"Becausehedidnotcareforit."
　　"Whatdidhecarefor,then?"
　　"Me,Isuppose."
　　"Butthiscalumnyisnotlikeamanwholovesyou."
　　"ItislikeaJEALOUSone."
　　WithaneffortHarcourtthrewoffhisbewilderedincredulityandgraspedthesituation.Hewouldhavetocontendwithhisenemyinthefleshandblood,butthatfleshandbloodwouldbeveryweakinthehandsoftheimpassivegirlbesidehim.Hisfacelightened.
　　ThesameideamighthavebeeninClementina'smindwhenshespokeagain,althoughherfacehadremainedunchanged."IdonotseewhyYOUshouldbotheryourselffurtheraboutit,"shesaid."Itisonlyamatterbetweenmyselfandhim;youcanleaveittome."
　　"Butifyouaremistakenandheshouldnotbeliving?"
　　"Iamnotmistaken.IamevencertainnowthatIhaveseenhim."
　　"Seenhim!"
　　"Yes,"saidthegirlwiththefirsttraceofanimationinherface.
　　"ItwasfourorfivemonthsagowhenwewerevisitingtheBrionesatMonterey.WehadriddenouttotheoldMissionbymoonlight.
　　ThereweresomeMexicansloungingaroundtheposada,andoneofthemattractedmyattentionbythewayheseemedtowatchme,withoutrevealinganymoreofhisfacethanIcouldseebetweenhisserapeandtheblacksilkhandkerchiefthatwastiedaroundhisheadunderhissombrero.ButIknewhewasanAmerican——andhiseyeswerefamiliar.Ibelieveitwashe."
　　"Whydidyounotspeakofitbefore?"
　　Thelookofanimationdiedoutofthegirl'sface."WhyshouldI?"
　　shesaidlistlessly."Ididnotknowofthesereportsthen.Hewasnothingmoretous.Youwouldn'thavecaredtoseehimagain."
　　Sherose,smoothedoutherskirtandstoodlookingatherfather.
　　"Thereisonething,ofcourse,thatyou'lldoatonce."
　　Hervoicehadchangedsooddlythathesaidquickly:"What'sthat?"
　　"CallGrantoffthescent.He'llonlyfrightenorexasperateyourgame,andthat'swhatyoudon'twant."
　　Hervoicewasasimperiousasithadbeenpreviouslylistless.Anditwasthefirsttimehehadeverknownhertouseslang.
　　Itseemedasstartlingasifithadfallenfromthemarblelipsabovehim.
　　"ButI'vepromisedhimthatweshouldgotogethertomylawyerto-
　　morrow,andbeginasuitagainsttheproprietorsofthe'Clarion.'"
　　"Donothingofthekind.GetridofGrant'sassistanceinthismatter;andseethe'Clarion'proprietoryourself.Whatsortofamanishe?Canyouinvitehimtoyourhouse?"
　　"Ihaveneverseenhim;IbelievehelivesatSanJose.Heisawealthymanandalargelandownerthere.Youunderstandthatafterthefirstarticleappearedinhispaper,andIknewthathehademployedyourbrother——althoughGrantsaysthathehadnothingtodowithitandleftFletcheronaccountofit——Icouldhavenointercoursewithhim.EvenifIinvitedhimhewouldnotcome."
　　"HeMUSTcome.LeaveittoME."Shestoppedandresumedherformerimpassivemanner."Ihadsomethingtosaytoyoutoo,father.Mr.ShipleyproposedtomethedaywewenttoSanMateo."
　　Herfather'seyeslitwithaneagersparkle."Well,"hesaidquickly.
　　"IremindedhimthatIhadknownhimonlyafewweeks,andthatI
　　wantedtimetoconsider."
　　"Consider!Why,Clemmy,he'soneoftheoldestBostonfamilies,richfromhisfatherandgrandfather——richwhenIwasashopkeeperandyourmother"——
　　"IthoughtyoulikedGrant?"shesaidquietly.
　　"Yes,butifYOUhavenochoicenorfeelinginthematter,whyShipleyisfarthebetterman.Andifanyofthescandalshouldcometohisears"——
　　"Somuchthebetterthatthehesitationshouldcomefromme.Butifyouthinkitbetter,Icansitdownhereandwritetohimatoncedecliningtheoffer."Shemovedtowardsthedesk.
　　"No!No!Ididnotmeanthat,"saidHarcourtquickly."Ionlythoughtthatifhedidhearanythingitmightbesaidthathehadbackedout."
　　"Hissisterknowsofhisoffer,andthoughshedon'tlikeitnorme,shewillnotdenythefact.Bytheway,yourememberwhenshewaslostthatdayontheroadtoSanMateo?"
　　"Yes."
　　"Well,shewaswithyourson,JohnMilton,allthetime,andtheylunchedtogetheratCrystalSpring.Itcameoutquiteaccidentallythroughthehotel-keeper."
　　Harcourt'sbrowdarkened."Didsheknowhimbefore?"
　　"Ican'tsay;butshedoesnow."
　　Harcourt'sfacewasheavywithdistrust."TakingShipley'sofferandthesescandalsintoconsideration,Idon'tlikethelookofthis,Clementina."
　　"Ido,"saidthegirlsimply.
　　Harcourtgazedatherkeenlyandwiththeshadowofdistruststilluponhim.Itseemedtobequiteimpossible,evenwithwhatheknewofhercalmlycoldnature,thatsheshouldbeequallyuninfluencedbyGrantorShipley.Hadshesomesteadfast,loftyideal,orperhapssomealreadyabsorbingpassionofwhichheknewnothing?
　　Shewasnotagirltobetrayit——theywouldonlyknowitwhenitwastoolate.Coulditbepossiblethattherewasstillsomethingbetweenherand'Ligethatheknewnothingof?Thethoughtstruckachilltohisbreast.Shewaswalkingtowardsthedoor,whenherecalledhimselfwithaneffort.
　　"IfyouthinkitadvisabletoseeFletcher,youmightrundowntoSanJoseforadayortwowithyourmother,andcallontheRamirez.
　　Theymayknowhimorsomebodywhodoes.OfcourseifYOUmeethimandcasuallyinvitehimitwouldbedifferent."
　　"It'sagoodidea,"shesaidquickly."I'lldoit,andspeaktomothernow."
　　Hewasstruckbythechangeinherfaceandvoice;theyhadbothnervouslylightened,asoddlyanddistinctlyastheyhadbeforeseemedtogrowsuddenlyharshandaggressive.Shepassedoutoftheroomwithgirlishbrusqueness,leavinghimalonewithanewandvaguefearinhisconsciousness.
　　AfewhourslaterClementinawasstandingbeforethewindowofthedrawing-roomthatoverlookedtheoutskirtsofthetown.ThemoonlightwasfloodingthevastbluishTasajaralevelswithafaintlustre,asifthewatersofthecreekhadoncemorereturnedtothem.IntheshadowofthecurtainbesideherGrantwasfacingherwithanxiouseyes.
　　"ThenImusttakethisasyourfinalanswer,Clementina?"
　　"Youmust.AndhadIknownofthesecalumniesbefore,hadyoubeenfrankwithmeeventhedaywewenttoSanMateo,myanswerwouldhavebeenasfinalthen,andyoumighthavebeensparedanyfurthersuspense.Iamnotblamingyou,Mr.Grant;Iamwillingtobelievethatyouthoughtitbesttoconcealthisfromme,——evenatthattimewhenyouhadjustpledgedyourselftofindoutitstruthorfalsehood,——yetmyanswerwouldhavebeenthesame.Solongasthisstainrestsonmyfather'snameIshallneverallowthatnametobecoupledwithyoursinmarriageorengagement;norwillmyprideoryoursallowustocarryonasimplefriendshipafterthis.
　　Ithankyouforyourofferofassistance,butIcannotevenacceptthatwhichmighttoothersseemtoallowsomecontingentclaim.I
　　wouldratherbelievethatwhenyouproposedthisinquiryandmyfatherpermittedit,youbothknewthatitputanendtoanyotherrelationsbetweenus."
　　"But,Clementina,youarewrong,believeme!SaythatIhavebeenfoolish,indiscreet,mad,——stillthefewwhoknewthatImadetheseinquiriesonyourfather'sbehalfknownothingofmyhopesofYOU!"
　　"ButIdo,andthatisenoughforme."
　　Eveninthehopelesspreoccupationofhispassionhesuddenlylookedatherwithsomethingofhisoldcriticalscrutiny.Butshestoodtherecalm,concentrated,self-possessedandupright.Yes!
　　itwaspossiblethattheprideofthisSouthwesternshopkeepersdaughterwasgreaterthanhisown.
　　"Thenyoubanishme,Clementina?"
　　"ItiswewhomYOUhavebanished."
　　"Good-night."
　　"Good-by."
　　Hebentforaninstantoverhercoldhand,andthenpassedoutintothehall.Sheremainedlisteninguntilthefrontdoorclosedbehindhim.Thensheranswiftlythroughthehallandupthestaircase,withanalacritythatseemedimpossibletothestatelygoddessofamomentbefore.Whenshehadreachedherbedroomandclosedthedoor,soexuberantstillandsouncontrollablewasherlevityandaction,thatwithoutgoingroundthebedwhichstoodbeforeherinthecentreoftheroom,sheplacedhertwohandsuponitandlightlyvaultedsidewaysacrossittoreachthewindow.
　　ThereshewatchedthefigureofGrantcrossingthemoonlitsquare.
　　Thenturningbackintothehalf-litroom,sherantothesmalldressing-glassplacedatanangleonatoilettableagainstthewall.Withherpalmsgraspingherkneesshestoopeddownsuddenlyandcontemplatedthemirror.ItshowedwhatnoonebutClementinahadeverseen,——andsheherselfonlyatrareintervals,——thelaughingeyesandsoulofaself-satisfied,material-minded,ordinarycountry-girl!
　　CHAPTERX.
　　ButMr.LawrenceGrant'scharacterincertaincircumstanceswouldseemtohaveasstartlingandinexplicablecontradictionsasClementinaHarcourt's,andthreedayslaterhehaltedhishorseattheentranceofLosGatosRancho.TheHomeoftheCats——socalledfromthecatamountswhichinfestedthelocality——whichhadforoveracenturylazilybaskedbeforeoneofthehottestcanyonsintheCoastRange,hadlatelybeenstirredintosomeactivitybytheAmerican,DonDiegoFletcher,whohadboughtit,putupasaw-mill,anddeforestedthecanyon.StillthereremainedenoughsuggestionofafelinehauntaboutittomakeGrantfeelasifhehadtrackedhithersomestealthyenemy,inspiteofthepeacefulintimationconveyedbythesignonaroughboardedshedatthewayside,thatthe"LosGatosLandandLumberCompany"heldtheirofficethere.
　　Acigarette-smokingpeonloungedbeforethedoor.Yes;DonDiegowasthere,butashehadarrivedfromSantaClaraonlylastnightandwasgoingtoColonelRamirezthatafternoon,hewasengaged.
　　Unlessthebusinesswasimportant——butthecool,determinedmannerofGrant,evenmorethanhiswords,signifiedthatitWAS
　　important,andtheservantledthewaytoDonDiego'spresence.
　　TherecertainlywasnothingintheappearanceofthissylvanproprietorandnewspapercapitalisttojustifyGrant'ssuspicionofasurreptitiousfoe.Ahandsomemanscarcelyolderthanhimself,inspiteofawavymassofperfectlywhitehairwhichcontrastedsingularlywithhisbrownmustacheanddarksunburnedface.Sodisguisingwastheeffectofthesecontradictions,thathenotonlylookedunlikeanybodyelse,butevenhisnationalityseemedtobeamatterofdoubt.Onlyhiseyes,lightblueandintelligent,whichhadasingularexpressionofgentlenessandworry,appearedindividualtotheman.Hismannerwascultivatedandeasy.Hemotionedhisvisitorcourteouslytoachair.
　　"Iwasreferredtoyou,"saidGrant,almostabruptly,"asthepersonresponsibleforaseriesofslanderousattacksagainstMr.
　　DanielHarcourtinthe'Clarion,'ofwhichpaperIbelieveyouaretheproprietor.Iwastoldthatyoudeclinedtogivetheauthorityforyouraction,unlessyouwereforcedtobylegalproceedings."
　　Fletcher'ssensitiveblueeyesresteduponGrant'swithanexpressionofconstrainedpainandpity."Iheardofyourinquiries,Mr.Grant;youweremakingthemonbehalfofthisMr.
　　HarcourtorHarkutt"——hemadethedistinctionwithintentionaldeliberation——"withaview,Ibelieve,tosomearbitration.Thecasewasstatedtoyoufairly,Ithink;IbelieveIhavenothingtoaddtoit."
　　"ThatwasyouranswertotheambassadorofMr.Harcourt,"saidGrant,coldly,"andassuchIdeliveredittohim;butIamhereto-daytospeakonmyownaccount."
　　WhatcouldbeseenofMr.Fletcher'slipsappearedtocurlinanoddsmile."Indeed,Ithoughtitwas——orwouldbe——allinthefamily."
　　Grant'sfacegrewmorestern,andhisgrayeyesglittered."You'llfindmystatusinthismattersofarindependentthatIdon'tpropose,likeMr.Harcourt,eithertobeginasuitortorestquietlyunderthecalumny.Briefly,Mr.Fletcher,asyouoryourinformantknows,IwasthesurveyorwhorevealedtoMr.Harcourtthevalueofthelandtowhichheclaimedatitlefromyourman,thisElijahor'LigeCurtisasyoucallhim,"——hecouldnotresistthisimitationofhisadversary'ssuperciliousaffectationofprecisenomenclature,——"anditwasuponmyrepresentationofitsvalueasaninvestmentthathebegantheimprovementswhichhavemadehimwealthy.Ifthistitlewasfraudulentlyobtained,allthefactspertainingtoitaresufficientlyrelatedtoconnectmewiththeconspiracy."
　　"Areyounotalittlehastyinyourpresumption,Mr.Grant?"saidFletcher,withunfeignedsurprise.
　　"ThatisforMEtojudge,Mr.Fletcher,"returnedGrant,haughtily.
　　"ButthenameofProfessorGrantisknowntoallCaliforniaasbeyondthebreathofcalumnyorsuspicion."
　　"ItisbecauseofthatfactthatIproposetokeepitso."
　　"AndmayIaskinwhatwayyouwishmetoassistyouinsodoing?"
　　"Bypromptlyandpubliclyretractinginthe'Clarion'everywordofthisslanderagainstHarcourt."
　　Fletcherlookedsteadfastlyatthespeaker."AndifIdecline?"
　　"IthinkyouhavebeenlongenoughinCalifornia,Mr.Fletcher,toknowthealternativeexpectedofagentleman,"saidGrant,coldly.
　　Mr.Fletcherkepthisgentleblueeyes——inwhichsurprisestilloverbalancedtheirexpressionofpainedconcern——onGrant'sface.
　　"ButisnotthismoreinthestyleofColonelStarbottlethanProfessorGrant?"heasked,withafaintsmile.
　　Grantroseinstantlywithawhiteface."Youwillhaveabetteropportunityofjudging,"hesaid,"whenColonelStarbottlehasthehonorofwaitinguponyoufromme.Meantime,Ithankyouforremindingmeoftheindiscretionintowhichmyfolly,instillbelievingthatthisthingcouldbesettledamicably,hasledme."
　　Hebowedcoldlyandwithdrew.Nevertheless,ashemountedhishorseandrodeaway,hefelthischeeksburning.Yethehadacteduponcalmconsideration;heknewthattotheordinaryCalifornianexperiencetherewasnothingquixoticnorexaggeratedintheattitudehehadtaken.Menhadquarreledandfoughtonlessgrounds;hehadevenhalfconvincedhimselfthatheHADbeeninsulted,andthathisownprofessionalreputationdemandedthewithdrawaloftheattackonHarcourtonpurelybusinessgrounds;
　　buthewasnotsatisfiedofthepersonalresponsibilityofFletchernorofhisgratuitousmalignity.Nordidthemanlooklikeatoolinthehandsofsomeunscrupulousandhiddenenemy.However,hehadplayedhiscard.IfhesucceededonlyinprovokingaduelwithFletcher,heatleastwoulddivertthepublicattentionfromHarcourttohimself.Heknewthathissuperiorpositionwouldthrowthelesservictiminthebackground.Hewouldmakethesacrifice;thatwashisdutyasagentleman,evenifSHEwouldnotcaretoacceptitasanearnestofhisunselfishlove!
　　HehadreachedthepointwherethemountaintrackenteredtheSantaClaraturnpikewhenhisattentionwasattractedbyahandsomebutold-fashionedcarriagedrawnbyfourwhitemules,whichpasseddowntheroadbeforehimandturnedsuddenlyoffintoaprivateroad.
　　ButitwasnotthispicturesquegalaequipageofsomelocalSpanishgrandeethatbroughtathrilltohisnervesandaflashtohiseye;
　　itwastheunmistakable,tall,elegantfigureandhandsomeprofileofClementina,reclininginlightgauzywrapsagainstthebackseat!Itwasnofancifulresemblance,theoutcomeofhisreverie,——
　　thereneverwasanyonelikeher!——itWASsheherself!Butwhatwasshedoinghere?
　　Avaquerocanteredfromthecrossroadwherethedustofthevehiclestillhung.Granthailedhim.Ah!itwasafinecarrozadecuatromulasthathehadjustpassed!Si,Senor,truly;itwasofDonJoseRamirez,wholivedjustunderthehill.Itwasbringingcompanytothecasa.
　　Ramirez!ThatwaswhereFletcherwasgoing!HadClementinaknownthathewasoneofFletcher'sfriends?Mightshenotbeexposedtounpleasantness,markedcoolness,oreveninsultinthatunexpectedmeeting?Oughtshenottobewarnedorpreparedforit?ShehadbanishedGrantfromherpresenceuntilthisstainwasremovedfromherfather'sname,butcouldsheblamehimfortryingtosaveherfromcontactwithherfather'sslanderer?No!Heturnedhishorseabruptlyintothecrossroadandspurredforwardinthedirectionofthecasa.
　　Itwasquitevisiblenow——alow-walled,quadrangularmassofwhitewashedadobelyinglikeadriftonthegreenhillside.Thecarriageandfourhadfarprecededhim,andwasalreadyhalfupthewindingroadtowardsthehouse.Laterhesawthemreachthecourtyardanddisappearwithin.Hewouldbequiteintimetospeakwithherbeforesheretiredtochangeherdress.HewouldsimplysaythatwhilemakingaprofessionalvisittoLosGatosLandCompanyofficehehadbecomeawareofFletcher'sconnectionwithit,andaccidentallyofhisintendedvisittoRamirez.Hischancemeetingwiththecarriageonthehighwayhaddeterminedhiscourse.
　　Asherodeintothecourtyardheobservedthatitwasalsoapproachedbyanotherroad,evidentlynearerLosGatos,andprobablytheolderandshortercommunicationbetweenthetworanchos.Thefactwassignificantlydemonstratedamomentlater.Hehadgivenhishorsetoaservant,sentinhiscardtoClementina,andhaddroppedlistlesslyononeofthebenchesofthegallerysurroundingthepatio,whenahorsemanrodebrisklyintotheoppositegateway,anddismountedwithafamiliarair.AwaitingpeonwhorecognizedhiminformedhimthattheDonawasengagedwithavisitor,butthattheywerebothreturningtothegalleryforchocolateinamoment.Thestrangerwasthemanhehadleftonlyanhourbefore——DonDiegoFletcher!
　　Inaninstanttheidioticfatuityofhispositionstruckhimfully.
　　HisonlyexcuseforfollowingClementinahadbeentowarnherofthecomingofthismanwhohadjustentered,andwhowouldnowmeetherasquicklyashimself.Forabriefmomenttheideaofquietlyslippingouttothecorral,mountinghishorseagain,andflyingfromtherancho,crossedhismind;butthethoughtthathewouldberunningawayfromthemanhehadjustchallenged,andperhapssomenewhostilitythathadsprungupinhisheartagainsthim,compelledhimtoremain.Theeyesofbothmenmet;Fletcher'sinhalf-wonderingannoyance,Grant'sinill-concealedantagonism.