Buthecouldnotbeartotellthistohiswifewhenheclimbedthehillthatnight,andheinventedsomeexcuseforbringinghisworkhome.Theinvalidnevernoticedanychangeinhisusualbuoyancy,andindeedIfear,whenhewasfairlyinstalledwithhiswritingmaterialsatthefootofherbed,hehadquiteforgottentheepisode.Hewasrecalledtoitbyafaintsigh.
　　"Whatisit,dear?"hesaidlookingup.
　　"Iliketoseeyouwriting,Milty.Youalwayslooksohappy."
　　"Alwayssohappy,dear?"
　　"Yes.Youarehappy,areyounot?"
　　"Always."Hegotupandkissedher.Nevertheless,whenhesatdowntohisworkagain,hisfacewasturnedalittlemoretothewindow.
　　Anotherseriousincident——tobealsokeptfromtheinvalid——shortlyfollowed.Thearticleinthe"Clarion"hadborneitsfruit.Thethirddayafterhisresignationarivalpapersharplyretorted.
　　"Thecowardlyinsinuationsagainsttherecordofajustlyhonoredcapitalist,"saidthe"Pioneer,""althoughquiteinkeepingwiththebrazen'Clarion,'mightattracttheattentionsoftheslanderedparty,ifitwerenotknowntohisfriendsaswellashimselfthatitmaybetracedalmostdirectlytoacast-offmemberofhisownfamily,who,itseems,isreducedtohauntingthebackdoorsofcertainblatantjournalstodisposeofhischeapwares.Theslandererissecurefrompublicexposureinthesuperiordecencyofhisrelations,whorefrainfromairingtheirfamilylinenuponeditoriallines."
　　ThiswasthejournaltowhichJohnMiltonhadhopefullyturnedforwork.Whenhereaditthereseemedbutonethingforhimtodo——
　　andhedidit.Gentleandoptimisticaswashisnature,hehadbeenbroughtupinacommunitywheresinceredirectnessofpersonaloffensewasfollowedbyequallysinceredirectnessofpersonalredress,and——hechallengedtheeditor.ThebearerofhiscartelwasoneJackHamlin,Igrievetosayagamblerbyprofession,butbetweenwhomandJohnMiltonhadsprungupanoddfriendshipofwhichthebestthatcanbesaidisthatitwastoeachequallyandunselfishlyunprofitable.Thechallengewasaccepted,thepreliminariesarranged."Isuppose,"saidJackcarelessly,"astheoldmanoughttodosomethingforyourwifeincaseofaccident,you'vemadesomesortofawill?"
　　"I'vethoughtofthat,"saidJohnMilton,dubiously,"butI'mafraidit'snouse.Yousee"——hehesitated——"I'mnotofage."
　　"MayIaskhowoldyouare,sonny?"saidJackwithgreatgravity.
　　"I'malmosttwenty,"saidJohnMilton,coloring.
　　"Itisn'texactlyvingt-et-un,butI'dstandonit;ifIwereyouI
　　wouldn'tdrawtosuchahand,"saidJack,coolly.
　　Theyounghusbandhadarrangedtobeabsentfromhishomethatnight,andearlymorningfoundhim,withJack,grave,butcourageous,inalittlehollowbehindtheMissionHills.Tothempresentlyapproachedhisantagonist,jauntilyaccompaniedbyColonelStarbottle,hissecond.Theyhalted,butaftertheformalsalutationwereinstantlyjoinedbyJackHamlin.ForafewmomentsJohnMiltonremainedawkwardlyalone——pendingaconversationwhichevenatthatsuprememomenthefeltasbeinglikethegeneralattitudeofhisfriendstowardshim,initscompleteignoringofhimself.Thenextmomentthethreemensteppedtowardshim."Wehavecome,sir,"saidColonelStarbottleinhisprecisestspeechbuthisjauntiestmanner,"toofferyouafullandampleapology——apersonalapology——whichonlysupplementsthatfullpublicapologythatmyprincipal,sir,thisgentleman,"indicatingtheeditorofthe"Pioneer,""hasthismorningmadeinthecolumnsofhispaper,asyouwillobserve,"producinganewspaper."Wehave,sir,"
　　continuedthecolonelloftily,"onlywithinthelasttwelvehoursbecomeawareofthe——er——REALcircumstancesofthecase.Wewouldregretthattheaffairhadgonesofaralready,ifithadnotgivenus,sir,theopportunityoftestifyingtoyourgallantry.Wedosogladly;andif——er——er——aFEWYEARSLATER,Mr.Harcourt,youshouldeverneed——afriendinanymatterofthiskind,Iam,sir,atyourservice."JohnMiltongazedhalfinquiringly,halfuneasilyatJack.
　　"It'sallright,Milt,"hesaidsottovoce."Shakehandsallroundandlet'sgotobreakfast.AndIratherthinkthateditorwantstoemployyouHIMSELF."
　　Itwastrue,forwhenthatnightheclimbedeagerlythesteephomewardhillhecarriedwithhimthewrittenofferofanengagementonthe"Pioneer."Asheenteredthedoorhiswife'snurseandcompanionmethimwithaseriousface.Therehadbeenastrangeandunexpectedchangeinthepatient'scondition,andthedoctorhadalreadybeentheretwice.Asheputasidehiscoatandhatandenteredherroom,itseemedtohimthathehadforeverputasideallelseofessayandambitionbeyondthosefourwalls.Andwiththethoughtagreatpeacecameuponhim.Itseemedgoodtohimtoliveforheralone.
　　Itwasnotforlong.Aseachmonotonousdaybroughtthemorningmistandeveningfogregularlytothelittlehilltopwherehiswholebeingwasnowcentred,sheseemedtogrowdailyweaker,andthelittlecircleofherlifenarroweddaybyday.Onemorningwhentheusualmistappearedtohavebeenwithheldandthesunhadrisenwithastrangeandcruelbrightness;whenthewavesdancedandsparkledonthebaybelowandlightglancedfromdazzlingsails,andeventhewhitetombsonLoneMountainglitteredkeenly;
　　whencheeryvoiceshailingeachotheronthehillsidecametohimclearlybutwithoutsenseormeaning;whenearth,sky,andseaseemedquiveringwithlifeandmotion,——heopenedthedoorofthatonelittlehouseonwhichtheonlyshadowseemedtohavefallen,andwentforthagainintotheworldalone.
　　CHAPTERVII.
　　Mr.DanielHarcourt'stownmansionwasalsoonaneminence,butitwasthatgentleracclivityoffashionknownasRinconHill,andsunneditselfonasouthernslopeofluxury.Ithadbeendescribedas"princely"and"fairy-like,"byagratefulreporter;touristsandtravelershadsungitspraisesinletterstotheirfriendsandinprivatereminiscences,forithaddispensedhospitalitytomostofthecelebritieswhohadvisitedthecoast.NeverthelessitscharmwasmainlyduetotherulingtasteofMissClementinaHarcourt,whohadastonishedherfatherbyhermarvelousintuitionofthenicerequirementsandelegantresponsibilitiesoftheirposition;andhadthrownhermotherintothepainedperplexityofamatronlyhen,who,amongtheducks'eggsintrustedtoherfosteringcare,hadunwittinglyhatchedagracefulbutdiscomposingcygnet.
　　Indeed,afterholdingoutfeeblyagainstthesiegeofwealthatTasajaraandSanFrancisco,Mrs.Harcourthadabandonedherselfhopelesslytothehorrorsofitsinvasion;hadallowedherselftobedraggedfromherkitchenbyherexultantdaughtersandsetupinblacksilkinacertainconventionalrespectabilityinthedrawing-
　　room.Strangetosay,hercommiseratinghospitality,orhospital-
　　likeministration,notonlygaveherpopularity,butacertainkindofdistinction.Anexaltationsosorrowfullydeprecatedbyitspossessorwasfelttobeasignofsuperiority.Shewasspokenofas"motherly,"evenbythosewhovaguelyknewthattherewassomewhereadiscardedsonstrugglinginpovertywithahelplesswife,andthatshehadsidedwithherhusbandindisinheritingadaughterwhohadmarriedunwisely.Shewassentimentallyspokenofasa"truewife,"whileneveropposingasinglemeannessofherhusband,suggestingasingleactivevirtue,norquestioningherrighttosacrificeherselfandherfamilyforhissake.Withnothingshecaredtoaffect,shewasquitefreefromaffectation,andeventhecriticalLawrenceGrantwasstruckwiththedignitywhichhernarrowsimplicity,thathadseemedsmalleveninSidon,attainedinherpalatialhallinSanFrancisco.Itappearedtobeaperfectlylogicalconclusionthatwhensuchunaffectednessandsimplicitywereforcedtoassumeahostileattitudetoanybody,thelattermustbetoblame.
　　SincethefestivalofTasajaraMr.GranthadbeenafrequentvisitoratHarcourt's,andwasaguestontheeveofhisdeparturefromSanFrancisco.ThedistinguishedpositionofeachmadetheirrelationsappearquitenaturalwithoutincitinggossipastoanyattractioninHarcourt'sdaughters.ItwaslateoneafternoonashewaspassingthedoorofHarcourt'sstudythathishostcalledhimin.Hefoundhimsittingathisdeskwithsomepapersbeforehimandafoldedcopyofthe"Clarion."Withhisbacktothefadinglightofthewindowhisfacewaspartlyinshadow.
　　"Bytheway,Grant,"hebegan,withanassumptionofcarelessnesssomewhatinconsistentwiththefactthathehadjustcalledhimin,"itmaybenecessaryformetopullupthosefellowswhoareblackguardingmeinthe'Clarion.'"
　　"Why,theyhaven'tbeensayinganythingnew?"askedGrant,laughingly,asheglancedtowardsthepaper.
　　"No——thatis——onlyarehashofwhattheysaidbefore,"returnedHarcourtwithoutopeningthepaper.
　　"Well,"saidGrantplayfully,"youdon'tmindtheirsayingthatyou'reNOTtheoriginalpioneerofTasajara,forit'strue;northatthatfellow'LigeCurtisdisappearedsuddenly,forhedid,ifIrememberrightly.Butthere'snothinginthattoinvalidateyourrightstoTasajara,tosaynothingofyourfiveyears'undisputedpossession."
　　"Ofcoursethere'snoLEGALquestion,"saidHarcourtalmostsharply.
　　"Butasamatterofabsurdreport,Imaywanttocontradicttheirinsinuations.AndYOUrememberallthecircumstances,don'tyou?"
　　"Ishouldthinkso!Why,mydearfellow,I'vetolditeverywhere!——
　　here,inNewYork,Newport,andinLondon;byJove,it'soneofmybeststories!Howacompanysentmeoutwithasurveyortolookuparailroadandagriculturalpossibilitiesinthewilderness;howjustasIfoundthem——andaratherbigthingtheymade,too——Iwassetafloatbyafloodandaraft,anddriftedashoreonyourbank,andpracticallydemonstratedtoyouwhatyoudidn'tknowanddidn'tdaretohopefor——thattherecouldbeawaterwaystraighttoSidonfromtheembarcadero.I'vetoldwhatacharmingeveningwehadwithyouandyourdaughtersintheoldhouse,andhowIreturnedyourhospitalitybygivingyouatipabouttherailroad;andhowyouslippedoutwhilewewereplayingcards,toclinchthebargainforthelandwiththatdrunkenfellow,'LigeCurtis"——
　　"What'sthat?"interruptedHarcourt,quickly.
　　ItwaswellthattheshadowhidfromGranttheexpressionofHarcourt'sface,orhisreplymighthavebeensharper.Asitwas,heansweredalittlestiffly:——
　　"Ibegyourpardon"——
　　Harcourtrecoveredhimself."You'reallwrong!"hesaid,"thatbargainwasmadelongBEFORE;Ineversaw'LigeCurtisafteryoucametothehouse.Itwasbeforethat,intheafternoon,"hewentonhurriedly,"thathewaslastinmystore.Icanproveit."
　　Neverthelesshewassoshockedandindignantatbeingconfrontedinhisownsuppressionsandfalsehoodsbyanevengreaterandmoreastoundingmisconceptionoffact,thatforamomenthefelthelpless.What,hereflected,ifitwereallegedthat'Ligehadreturnedagainaftertheloafershadgone,orhadneverleftthestoreashadbeensaid?Nonsense!TherewasJohnMilton,whohadbeentherereadingallthetime,andwhocoulddisproveit.Yes,butJohnMiltonwashisdiscardedson,——hisenemy,——perhapsevenhisveryslanderer!
　　"But,"saidGrantquietly,"don'tyourememberthatyourdaughterEuphemiasaidsomethingthateveningaboutthelandLigehadOFFEREDyou,andyousnappeduptheyoungladyrathersharplyforlettingoutsecrets,andTHENyouwentout?Atleastthat'smyimpression."
　　Itwas,however,morethananimpression;withGrant'sscientificmemoryforcharacteristicdetailshehadnoticedthatparticularcircumstanceaspartofthesocialphenomena.
　　"Idon'tknowwhatPhemieSAID,"returnedHarcourt,impatiently.
　　"IKNOWtherewasnoofferpending;thelandhadbeensoldtomebeforeIeversawyou.Why——youmusthavethoughtmeuptoprettysharppracticewithCurtis——eh?"headded,withaforcedlaugh.
　　Grantsmiled;hehadbeenaccustomedtohearofsuchsharppracticeamonghisbusinessacquaintance,althoughhehimselfbynatureandprofessionwasincapableofit,buthehadnotdeemedHarcourtmorescrupulousthanothers."Perhapsso,"hesaidlightly,"butforHeaven'ssakedon'taskmetospoilmyreputationasaraconteurforthesakeofamerefactortwo.Iassureyouit'samightytakingstoryasItellit——anditdon'thurtyouinabusinessway.
　　You'retheheroofit——hangitall!"
　　"Yes,"saidHarcourt,withoutnoticingGrant'shalfcynicalsuperiority,butyou'llobligemeifyouwon'ttellitagainIN
　　THATWAY.Therearemenheremeanenoughtomaketheworstofit.
　　It'snothingtome,ofcourse,butmyfamily——thegirls,youknow——
　　arerathersensitive."
　　"Ihadnoideatheyevenknewit,——muchlesscaredforit,"saidGrant,withsuddenseriousness."Idaresayifthosefellowsinthe"Clarion"knewthattheywereannoyingtheladiesthey'ddropit.Who'stheeditor?Lookhere——leaveittome;I'lllookintoit.Betterthatyoushouldn'tappearinthematteratall."
　　"Youunderstandthatifitwasareallyseriousmatter,Grant,"
　　saidHarcourtwithaslightattitude,"Ishouldn'tallowanyonetotakemyplace."
　　"Mydearfellow,there'llbenobody'calledout'andno'shootingatsight,'whateveristheresultofmyinterference,"returnedGrant,lightly."It'llbeallright."Hewasquiteawareofthepowerofhisownindependentpositionandthefactthathehadbeenoftenappealedtobeforeindelicatearbitration.
　　Harcourtwasequallyconsciousofthis,butbyastrangeinconsistencynowfeltrelievedatthecoolnesswithwhichGranthadacceptedthemisconceptionwhichhadatfirstseemedsodangerous.IfhewerereadytocondonewhathethoughtwasSHARP
　　PRACTICE,hecouldnotbelesslenientwiththerealfactsthatmightcomeout,——ofcoursealwaysexceptingthatinterpolatedconsiderationinthebillofsale,which,however,noonebutthemissingCurtiscouldeverdiscover.ThefactthatamanofGrant'ssecurepositionhadinterestedhimselfinthismatterwouldsecurehimfromtheworkingofthatpersonalvulgarjealousywhichhishumblerantecedentshadprovoked.Andif,ashefancied,GrantreallycaredforClementina——
　　"Asyoulike,"hesaid,withhalf-affectedlightness,"andnowletustalkofsomethingelse.ClementinahasbeenthinkingofgettinguparidingpartytoSanMateoforMrs.Ashwood.Wemustshowthemsomecivility,andthatBostonbrotherofhers,Mr.Shipley,willhavetobeinvitedalso.Ican'tgetaway,andmywife,ofcourse,willonlybeabletojointhematSanMateointhecarriage.I
　　reckonitwouldbeeasierforClementinaifyoutookmyplace,andhelpedherlookaftertheridingparty.Itwillneedaman,andI
　　thinkshe'dpreferyou——asyouknowshe'sratherparticular——
　　unless,ofcourse,you'dbewantedforMrs.AshwoodorPhemie,orsomebodyelse."
　　FromhisshadowedcornerhecouldseethatapleasantlighthadsprungintoGrant'seyes,althoughhisreplywasinhisordinaryeasybanter."IshallbeonlytoogladtoactasMissClementina'svaquero,andlassoherrunaways,orkeepstragglersintheroad."
　　Thereseemedtobesmallnecessity,however,forthisactiveco-
　　operation,forwhenthecheerfulcavalcadestartedfromthehouseafewmorningslater,Mr.LawrenceGrant'sonerousdutiesseemedtobesimplyconfinedtothoseofanordinarycavalieratthesideofMissClementina,afewpacesintherearoftheparty.Butthissafedistancegavethemtheopportunityofconversingwithoutbeingoverheard,——anapparentlydiscreetprecaution.
　　"YourfatherwassoexceedinglyaffabletometheotherdaythatifIhadn'tgivenyoumypromisetosaynothing,IthinkIwouldhavefallenonmykneestohimthenandthere,revealedmyfeelings,askedforyourhandandhisblessing——orwhateveronedoesatsuchatime.Buthowlongdoyouintendtokeepmeinthissuspense?"
　　Clementinaturnedhercleareyeshalfabstractedlyuponhim,asifimperfectlyrecallingsomeforgottensituation."Youforget,"shesaid,"thatpartofyourpromisewasthatyouwouldn'tevenspeakofittomeagainwithoutmypermission."
　　"Butmytimeissoshortnow.GivemesomedefinitehopebeforeI
　　go.LetmebelievethatwhenwemeetinNewYork"——
　　"Youwillfindmejustthesameasnow!Yes,IthinkIcanpromiseTHAT.Letthatsuffice.YousaidtheotherdayyoulikedmebecauseIhadnotchangedforfiveyears.YoucansurelytrustthatIwillnotalterinasmanymonths."
　　"IfIonlyknew"——
　　"Ah,ifIonlyknew,——ifWEALLonlyknew.Butwedon't.Come,Mr.Grant,letitrestasitis.UnlessyouwanttogostillfurtherbackandhaveitasitWAS,atSidon.ThereIthinkyoufanciedEuphemiamost."
　　"Clementina!"
　　"Thatismyname,andthosepeopleaheadofusknowitalready."
　　"YouarecalledCLEMENTINA,——butyouarenotmerciful!"
　　"Youareverywrong,foryoumightseethatMr.Shipleyhastwicecheckedhishorsethathemighthearwhatyouaresaying,andPhemieisalwaysshowingMrs.Ashwoodsomethinginthelandscapebehindus."
　　AllthiswasthemorehopelessandexasperatingtoGrantsinceintheyounggirl'sspeechandmannertherewasnottheslightesttraceofcoquetryorplayfulness.Hecouldnothelpsayingalittlebitterly:"Idon'tthinkthatanyonewouldimaginefromyourmannerthatyouwerereceivingadeclaration."
　　"Buttheymightimaginefromyoursthatyouhadtherighttoquarrelwithme,——whichwouldbeworse."
　　"Wecannotpartlikethis!Itistoocrueltome."
　　"Wecannotpartotherwisewithouttheriskofgreatercruelty."
　　"Butsayatleast,Clementina,thatIhavenorival.Thereisnoothermorefavoredsuitor?"
　　"Thatissolikeaman——andyetsounliketheproudoneIbelievedyoutobe.Whyshouldamanlikeyouevenconsidersuchapossibility?IfIwereamanIknowIcouldn't."Sheturneduponhimaglancesoclearanduntroubledbyeitherconsciousvanityorevasionthathewashopelesslyconvincedofthetruthofherstatement,andshewentoninaslightlyloweredtone,"Youhavenorighttoaskmesuchaquestion,——butperhapsforthatreasonIamwillingtoansweryou.Thereisnone.Hush!Foragoodrideryouaresettingapoorexampletotheothers,bycrowdingmetowardsthebank.GoforwardandtalktoPhemie,andtellhernottoworryMrs.Ashwood'shorsenorracewithher;Idon'tthinkhe'squitesafe,andMrs.Ashwoodisn'taccustomedtousingtheSpanishbit.
　　IsupposeImustsaysomethingtoMr.Shipley,whodoesn'tseemtounderstandthatI'Mactingaschaperon,andYOUascaptainoftheparty."