"Well,"shesaidplayfully,turningtohimagain."Whatdoyouthinkofit?"
　　"Thinkofit?"hesaidwitharisingcolor."Ithinkit'sinfamous!Whodidit?"
　　Shestaredathim,thenglancedquicklyattheslip."Whatareyoureading?"shesaid.
　　"This,ofcourse,"hesaidimpatiently."Whatyougaveme."ButhewaspointingtoTHEOTHERSIDEofthenewspaperslip.
　　Shetookitfromhimimpatientlyandreadforthefirsttimetheprintingonthereversesideofthearticleshehadtreasuredsolong.Itwastheconcludingparagraphofanapparentlylargereditorial."Onethingiscertain,thatamaninDanielHarcourt'spositioncannotaffordtopassoverinsilenceaccusationsliketheabove,thataffectnotonlyhisprivatecharacter,buttheintegrityofhistitletothelandthatwasthefoundationofhisfortune.Whentrickery,sharppractice,andevencriminalityinthepastaremorethanhintedat,theycannotbemetbymerepompoussilenceorallusionstoprivateposition,socialprestige,ordistinguishedfriendsinthepresent."
　　Mrs.Ashwoodturnedtheslipoverwithscornfulimpatience,aprettyupliftingofhereyebrowsandaslightcurlofherlip."I
　　supposenoneofthosepeople'sbeginningscanbearlookinginto——
　　andtheycertainlyshouldbethelastonestofindfaultwithanybody.But,goodgracious,Jack!whathasthistodowithyou?"
　　"Withme?"saidShipleyangrily."Why,IproposedtoClementinalastnight!"
　　CHAPTERIX.
　　ThewayfarersontheTasajaraturnpike,whomMr.DanielHarcourtpassedwithhisfasttrottingmareandsulky,sawthattheirgreatfellow-townsmanwasmorethanusuallypreoccupiedandcurtinhisacknowledgmentoftheirsalutations.Neverthelessashedrewnearthecreek,hepartlycheckedhishorse,andwhenhereachedaslightacclivityoftheinterminableplain——whichhadreallybeenthebankofthecreekinbygonedays——hepulledup,alighted,tiedhishorsetoarailfence,andclamberingovertheinclosuremadehiswayalongtheridge.Itwascoveredwithnettles,thistles,andafewwirydwarflarchesofnativegrowth;dustfromtheadjacenthighwayhadinvadedit,withafewscatteredandtornhandbills,wastepaper,rags,emptyprovisioncans,andothersuburbandebris.Yetitwasthesiteof'LigeCurtis'scabin,longsinceerasedandforgotten.Thebedoftheoldcreekhadreceded;
　　thelasttuleshadbeenclearedaway;thechannelandembarcaderowerehalfamilefromthebankandlogwhereonthepioneerofTasajarahadidlysunnedhimself.
　　Mr.Harcourtwalkedon,occasionallyturningoverthescatteredobjectswithhisfoot,andstoppingattimestoexaminethegroundmoreclosely.Ithadnotapparentlybeendisturbedsincehehimself,sixyearsago,hadrazedthewretchedshantyandcarriedoffitstimberstoaidintheerectionofalargercabinfurtherinland.Heraisedhiseyestotheprospectbeforehim,——tothetownwithitssteamboatslyingatthewharves,tothegrainelevator,thewarehouses,therailroadstationwithitspuffingengines,theflagstaffofHarcourtHouseandtheclusteringroofsofthetown,andbeyond,thepainteddomeofhislastcreation,theFreeLibrary.ThiswasallHISwork,HISplanning,HISforesight,whatevertheymightsayofthewanderingdrunkardfromwhosetremulousfingershehadsnatchedtheopportunity.TheycouldnottakeTHATfromhim,howevertheymightfollowhimwithenvyandreviling,anymorethantheycouldwrestfromhimthefiveyearsofpeacefulpossession.ItwaswithsomethingoftheprosperousconsciousnesswithwhichhehadmountedtheplatformontheopeningoftheFreeLibrary,thathenowclimbedintohisbuggyanddroveaway.
　　NeverthelesshestoppedathisLandOfficeashedroveintotown,andgaveafeworders."Iwantastrongpicketfenceputaroundthefifty-varalotinblockfifty-seven,andthegroundclearedupatonce.Letmeknowwhenthemengettowork,andI'lloverlookthem."
　　Re-enteringhisownhouseinthesquare,whereMrs.HarcourtandClementina——whooftenaccompaniedhiminthosebusinessvisits——
　　werewaitingforhimwithluncheon,hesmiledsomewhatsuperciliouslyastheservantinformedhimthat"ProfessorGranthadjustarrived."
　　ReallythatmanwastryingtomakethemostofhistimewithClementina!PerhapstherivalattractionsofthatBostonswellShipleyhadsomethingtodowithit!HemustpositivelytalktoClementinaaboutthis.InpointoffacthehimselfwasalittledisappointedinGrant,who,sincehisoffertotakethetaskofhuntingdownhiscalumniators,hadreallydonenothing.Heturnedintohisstudy,butwasslightlyastonishedtofindthatGrant,insteadofpayingcourttoClementinaintheadjoiningdrawing-room,wassittingratherthoughtfullyinhisownarmchair.
　　HeroseasHarcourtentered."Ididn'tletthemannouncemetotheladies,"hesaid,"asIhavesomeimportantbusinesswithyoufirst,andwemayfinditnecessarythatIshouldtakethenexttrainbacktotown.YourememberthatafewweeksagoIofferedtolookintothematterofthoseslandersagainstyou.Iapprehendeditwouldbeatriflingmatterofenvyorjealousyonthepartofyouroldassociatesorneighborswhichcouldbeputstraightwithalittlegoodfeeling;butImustbefrankwithyou,Harcourt,andsayatthebeginningthatitturnsouttobeaninfernallyuglybusiness.Callitconspiracyifyoulike,ororganizedhostility,I'mafraiditwillrequirealawyerratherthananarbitratortomanageit,andthesoonerthebetter.Forthemostunpleasantthingaboutitis,thatIcan'tfindoutexactlyHOWBADitis!"
　　UnfortunatelytheweakerinstinctofHarcourt'snaturewasfirstroused;thevulgarragewhichconfoundsthebearerofillnewswiththenewsitselffilledhisbreast."Andthisisallthatyourconfoundedintermeddlingcameto?"hesaidbrutally.
　　"No,"saidGrantquietly,withapreoccupiedignoringoftheinsultthatwasmorehopelessforHarcourt."Ifoundoutthatitisclaimedthatthis'LigeCurtiswasnotdrownednorlostthatnight;
　　butthatheescaped,andforthreeyearshasconvincedanothermanthatyouarewrongfullyinpossessionofthisland;thatthesetwonaturallyholdyouintheirpower,andthattheyareonlywaitingforyoutobeforcedintolegalproceedingsforslandertoprovealltheircharges.Untilthen,forsomereasonbestknowntothemselves,Curtisremainsinthebackground."
　　"DoeshedenythedeedunderwhichIholdtheproperty?"saidHarcourtsavagely.
　　"Hesaysitwasonlyasecurityforatriflingloan,andnotanactualtransfer."
　　"Anddon'tthosefoolsknowthathissecuritycouldbeforfeited?"
　　"Yes,butnotinthewayitisrecordedinthecountyclerk'soffice.Theysaythattherecordshowsthattherewasaninterpolationinthepaperheleftwithyou——whichwasaforgery.
　　Briefly,Harcourt,youareaccusedofthat.More,——itisintimatedthatwhenhefellintothecreekthatnight,andescapedonaraftthatwasfloatingpast,thathehadbeenfirststunnedbyablowfromsomeoneinterestedingettingridofhim."
　　Hepausedandglancedoutofthewindow.
　　"Isthatall?"askedHarcourtinaperfectlyquiet,steady,voice.
　　"All!"repliedGrant,struckwiththechangeinhiscompanion'smanner,andturninghiseyesuponhimquickly.
　　Thechangeindeedwasmarkedandsignificant.Whetherfromreliefatknowingtheworst,orwhetherhewasexperiencingthesamereactionfromtheutterfalsityofthislastaccusationthathehadfeltwhenGranthadunintentionallywrongedhiminhispreviousrecollection,certainitisthatsomeunknownreserveofstrengthinhisownnature,ofwhichheknewnothingbefore,suddenlycametohisaidinthisextremity.ItinvestedhimwithanuncouthdignitythatforthefirsttimeexcitedGrant'srespect.
　　"Ibegyourpardon,Grant,forthehastywayIspoketoyouamomentago,forIthankyou,andappreciatethoroughlyandsincerelywhatyouhavedone.Youareright;itisamatterforfightingandnotfussingover.ButImusthaveaheadtohit.
　　Whoseisit?"
　　"ThemanwhoholdshimselflegallyresponsibleisFletcher,——theproprietorofthe'Clarion,'andamanofproperty."
　　"The'Clarion'?Thatisthepaperwhichbegantheattack?"saidHarcourt.
　　"Yes,anditisonlyfairtotellyouherethatyoursonthrewuphisplaceonitinconsequenceofitsattackuponyou."
　　TherewasperhapstheslightestpossibleshrinkinginHarcourt'seyelids——theonecongenitallikenesstohisdiscardedson——buthisotherwisecalmdemeanordidnotchange.Grantwentonmorecheerfully:"I'vetoldyouallIknow.WhenIspokeofanunknownWORST,Ididnotrefertoanyfurtheraccusation,buttowhateverevidencetheymighthavefabricatedorsubornedtoproveanyoneofthem.Itisonlythestrengthandfairnessofthehandstheyholdthatisuncertain.Againstthatyouhaveyourcertainuncontestedpossession,thepeculiarcharacterandantecedentsofthis'LigeCurtis,whichwouldmakehisevidenceuntrustworthyandevenmakeitdifficultforthemtoestablishhisidentity.Iamtoldthathisfailuretocontestyourappropriationofhispropertyisexplainedbythefactofhisbeingabsentfromthecountrymostofthetime;butagain,thiswouldnotaccountfortheirsilenceuntilwithinthelastsixmonths,unlesstheyhavebeenwaitingforfurtherevidencetoestablishit.Buteventhentheymusthaveknownthatthetimeofrecoveryhadpassed.Youareapracticalman,Harcourt;Ineedn'ttellyouthereforewhatyourlawyerwillprobablytellyou,thatpractically,sofarasyourrightsareconcerned,youremainasbeforethesecalumnies;thatacauseofactionunprosecutedorinabeyanceispracticallynocause,andthatitisnotforyoutoanticipateone.BUT"——
　　HepausedandlookedsteadilyatHarcourt.Harcourtmethislookwithadull,ox-likestolidity."Ishallbeginthesuitatonce,"
　　hesaid.
　　"AndI,"saidGrant,holdingouthishand,"willstandbyyou.ButtellmenowwhatyouknewofthismanCurtis,——hischaracteranddisposition;itmaybesomeclueastowhatarehismethodsandhisintentions."
　　Harcourtbrieflysketched'LigeCurtisasheknewhimandunderstoodhim.Itwasanotherindicationofhisreservedpowerthatthedescriptionwassosingularlyclear,practical,unprejudiced,andimpartialthatitimpressedGrantwithitstruthfulness.
　　"Ican'tmakehimout,"hesaid;"youhavedrawnaweak,butneitheradishonestnormalignantman.Theremusthavebeensomebodybehindhim.Canyouthinkofanypersonalenemy?"
　　"Ihavebeensubjectedtotheusualjealousyandenvyofmyoldneighbors,Isuppose,butnothingmore.Ihaveharmednooneknowingly."
　　Grantwassilent;ithadflashedacrosshimthatRicemighthaveharboredrevengeforhisfather-in-law'sinterferenceinhisbriefmatrimonialexperience.HehadalsosuddenlyrecalledhisconversationwithBillingsonthedaythathefirstarrivedatTasajara.Itwouldnotbestrangeifthismanhadsomeintimationofthesecret.Hewouldtrytofindhimthatevening.Herose.
　　"Youwillstaytodinner?MywifeandClementinawillexpectyou."
　　"Notto-night;Iamdiningatthehotel,"saidGrant,smilingly;
　　"butIwillcomeinlaterintheeveningifImay."Hepausedhesitatinglyforamoment."Haveyourwifeanddaughtereverexpressedanyopiniononthismatter?"
　　"No,"saidHarcourt."Mrs.HarcourtknowsnothingofanythingthatdoesnothappenINthehouse;Euphemiaknowsonlythethingsthathappenoutofitwheresheisvisiting——andIsupposethatyoungmenprefertotalktoheraboutotherthingsthantheslandersofherfather.AndClementina——well,youknowhowcalmandsuperiortothesethingsSHEis."
　　"ForthatveryreasonIthoughtthatperhapsshemightbeabletoseethemmoreclearly,——butnomatter!Idaresayyouarequiterightinnotdiscussingthemathome."Thiswasthefact,althoughGranthadnotforgottenthatHarcourthadputforwardhisdaughtersasareasonforstoppingthescandalsomeweeksbefore,——areasonwhich,however,seemednevertohavebeenborneoutbyanyapparentsensitivenessofthegirlsthemselves.
　　WhenGranthadleft,HarcourtremainedforsomemomentssteadfastlygazingfromthewindowovertheTasajaraplain.Hehadnotlosthislookofconcentratedpower,norhisdeterminationtofight.A
　　strugglebetweenhimselfandthephantomsofthepasthadbecomenowanecessarystimulusforitsownsake,——forthesakeofhismentalandphysicalequipoise.Hesawbeforehimthepale,agitated,irresolutefeaturesof'LigeCurtis,——notthemanHEhadinjured,butthemanwhohadinjuredHIM,whosespiritwasaimlesslyandwantonly——forhehadneverattemptedtogetbackhispossessionsinhislifetime,norevertriedtocommunicatewiththepossessor——strikingathimintheshadow.AnditwasTHATman,thatpale,writhing,frightenedwretchwhomhehadoncemercifullyhelped!Yes,whoseLIFEhehadevensavedthatnightfromexposureanddeliriumtremenswhenhehadgivenhimthewhiskey.Andthislifehehadsaved,onlytohaveitsetinmotionaconspiracytoruinhim!Whoknowsthat'Ligehadnotpurposelyconceivedwhattheyhadbelievedtobeanattemptatsuicide,onlytocastsuspicionofmurderonHIM!FromwhichitwillbeperceivedthatHarcourt'spowersofmoralreasoninghadnotimprovedinfiveyears,andthateventheimpartialityhehadjustshowninhisdescriptionof'LigetoGranthadbeenswallowedupinthisnewsenseofinjury.ThefounderofTasajara,whosecoolbusinesslogic,unfailingforesight,andpracticaldeductionswereneveratfault,wasoncemorechildishlyadriftinhismoralethics.
　　AndtherewasClementina,ofwhosejudgmentGranthadspokensopersistently,——couldsheassisthim?Itwastrue,ashehadsaid,hehadnevertalkedtoherofhisaffairs.Inhissometimesuneasyconsciousnessofhersuperiorityhehadshrunkfromevenrevealinghisanxieties,muchlesshisactualsecret,andfromanythingthatmightprejudicetheloftypaternalattitudehehadtakentowardshisdaughtersfromthebeginningofhisgoodfortune.Hewasneverquitesureifheracceptanceofitwasreal;hewasneverentirelyfreefromacertainjealousythatalwaysmingledwithhisprideinhersuperiorrectitude;andyethisfeelingwasdistinctfromthegood-naturedcontempthehadforhiswife'sloyalty,theangerandsuspicionthathisson'soppositionhadprovoked,andthehalf-
　　affectionatetolerationhehadfeltforEuphemia'swaywardness.
　　HoweverhewouldsoundClementinawithoutbetrayinghimself.
　　Hewasanticipatedbyaslightstepinthepassageandthepushingopenofhisstudydoor.Thetall,gracefulfigureofthegirlherselfstoodintheopening.
　　"TheytellmeMr.Granthasbeenhere.Doeshestaytodinner?"
　　"No,hehasanengagementatthehotel,buthewillprobablydropinlater.Comein,Clemmy,Iwanttotalktoyou.Shutthedoorandsitdown."
　　Sheslippedinquietly,shutthedoor,tookaseatonthesofa,softlysmootheddownhergown,andturnedhergracefulheadandserenelycomposedfacetowardshim.Sittingthusshelookedlikesomefinelyfinishedpaintingthatdecoratedratherthanbelongedtotheroom,——notonlydistinctlyalientothefleshandbloodrelativebeforeher,buttothehouse,andeventhelocal,monotonouslandscapebeyondthewindowwiththeshiningnewshinglesandchimneysthatcutthenewbluesky.ThesesingularperfectionsseemedtoincreaseinHarcourt'smindtheexasperatingsenseofinjuryinflicteduponhimby'Lige'sexposures.Withadaughtersoincomparablygifted,——amatchlesscreationthatwasenoughinherselftoennoblethatfortunewhichhisownskillandgeniushadliftedfromthemuddytulesofTasajarawherethis'Ligehadleftit,——thatSHEshouldbesubjectedtothisannoyanceseemedaninfamythatProvidencecouldnotallow!Whatwashismerevenialtransgressiontothisexaggeratedretribution?
　　"Clemmy,girl,I'mgoingtoaskyouaquestion.Listen,pet."Hehadbegunwithareminiscenttendernessoftheepochofherchildhood,butmeetingtheunrespondingmaturityofhercleareyesheabandonedit."Youknow,Clementina,Ihaveneverinterferedinyouraffairs,nortriedtoinfluenceyourfriendshipsforanybody.
　　Whateverpeoplemayhavetosayofmetheycan'tsaythat!I'vealwaystrustedyou,asIwouldmyself,tochooseyourownassociates;Ihaveneverregrettedit,andIdon'tregretitnow.
　　ButI'dliketoknow——Ihavereasonsto-dayforasking——howmattersstandbetweenyouandGrant."
　　TheParianheadofMinervaonthebookcaseaboveherdidnotofferthespectatorafacelessfreefrommaidenlyconfusionthanClementina'satthatmoment.Herfatherhadcertainlyexpectednone,buthewasnotpreparedfortheperfectcoolnessofherreply.
　　"Doyoumean,haveIACCEPTEDhim?"
　　"No,——well——yes."
　　"No,then!Isthatwhathewishedtoseeyouabout?Itwasunderstoodthathewasnottoalludeagaintothesubjecttoanyone."
　　"HehasnottoME.Itwasonlymyownidea.Hehadsomethingverydifferenttotellme.Youmaynotknow,Clementina,"hebeguncautiously,"thatIhavebeenlatelythesubjectofsomeanonymousslanders,andGranthastakenthetroubletotrackthemdownforme.ItisacalumnythatgoesbackasfarasSidon,andImaywantyourlevelheadandgoodmemorytohelpmetorefuteit."Hethenrepeatedcalmlyandclearly,withnotraceofthefurythathadragedwithinhimamomentbefore,thesubstanceofGrant'srevelation.
　　Theyounggirllistenedwithoutapparentemotion.Whenhehadfinishedshesaidquickly:"Andwhatdoyouwantmetorecollect?"
　　ThehardestpartofHarcourt'staskwascoming."Well,don'tyourememberthatItoldyouthedaythesurveyorswentaway——that——I
　　hadboughtthislandof'LigeCurtissometimebefore?"
　　"Yes,Irememberyoursayingso,but"——
　　"Butwhat?"
　　"Ithoughtyouonlymeantthattosatisfymother."
　　DanielHarcourtfeltthebloodsettlingroundhisheart,buthewasconstrainedbyanirresistibleimpulsetoknowtheworst."Well,whatdidYOUthinkitreallywas?"
　　"Ionlythoughtthat'LigeCurtishadsimplyletyouhaveit,that'sall."
　　Harcourtbreathedagain."Butwhatfor?Whyshouldhe?"
　　"Well——ONMYACCOUNT."
　　"OnYOURaccount!WhatinHeaven'snamehadYOUtodowithit?"
　　"Helovedme."Therewasnottheslightesttraceofvanity,self-
　　consciousnessorcoquetryinherquiet,fatefulface,andforthisveryreasonHarcourtknewthatshewasspeakingthetruth.
　　"LovedYOU!——you,Clementina!——mydaughter!DidheeverTELLyouso?"
　　"Notinwords.HeusedtowalkupanddownontheroadwhenIwasatthebackwindoworinthegarden,andoftenhungaboutthebankofthecreekforhours,likesomeanimal.Idon'tthinktheotherssawhim,andwhentheydidtheythoughtitwasParmleeforEuphemia.EvenEuphemiathoughtsotoo,andthatwaswhyshewassoconceitedandhardtoParmleetowardstheend.ShethoughtitwasParmleethatnightwhenGrantandRicecame;butitwas'LigeCurtiswhohadbeenwatchingthewindowlightsintherain,andwhomusthavegoneoffatlasttospeaktoyouinthestore.IalwaysletPhemiebelievethatitwasParmlee,——itseemedtopleaseher."
　　Therewasnottheleasttoneofmischieforsuperiority,orevenofpatronageinhermanner.Itwasasquietandcruelasthefatethatmighthaveled'Ligetohisdestruction.Evenherfatherfeltaslightthrillofaweasshepaused."Thenheneverreallyspoketoyou?"heaskedhurriedly.
　　"Onlyonce.Iwasgatheringswampliliesallalone,amilebelowthebendofthecreek,andhecameuponmesuddenly.PerhapsitwasthatIdidn'tjumporstart——Ididn'tseeanythingtojumporstartat——thathesaid,'You'renotfrightenedatme,MissHarcourt,liketheothergirls?Youdon'tthinkI'mdrunkorhalfmad——astheydo?'Idon'trememberexactlywhatIsaid,butitmeantthatwhetherhewasdrunkorhalfmadorsoberIdidn'tseeanyreasontobeafraidofhim.AndthenhetoldmethatifIwasfondofswampliliesImighthaveallIwantedathisplace,andforthematterofthattheplacetoo,ashewasgoingaway,forhecouldn'tstandthelonelinessanylonger.Hesaidthathehadnothingincommonwiththeplaceandthepeople——nomorethanI
　　had——andthatwaswhathehadalwaysfanciedinme.Itoldhimthatifhefeltinthatwayabouthisplaceheoughttoleaveit,orsellittosomeonewhocaredforit,andgoaway.Thatmusthavebeeninhismindwhenheofferedittoyou,——atleastthat'swhatIthoughtwhenyoutoldusyouhadboughtit.Ididn'tknowbutwhathemighthavetoldyou,butyoudidn'tcaretosayitbeforemother."
　　Mr.Harcourtsatgazingatherwithbreathlessamazement."Andyou——thinkthat——'LigeCurtis——lov——likedyou?"
　　"Yes,Ithinkhedid——andthathedoesnow!"
　　"NOW!Whatdoyoumean?Themanisdead!"saidHarcourtstarting.
　　"That'sjustwhatIdon'tbelieve."
　　"Impossible!Thinkofwhatyouaresaying."
　　"Inevercouldquiteunderstandorfeelthathewasdeadwheneverybodysaidso,andnowthatI'veheardthisstoryIKNOWthatheisliving."
　　"Butwhydidhenotmakehimselfknownintimetoclaimtheproperty?"