"Yes!butto-dayhe'sheretoattendadirectors'meetingandtheopeningoftheFreeLibraryandTasajaraHall.Isawthewindowsopen,andtheblindsupinhishouseacrosstheplazaasIpassedjustnow."
　　Thestrangerhadbythistimequiteeffectedhiscourteouswithdrawal."Good-afternoon,Mr.Peters,"hesaid,smilinglyliftinghishat,andturnedaway.
　　Peters,whowasobligedtotakehislegsoffthechair,andhalfrisetothestranger'spoliteness,herereflectedthathedidnotknowhisinterlocutor'snameandbusiness,andthathehadreallygotnothinginreturnforhisinformation.Thismustberemedied.
　　Asthestrangerpassedthroughthehallintothestreet,followedbytheunwontedcivilitiesofthesprucehotelclerkandtheobsequiousattentionsofthenegroporter,Peterssteppedtothewindowoftheoffice."Whowasthatmanwhojustpassedout?"heasked.
　　Theclerkstaredinundisguisedastonishment."Youdon'tmeantosayyoudidn'tknowWHOhewas——allthewhileyouweretalkingtohim?"
　　"No,"returnedPeters,impatiently.
　　"Why,thatwasProfessorLawrenceGrant!——THELawrenceGrant——don'tyouknow?——thebiggestscientificmanandrecognizedexpertonthePacificslope.Why,that'sthemanwhosesinglewordisenoughtomakeorbreakthebiggestmineorclaimgoing!Thatman!——why,that'sthemanwhoseopinion'sworththousands,foritcarriesmillionswithit——andcan'tbebought.That'shimwhoknockedthebottomouterElDoradolastyear,andnextdaysentEurekaupbooming!Yerememberthat,sure?"
　　"Ofcourse——but"——stammeredPeters.
　　"Andtothinkyoudidn'tknowhim!"repeatedthehotelclerkwonderingly."AndhereIwasreckoningyouweregettingpointsfromhimallthetime!Why,somemenwouldhavegivenathousanddollarsforyourchanceoftalkingtohim——yes!——ofevenbeingSEEN
　　talkingtohim.Why,oldWingateoncegotatiponhisPrairieFlowerleadworthfivethousanddollarswhilejustchangingseatswithhiminthecarsandpassingthetimeofday,sociablelike.
　　Why,whatDIDyoutalkabout?"
　　Peters,withamiserableconvictionthathehadthrownawayavaluableopportunityinmereidlegossip,neverthelessendeavoredtolookmysteriousashereplied,"Oh,businessgin'rally."Theninthefainthopeofyetretrievinghisblunderheinquired,"Howlongwillhebehere?"
　　"Don'tknow.IreckonheandHarcourt'sgotsomethingonhand.Hejustaskedifhewaslikelytobeathomeorathisoffice.ItoldhimIreckonedatthehouse,forsomeofthefamily——Ididn'tgettoseewhotheywere——droveupinacarriagefromthe3.40trainwhileyouweresittingthere."
　　Meanwhilethesubjectofthisdiscussion,quiteunconsciousofthesensationhehadcreated,orperhapslikemostheroesphilosophicallycarelessofit,wassaunteringindifferentlytowardsHarcourt'shouse.Buthehadnobusinesswithhisformerhost,hisonlyobjectwastopassanidlehourbeforehistrainleft.Hewas,ofcourse,notunawarethathehimselfwaslargelyresponsibleforHarcourt'ssuccess;thatitwasHIShintwhichhadinducedthepettytraderofSidontoventurehisallinTasajara;HISknowledgeofthetopographyandgeologyoftheplainthathadstimulatedHarcourt'sagriculturalspeculations;HIShydrographicsurveyofthecreekthathadmadeHarcourt'splanofwideningthechanneltocommercepracticableandprofitable.Thishecouldnothelpbutknow.Butthatitwaschieflyowingtohisownclear,cool,far-seeing,butnevervisionary,scientificobservation,——hisownaccurateanalysis,unprejudicedbyevenasavant'senthusiasm,anduninfluencedbyanypersonaldesireorgreedofgain,——thatTasajaraCityhadrisenfromthestagnanttules,wasaspeculationthathadneveroccurredtohim.TherewasamuchmoreuneasyconsciousnessofwhathehaddoneinMr.Harcourt'sfaceafewmomentslater,whenhisvisitor'snamewasannounced,anditistobefearedthatifthatnamehadbeenlesswidelyhonoredandrespectedthanitwas,nomerelygratefulrecollectionofitwouldhaveprocuredGrantanaudience.Asitwas,itwaswithafrownandatouchofhisoldimpatientasperitythathesteppedtothethresholdofanadjoiningroomandcalled,"Clemmy!"
　　Clementinaappearedatthedoor.
　　"There'sthatmanGrantintheparlor.WhatbringsHIMhere,I
　　wonder?Whodoeshecometosee?"
　　"Whodidheaskfor?"
　　"Me,——butthatdon'tmeananything."
　　"Perhapshewantstoseeyouonsomebusiness."
　　"No.Thatisn'thishigh-tonedstyle.Hemakesotherpeoplegotohimforthat,"hesaidbitterly."Anyhow——don'tyouthinkit'smightyqueerhiscominghereafterhisfriend——foritwashewhointroducedRicetous——hadbehavedsotoyoursister,andcausedallthisdivorceandscandal?"
　　"Perhapshemayknownothingaboutit;heandRiceseparatedlongago,evenbeforeGrantbecamesofamous.Weneversawmuchofhim,youknow,afterwecamehere.SupposeyouleavehimtoME.I'llseehim."
　　Mr.Harcourtreflected."Didn'theusedtoberatherattentivetoPhemie?"
　　Clementinashruggedhershoulderscarelessly."Idaresay——butI
　　don'tthinkthatNOW"——
　　"WhosaidanythingaboutNOW?"retortedherfather,withareturnofhisoldabruptness.Afterapausehesaid:"I'llgodownandseehimfirst,andthensendforyou.Youcankeephimfortheopeninganddinner,ifyoulike."
　　MeantimeLawrenceGrant,serenelyunsuspiciousofthesedomesticconfidences,hadbeenshownintotheparlor——alargeroomfurnishedinthesamestyleasthedrawing-roomofthehotelhehadjustquitted.HehadampletimetonotethatitwasthatwonderfulSecondEmpirefurniturewhichherememberedthattheearlySanFranciscopioneersinthefirstflushoftheirwealthhadimporteddirectlyfromFrance,andwhichforyearsaftergaveanunexpectedforeignflavortothewesterndomesticityandatawdrygiltequalitytosaloonsanddrawing-rooms,publicandprivate.ButhewasobservantofacorrespondingchangeinHarcourt,whenamomentlaterheenteredtheroom.ThatindividualitywhichhadkepttheformershopkeeperofSidondistinctfrom,althoughperhapsnotsuperiorto,hiscustomers——wasstronglymarked.Hewasperhapsnowmorenervouslyalertthanthen;hewascertainlymoreimpatientthanbefore,——butthatwaspardonableinamanoflargeaffairsandaction.Grantcouldnotdenythatheseemedimproved,——ratherperhapsthatthesettingoffineclothes,cleanliness,andtheabsenceofpettyworries,madehischaracteristicsrespectable.
　　Thatwhichisillbreedinginhomespun,isapttobecomemereeccentricityinpurpleandfinelinen;GrantfeltthatHarcourtjarredonhimlessthanhedidbefore,andwasgratefulwithoutsuperciliousness.Harcourt,relievedtofindthatGrantwasneithercriticalnoraggressivelyreminiscent,andaboveallnotinclinedtoclaimthecreditofcreatinghimandTasajara,becamemoreconfident,moreathisease,and,Ifear,inproportionmoreunpleasant.Itisthereposeandnotthestruggleoftheparvenuthatconfoundsus.
　　"AndYOU,Grant,——youhavemadeyourselffamous,and,Ihear,havegotprettymuchyourownpricesforyouropinionseversinceitwasknownthatyou——you——er——wereconnectedwiththegrowthofTasajara."
　　Grantsmiled;hewasnotquitepreparedforthis;butitwasamusingandwouldpassthetime.Hemurmuredasentenceofhalfironicaldeprecation,andMr.Harcourtcontinued:——
　　"Ihaven'tgotmySanFranciscohouseheretoreceiveyouin,butI
　　hopesomeday,sir,toseeyouthere.Weareonlyhereforthedayandnight,butifyoucaretoattendtheopeningceremoniesatthenewhall,wecanmanagetogiveyoudinnerafterwards.YoucanescortmydaughterClementina,——she'sherewithme."
　　ThesmileofapologeticdeclinationwhichhadbeguntoformonGrant'slipswassuddenlyarrested."Thenyourdaughterishere?"
　　heasked,withunaffectedinterest.
　　"Yes,——sheisinfactapatronessofthelibraryandsewing-circle,andtakesthegreatestinterestinit.TheReverendDoctorPilsburyreliesuponherforeverything.Sherunsthesociety,eventothetrainingoftheyoungladies,sir.Youshallseetheirexercises."
　　ThiswascertainlyanewphaseofClementina'scharacter.YetwhyshouldshenotassumetheroleofLadyBountifulwiththeotherfunctionsofhernewcondition."IshouldhavethoughtMissHarcourtwouldhavefoundthisratherdifficultwithherothersocialduties,"hesaid,"andwouldhaveleftittohermarriedsister."HethoughtitbetternottoappearasifavoidingreferencetoEuphemia,althoughquietlyignoringherlateexperiences.Mr.Harcourtwaslesseasyinhisresponse.
　　"NowthatEuphemiaisagainwithherownfamily,"hesaidponderously,withanaffectationofsocialdiscriminationthatwasinweakcontrasttohisusualdirectbusinessastuteness,"I
　　supposeshemaytakeherpartinthesethings,butjustnowsherequiresrest.Youmayhaveheardsomerumorthatsheisgoingabroadforatime?Thefactisshehasn'ttheleastintentionofdoingso,nordoweconsiderthereistheslightestreasonforhergoing."Hepausedasiftogivegreatemphasistoastatementthatseemedotherwiseunimportant."Buthere'sClementinacoming,andI
　　mustgetyoutoexcuseME.I'vetomeetthetrusteesofthechurchintenminutes,butIhopeshe'llpersuadeyoutostay,andI'llseeyoulateratthehall."
　　AsClementinaenteredtheroomherfathervanishedand,Ifear,ascompletelydroppedoutofMr.Grant'smind.Forthedaughter'simprovementwasgreaterthanherfather's,yetsomuchmorerefinedastobeatfirstonlydelicatelyperceptible.Granthadbeenpreparedforthevulgarenhancementoffineclothesandpersonaladornment,forthespecioussettingofluxuriouscircumstancesandsurroundings,fortheaplombthatcamefromflatteryandconsciouspower.Buthefoundnoneofthese;hercalmindividualitywasintensifiedratherthansubdued;shewasdressedsimply,withaneconomyofornament,richmaterial,andjewelry,butanaccuracyoftastethatwasalwaysdominant.Herplaingraymerinodress,beautifullyfittingherfigure,suggested,withitspalebluefacings,someuniform,asofthecharitablesocietyshepatronized.
　　Shecametowardshimwithagracefulmovementofgreeting,yetherfaceshowednoconsciousnessoftheintervalthathadelapsedsincetheymet;healmostfanciedhimselftransportedbacktothesitting-roomatSidonwiththemonotonouspatteroftheleavesoutside,andthecoolmoistbreathofthebayandaldercominginatthewindow.
　　"FathersaysthatyouareonlypassingthroughTasajarato-day,asyoudidthroughSidonfiveyearsago,"shesaidwithasmilingearnestnessthathefanciedhoweverwastheonenewphaseofhercharacter."ButIwon'tbelieveit!Atleastwewillnotacceptanothervisitquiteasaccidentalasthat,eventhoughyoubroughtustwicethegoodfortuneyoudidthen.Yousee,wehavenotforgottenitifyouhave,Mr.Grant.Andunlessyouwantustobelievethatyourfairygiftswillturnsomedaytoleavesandashes,youwillpromisetostaywithustonight,andletmeshowyousomeofthegoodwehavedonewiththem.Perhapsyoudon'tknow,ordon'twanttoknow,thatitwasIwhogotupthis'LibraryandHomeCircleoftheSistersofTasajara'whichwearetoopento-day.Andcanyouimaginewhy?Youremember——orhaveyouforgotten——thatyouonceaffectedtobeconcernedatthesocialconditionoftheyoungladiesontheplainsofSidon?Well,Mr.
　　Grant,thisisgottenupinorderthatthefutureMr.GrantswhowandermayfindfutureMissBillingseswhoareworthytoconversewiththemandentertainthem,andwhonolongerwearmen'shatsandliveonthepublicroad."
　　ItwassuchalongspeechforonesotaciturnasherememberedClementinatohavebeen;sounexpectedintoneconsideringherfather'sattitudetowardshim,andsounlookedforinitsreferencetoaslightincidentofthepast,thatGrant'scriticalcontemplationofhergavewaytoaquietandgratefulglanceofadmiration.Howcouldhehavebeensomistakeninhercharacter?HehadalwayspreferredtheoutspokenEuphemia,andyetwhyshouldhenothavebeenequallymistakeninher?WithouthavinganypersonalknowledgeofRice'smatrimonialtroubles——fortheirintimatecompanionshiphadnotcontinuedafterthesurvey——hehadbeeninclinedtoblamehim;
　　nowheseemedtofindexcusesforhim.HewonderedifshereallyhadlikedhimasPetershadhinted;hewonderedifsheknewthathe,Grant,wasnolongerintimatewithhimandknewnothingofheraffairs.Allthiswhilehewasacceptingherprofferedhospitalityandsendingtothehotelforhisluggage.Thenhedriftedintoaconversation,whichhehadexpectedwouldbebrief,pointless,andconfinedtoastupidresumeoftheirmutualandsocialprogresssincetheyhadleftSidon.Butherehewasagainmistaken;shewastalkingfamiliarlyofpresentsocialtopics,ofthingsthatsheknewclearlyandwell,withouteffortorattitude.ShehadbeentoNewYorkandBostonfortwowinters;shehadspenttheprevioussummeratNewport;itmighthavebeenherwholeyouthforthefluency,accuracy,andfamiliarityofherdetail,andtheabsenceofprovincialenthusiasm.Shewasgoingabroad,probablyinthespring.ShehadthoughtofgoingtowinterinItaly,butshewouldwaitnowuntilhersisterwasreadytogowithher.Mr.GrantofcourseknewthatEuphemiawasseparatedfromMr.Rice——no——notuntilherfathertoldhim?Well——themarriagehadbeenawildandfoolishthingforboth.ButEuphemiawasbackagainwiththemintheSanFranciscohouse;shehadtalkedofcomingtoTasajarato-day,perhapsshemightbetheretonight.And,goodheavens!itwasactuallythreeo'clockalready,andtheymuststartatoncefortheHall.Shewouldgoandgetherhatandreturninstantly.
　　Itwastrue;hehadbeentalkingwithheranhour——pleasantly,intelligently,andyetwithaconsciousnessofanindefinitesatisfactionbeyondallthis.Itmusthavebeensurpriseathertransformation,orhispreviousmisconceptionofhercharacter.
　　Hehadbeenwatchingherfeaturesandwonderingwhyhehadeverthoughtthemexpressionless.Therewasalsothepleasantsuggestion——commontohumanityinsuchinstances——thathehimselfwasinsomewayresponsibleforthechange;thatitwassomeawakenedsympathytohisownnaturethathadbreathedintothiscoldandfaultlessstatuethewarmthoflife.Inanoddflashofrecollectionherememberedhow,fiveyearsago,whenRicehadsuggestedtoherthatshewas"hardtoplease,"shehadrepliedthatshe"didn'tknow,butthatshewaswaitingtosee."Itdidnotoccurtohimtowonderwhyshehadnotawakenedthen,orifthisawakeninghadanythingtodowithherownvolition.Itwasnotprobablethattheywouldmeetagainafterto-day,oriftheydid,thatshewouldnotrelapseintoherformerselfandfailtoimpresshimasshehadnow.But——hereshewas——aparagonoffemininepromptitude——alreadystandinginthedoorway,accuratelyglovedandbooted,andwearingademuregrayhatthatmodestlycrownedherdecorouslyelegantfigure.
　　Theycrossedtheplazasidebyside,inthestillgarishsunlightthatseemedtomockthescantshadeoftheyouthfuleucalyptustrees,andpresentlyfellinwiththestreamofpeoplegoingintheirdirection.TheformerdaughtersofSidon,theBillingses,thePeterses,andWingates,weretherebourgeoningandexpandingintheglareoftheirnewprosperity,withsilkandgold;therewerenewerfacesstill,andprettyones,——forTasajaraasa"CowCounty"
　　hadattractedsettlerswithlargefamilies,——andtherewerealreadythecontrastingtypesofEastandWest.ManyturnedtolookafterthetallfigureofthedaughteroftheFounderofTasajara,——aspectaclelatelyraretothetown;afewglancedathercompanion,equallynoticeableasastranger.Thanks,however,tosomejudiciouspreliminaryadvertisingfromthehotelclerk,Peters,andDanielHarcourthimself,bythetimeGrantandMissHarcourthadreachedtheHallhisnameandfamewerealreadyknown,andspeculationhadalreadybegunwhetherthisnewstrokeofHarcourt'sshrewdnessmightnotuniteClementinatoarenownedandprofitablepartner.
　　TheHallwasinoneofthefurtherandnewlyopenedsuburbs,anditssideandrearwindowsgaveimmediatelyupontheoutlyingandillimitableplainofTasajara.Itwasatastefulandfair-seemingstructureofwood,surprisinglyandsurpassinglynew.Infactthatwasitsonedominantfeature;nowhereelsehadyouthandfreshnessevershownitselfasunconquerableandall-conquering.Thespiceofvirginwoodsandtracklessforestsstillrosefromitspinefloors,andbreathedfromitsoutershellofcedarthatstilloozeditssap,andredwoodthatstilldroppeditslife-blood.Nowhereelseweretheplasteredwallsandceilingsaswhiteanddazzlingintheirunstainedpurity,orasredolentoftheoutlyingquarryintheirclearcoolbreathoflimeandstone.Eventheturpentineoffreshandspotlesspaintaddedtothissenseofwholesomegermination,andastheclearandbrilliantCaliforniansunshinesweptthroughtheopenwindowswestandeast,suffusingthewholepalpitatingstructurewithitssearchingandresistlessradiance,theveryairseemedfilledwiththearomaofcreation.
　　ThefreshcolorsoftheyoungRepublic,thebrightblazonryofthenewestState,thecoat-of-armsoftheinfantCountyofTasajara——avignetteofsunset-tulesclovenbythesteamofanadvancingtrain——hangingfromthewalls,wereallapartofthisinvinciblejuvenescence.Eventhenewestsilks,ribbonsandprintsofthelatestholidayfashionsmadetheirfirstvirginappearanceinthenewbuildingasiftoconsecrateit,untilitwasstirredbytherustleofyouth,aswiththesoundandmovementofbuddingspring.
　　Astrainfromtheneworgan——whoseheart,however,hadprematurelylearneditsownbitterness——andathin,clear,butsomewhatshrillchantingfromachoirofyoungladieswerefollowedbyaprayerfromtheReverendMr.Pilsbury.Thentherewasapauseofexpectancy,andGrant'sfaircompanion,whouptothatmomenthadbeenquietlyactingasguideandciceronetoherfather'sguest,excusedherselfwithalittlegrimaceofmockconcernandwasledawaybyoneofthecommittee.Grant'susuallykeeneyeswerewanderingsomewhatabstractedlyovertheagitatedandrustlingfieldofribbons,flowersandfeathersbeforehim,pasttheblazonryofbanneronthewalls,andthroughtheopenwindowstothelongsunlitlevelsbeyond,whenhenoticedastirupontheraiseddaisorplatformattheendoftheroom,wherethenotablesofTasajarawereformallyassembled.Themassofblackcoatssuddenlypartedanddrewbackagainstthewalltoallowthecomingforwardofasinglegracefulfigure.AthrillofnervousnessasunexpectedasunaccountablepassedoverhimasherecognizedClementina.Inthemidstofasuddensilenceshereadthereportofthecommitteefromapaperinherhand,inaclear,untroubledvoice——theoldvoiceofSidon——andformallydeclaredthebuildingopened.Thesunlight,nearlylevel,streamedthroughthewesternwindowacrossthefrontoftheplatformwhereshestoodandtransfiguredherslightbutnoblefigure.ThehushthathadfallenupontheHallwasasmuchtheeffectofthattranquil,idealpresenceasofthemessagewithwhichitwascharged.Andyetthatapparitionwasasinconsistentwiththeclear,searchinglightwhichhelpedtosetitoff,asitwaswiththebroadnewblazonryofdecoration,theyetunsulliedrecordofthewhitewalls,oreventhefrank,animatedandprettyfacesthatlookeduponit.Perhapsitwassomesuchinstinctthatcausedtheapplausewhichhesitatinglyandtardilyfollowedherfromtheplatformtoappearpoliteandhalfrestrainedratherthanspontaneous.
　　NeverthelessGrantwashonestlyandsincerelyprofuseinhiscongratulations."Youwerefarcoolerandfarmoreself-containedthanIshouldhavebeeninyourplace,"hesaid,"thaninfactI
　　actuallyWAS,onlyasyourauditor.ButIsupposeyouhavedoneitbefore?"
　　Sheturnedherbeautifuleyesonhiswonderingly."No,——thisisthefirsttimeIeverappearedinpublic,——notevenatschool,foreventhereIwasalwaysaprivatepupil."
　　"Youastonishme,"saidGrant;"youseemedlikeanoldhandatit."
　　"PerhapsIdid,orratherasifIdidn'tthinkanythingofitmyself,——andthatnodoubtiswhytheaudiencedidn'tthinkanythingofiteither."
　　SosheHADnoticedhercoldreception,andyettherewasnottheslightesttraceofdisappointment,regret,orwoundedvanityinhertoneormanner."Youmusttakemetotherefreshmentroomnow,"
　　shesaidpleasantly,"andhelpmetolookaftertheyoungladieswhoaremyguests.I'mafraidtherearestillmorespeechestocome,andfatherandMr.Pilsburyarelookingasiftheyconfidentlyexpectedsomethingmorewouldbe'expected'ofthem."
　　Grantatoncethrewhimselfintothetaskassignedtohim,withhisnaturalgallantryandacertaincaptivatingplayfulnesswhichhestillretained.Perhapshewasthemoreanxioustopleaseinorderthathiscompanionmightsharesomeofhispopularity,foritwasundeniablethatMissHarcourtstillseemedtoexciteonlyaconstrainedpolitenessamongthosewithwhomshecourteouslymingled.Andthiswasstillmoredistinctlymarkedbythecontrastofalaterincident.
　　Forsomemomentsthesoundoflaughterandgreetinghadrisennearthedooroftherefreshmentroomthatopeneduponthecentralhall,andtherewasaperceptiblemovementofthecrowd——particularlyofyouthfulmaleTasajara——inthatdirection.Itwasevidentthatitannouncedtheunexpectedarrivalofsomepopularresident.
　　Attractedliketheothers,Grantturnedandsawthecompanymakingwayforthesmiling,easy,half-saucy,half-complacententryofahandsomelydressedyounggirl.Assheturnedfromtimetotimetorecognizewithrallyingfamiliarityorcharmingimpertinencesomeofheradmirers,therewasthatinhertoneandgesturewhichinstantlyrecalledtohimthepast.ItwasunmistakablyEuphemia!
　　HiseyesinstinctivelysoughtClementina's.Shewasgazingathimwithsuchagrave,penetratinglook,——halfdoubting,halfwistful,——
　　alooksounlikeherusualunruffledcalmthathefeltstrangelystirred.Butthenextmoment,whensherejoinedhim,thelookhadentirelygone."YouhavenotseenmysistersinceyouwereatSidon,Ibelieve?"shesaidquietly."Shewouldbesorrytomissyou."ButEuphemiaandhertrainwerealreadypassingthemontheoppositesideofthelongtable.ShehadevidentlyrecognizedGrant,yetthetwosisterswerelookingintentlyintoeachother'seyeswhenheraisedhisown.ThenEuphemiamethisbowwithamomentaryaccessionofcolor,acoquettishwaveofherhandacrossthetable,aslightexaggerationofherusualfascinatingrecklessness,andsmilinglymovedaway.HeturnedtoClementina,buthereanominoustappingatthefartherendofthelongtablerevealedthefactthatMr.Harcourtwasstandingonachairwithoratoricalpossibilitiesinhisfaceandattitude.Therewasanotherforwardmovementinthecrowdand——silence.Inthatsolid,black-broadclothed,respectablefigure,thatmassivewatchchain,thatwhitewaistcoat,thatdiamondpinglisteninginthesatincravat,EuphemiamighthaveseentherealizationofherpropheticvisionatSidonfiveyearsbefore.