Come，Philander，letusbea-marchin\'，Everyoneforhistruelovea-sarchin\'
Chooseyourtruelovenowornever……
Haveyoubeenlisteningtoheralso？\"
\"No，\"saidMainwaring，withasuddenincomprehensible，bututterlyirrepressible，resolution；\"butI\'M\'a-marchin\'，\'youknow，andperhapsImust\'choosemytruelovenowornever。\'Willyouhelpme，MissMacy？\"
Hedrewgentlynearher。Hehadbecomequitewhite，butalsoverymanly，anditstruckher，moredeeply，thoroughly，andconscientiouslysincerethananymanwhohadbeforeaddressedher。
Shemovedslightlyaway，asiftorestherselfbylayingbothhandsuponthebackofthechair。
\"Wheredoyouexpecttobeginyour\'sarchin\'\'？\"shesaid，leaningonthechairandtiltingitbeforeher；\"orareyouasvagueasusualastolocality？Isitatsome\'Mr。Johnson\'or\'Mr。Pico，\'
or——\"
\"Here，\"heinterruptedboldly。
\"Ireallythinkyououghttofirsttellmycousinthatyouaregoingawayto-morrow，\"shesaid，withafaintsmile。\"It\'ssuchshortnotice。She\'sjustinthere。”Shenoddedherprettyhead，withoutraisinghereyes，towardsthehall。
\"Butitmaynotbesosoon，\"saidMainwaring。
\"Oh，thenthe\'sarchin\'\'isnotsoimportant？\"saidLouise，raisingherhead，andlookingtowardsthehallwithsomeuneasybutindefinablefeminineinstinct。
Shewasright；thesitting-roomdooropened，andMrs。Bradleymadehersmilingappearance。
\"Mr。Mainwaringwasjustlookingforyou，\"saidLouise，forthefirsttimeraisinghereyestohim。\"He\'snotonlysentoffMr。
Richardson，buthe\'sgoingawayhimselfto-morrow。”
Mrs。Bradleylookedfromtheonetotheotherinmutewonder。
MainwaringcastanimploringglanceatLouise，whichhadthedesiredeffect。Muchmoreseriously，andinaquaint，business-
likeway，theyounggirltookituponherselftoexplaintoMrs。
BradleythatRichardsonhadbroughttheinvalidsomeimportantnewsthatwould，unfortunately，notonlyshortenhisstayinAmerica，butevencompelhimtoleaveTheLookoutsoonerthanheexpected，perhapsto-morrow。Mainwaringthankedherwithhiseyes，andthenturnedtoMrs。Bradley。
\"WhetherIgoto-morrowornextday，\"hesaidwithsimpleandearnestdirectness，\"Iintend，youknow，toseeyousoonagain，eitherhereorinmyownhomeinEngland。Idonotknow，\"headdedwithmarkedgravity，\"thatIhavesucceededinconvincingyouthatIhavemadeyourfamilyalreadywellknowntomypeople，andthat\"——
hefixedhiseyeswithameaninglookonLouise——\"nomatterwhen，orinwhatway，youcometothem，yourplaceismadereadyforyou。