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.