Shecanteredforwardasshespoke,andGrantwasobligedtojoinhersister,who,mountedonapowerfulroan,wasmischievouslyexcitingabeautifulquaker-coloredmustangriddenbyMrs.Ashwood,alreadyirritatedbytheunfamiliarpressureoftheEasternwoman'shanduponhisbit.Thethickdustwhichhadforcedthepartyoftwentytocloseupintwosolidfilesacrosstheroadcompelledthematthefirstopeningintheroadsidefencetotakethefieldinastragglinggallop.Grant,eagertoescapefromhisowndiscontentedselfbydoingsomethingforothers,reinedinbesideEuphemiaandthefairstranger.
　　"LetmetakeyourplaceuntilMrs.Ashwood'shorseisquieted,"hehalfwhisperedtoEuphemia.
　　"Thankyou,——andIsupposeitdoesnotmakeanymattertoClemwhoquietsmine,"shesaid,withprovokingeyesandatossofherheadworthyofthespiritedanimalshewasriding.
　　"Shethinksyouquitecapableofmanagingyourselfandevenothers,"herepliedwithaplayfulglanceatShipley,whowasridingsomewhatstifflyontheotherside.
　　"Don'tbetoosure,"retortedPhemiewithanotherdangerouslook;
　　"Imaygiveyoutroubleyet."
　　Theywereapproachingthefirstundulationoftherussetplaintheyhademergedupon,——anumbrageousslopethatseemedsuddenlytodivergeintwodefilesamongtheshadedhills.GranthadgivenafewwordsofpracticaladvicetoMrs.Ashwood,andshownherhowtoguidehermustangbythemerestcaressingtouchofthereinuponitssensitiveneck.Hehadnotbeensympatheticallyinclinedtowardsthefairstranger,arichandstillyouthfulwidow,althoughhecouldnotdenyherunquestionedgoodbreeding,mentalrefinement,andacertainlanguorousthoughtfulnessthatwasalmostmelancholy,whichaccentedherblondedelicacy.ButhehadnoticedthathermannerwaspolitelyreservedandslightlyconstrainedtowardstheHarcourts,andhehadalreadyresenteditwithalover'sinstinctiveloyalty.HehadatfirstattributedittoawantofsympathybetweenMrs.Ashwood'smoreintellectualsentimentalitiesandtheHarcourts'undeniablelackofanysentimentwhatever.Buttherewasevidentlysomeotherinnateantagonism.HewasverypolitetoMrs.Ashwood;sherespondedwithagentlewoman'scourtesy,and,hewasforcedtoadmit,evenabroadercomprehensionofhisownmeritsthantheHarcourtgirlshadevershown,buthecouldstilldetectthatshewasnotinaccordwiththeparty.
　　"IamafraidyoudonotlikeCalifornia,Mrs.Ashwood?"hesaidpleasantly."Youperhapsfindthelifeheretoounrestrainedandunconventional?"
　　Shelookedathiminquickastonishment."Areyouquitesincere?
　　Why,itstrikesmethatthisisjustwhatitisNOT.AndIhavesolongedforsomethingquitedifferent.FromwhatIhavebeentoldabouttheoriginalityandadventureofeverythinghere,andyourindependenceofoldsocialformsandcustoms,IamafraidI
　　expectedtheoppositeofwhatI'veseen.Why,thisveryparty——
　　exceptthattheladiesareprettierandmoreexpensivelygottenup——
　　islikeanypartythatmighthaveriddenoutatSaratogaorNewYork."
　　"Andasstupid,youwouldsay."
　　"AsCONVENTIONAL,Mr.Grant;alwaysexceptingthislovelycreaturebeneathme,whomIcan'tmakeoutandwhodoesn'tseemtocarethatIshould.There!look!Itoldyouso!"
　　Hermustanghadsuddenlyboundedforward;butasGrantfollowedhecouldseethatthecausewastheexampleofPhemie,whohad,insomemadfreak,dashedoutinafranticgallop.Ahalf-dozenoftheyoungerpeoplehilariouslyacceptedthechallenge;theexcitementwascommunicatedtotheothers,untilthewholecavalcadewassweepingdowntheslope.GrantwasstillatMrs.
　　Ashwood'sside,restraininghermustangandhisownimpatienthorsewhenClementinajoinedthem."Phemie'smarehasreallybolted,I
　　fear,"shesaidinaquickwhisper,"rideon,andnevermindus."
　　Grantlookedquicklyahead;Phemie'sroan,excitedbytheshoutsbehindherandtoallappearanceungovernable,wasfastdisappearingwithherrider.Withoutaword,trustingtohisowngoodhorsemanshipandbetterknowledgeoftheground,hedartedoutofthecavalcadetoovertakeher.
　　Buttheunfortunateresultofthiswastogivefurtherimpulsetothenowracinghorsesastheyapproachedapointwheretheslopeterminatedintwodivergingcanyons.Mrs.Ashwoodgaveasharppulluponherbit.Toherconsternationthemustangstoppedshortalmostinstantly,——plantinghistwoforefeetrigidlyinthedustandevenslidingforwardwiththeimpetus.Hadherseatbeenlessfirmshemighthavebeenthrown,butsherecoveredherself,althoughindoingsoshestillboreuponthebit,whentoherastonishmentthemustangdeliberatelystiffenedhimselfasifforashock,andthenbegantobackslowly,quiveringwithexcitement.
　　Shedidnotknowthathernative-bredanimalfondlybelievedthathewasparticipatinginarodeo,andthattohisequineintelligencehisfairmistresshadjustlassoedsomething!Invainsheurgedhimforward;hestillwaitedfortheshock!Whenthecloudofdustinwhichshehadbeenenwrappeddriftedaway,shesawtoheramazementthatshewasalone.Theentirepartyhaddisappearedintooneofthecanyons,——butwhichoneshecouldnottell!
　　Whenshesucceededatlastinurginghermustangforwardagainshedeterminedtotaketheright-handcanyonandtrusttobeingeithermetorovertaken.Amorepracticalandlessadventurousnaturewouldhavewaitedatthepointofdivergenceforthereturnofsomeoftheparty,butMrs.Ashwoodwas,intruth,notsorrytobelefttoherselfandthenovelsceneryforawhile,andshehadnodoubtbutshewouldeventuallyfindherwaytothehotelatSanMateo,whichcouldnotbefaraway,intimeforluncheon.
　　Theroadwasstillwelldefined,althoughitpresentlybegantowindbetweenascendingranksofpinesandlarchesthatmarkedtheterracesofhills,sohighthatshewonderedshehadnotnoticedthemfromtheplains.Anunmistakablesuggestionofsomehauntingprimevalsolitude,asenseofthehushedandmysteriousproximityofanatureshehadneverknownbefore,thestrangehalf-
　　intoxicatingbreathofunsunnedfoliageanduntroddengrassesandherbs,allcombinedtoexaltherasshecanteredforward.Evenherhorseseemedtohaveacquiredanintelligentliberty,orrathertohaveestablishedasympathywithherinhisneedsandherownlongings;instinctivelyshenolongerpulledhimwiththecurb;thereinshunglooselyonhisself-archedandunfetteredneck;secureinthislonelinessshefoundherselfeventalkingtohimwithbarbaricfreedom.Asshewenton,thevaguehushofallthingsanimateandinanimatearoundherseemedtothicken,untilsheunconsciouslyhaltedbeforeadimandpillaredwood,andavastandheathlessopeningonwhosemutebrownlipsNatureseemedtohavelaidthefingerofsilence.Sheforgotthepartyshehadleft,sheforgottheluncheonshewasgoingto;moreimportantstillsheforgotthatshehadalreadyleftthetraveledtrackfarbehindher,and,tremulouswithanticipation,rodetimidlyintothatarchofshadow.
　　Asherhorse'shoofsfellnoiselesslyontheelasticmoss-carpetedaislesheforgotevenmorethanthat.Sheforgottheartificialstimulusandexcitementofthelifeshehadbeenleadingsolong;
　　sheforgotthesmallmeannessesandsmallerworriesofherwell-to-
　　doexperiences;sheforgotherself,——rathersheregainedaselfshehadlongforgotten.Forinthesweetseclusionofthishalfdarkenedsanctuarytheclingingfripperiesofherpastslippedfromherasatawdrygarment.Thepetted,spoiled,andvapidlyprecociousgirlhoodwhichhadmergedintoawomanhoodofaimlesstriumphsandmeanerambitions;theworldlybutmiserabletriumphofamarriagethathadleftherdelicacyabusedandherheartsickandunsatisfied;thewifehoodwithouthome,seclusion,ormaternity;
　　thewidowhoodthatatlastbroughtrelief,butwithittheconsciousnessofhopelesslywastedyouth,——allthisseemedtodropfromherhereaslightlyasthewingedneedlesornoiselesswitheredsprayfromthedimgrayvaultaboveherhead.Inthesovereignbalmofthatwoodlandbreathherbetterspiritwasrestored;somewhereinthesewholesomeshadesseemedtostilllurkwhatshouldhavebeenherinnocentandnymph-likeyouth,andtocomeoutoncemoreandgreether.Oldsongsshehadforgotten,orwhosemusichadfailedinthediscordsofherfrivolouslife,sangthemselvestoheragaininthatsweet,gravesilence;girlishdreamsthatshehadfoolishlybeenashamedof,orhadputawaywithherchildishtoys,stolebacktoheroncemoreandbecamerealinthistendertwilight;oldfancies,oldfragmentsofverseandchildishlore,grewpalpableandmovedfaintlybeforeher.Theboyishprincewhoshouldhavecomewasthere;thebabethatshouldhavebeenherswasthere!——shestoppedsuddenlywithflamingeyesandindignantcolor.ForitappearedthataMANwastheretoo,andhadjustrisenfromthefallentreewherehehadbeensitting.
　　CHAPTERVIII.
　　Shehadsofarforgottenherselfinyieldingtothespelloftheplace,andintherevelationofhernakedsoulandinnernature,thatitwaswithsomethingoftheinstinctofoutragedmodestythatsheseemedtoshrinkbeforethisapparitionoftheouterworldandouterworldliness.Inaninstantthenearerpastreturned;sherememberedwhereshewas,howshehadcomethere,fromwhomshehadcome,andtowhomshewasreturning.Shecouldseethatshehadnotonlyaimlesslywanderedfromtheworldbutfromtheroad;andforthatinstantshehatedthismanwhohadremindedherofit,evenwhilesheknewshemustaskhisassistance.Itrelievedherslightlytoobservethatheseemedasdisturbedandimpatientasherself,andashetookapencilfrombetweenhislipsandreturnedittohispockethescarcelylookedather.
　　Butwithherreturntotheworldofconvenancescameitsrepression,andwithagentlewoman'seaseandmodulatedvoicesheleanedoverhermustang'sneckandsaid:"IhavestrayedfrommypartyandamafraidIhavelostmyway.WeweregoingtothehotelatSanMateo.
　　Wouldyoubekindenoughtodirectmethere,orshowmehowIcanregaintheroadbywhichIcame?"
　　Hervoiceandmannerwerequiteenoughtoarresthimwherehestoodwithapleasedsurpriseinhisfreshandingenuousface.Shelookedathimmoreclosely.Hewas,inspiteofhislongsilkenmustache,soabsurdlyyoung;hemight,inspiteofthatyouth,besoabsurdlyman-like!Whatwashedoingthere?Washeafarmer'sson,anartist,asurveyor,oracityclerkoutforaholiday?Wasthereperhapsayouthfulfemaleofhisspeciessomewhereforwhomhewaswaitinganduponwhosetrystshewasnowbreaking?Washe——
　　terriblethought!——theoutlyingpicketofsomefamilypicnic?Hisdress,neat,simple,freefromostentatiousornament,betrayednothing.Shewaitedforhisvoice.
　　"Oh,youhaveleftSanMateomilesawaytotheright,"hesaidwithquickyouthfulsympathy,"atleastfivemiles!Wheredidyouleaveyourparty?"
　　Hisvoicewaswinning,andevenrefined,shethought.Sheanswereditquitespontaneously:"Ataforkoftworoads.IseenowItookthewrongturning."
　　"Yes,youtooktheroadtoCrystalSpring.It'sjustdownthereinthevalley,notmorethanamile.You'dhavebeentherenowifyouhadn'tturnedoffatthewoods."
　　"Icouldn'thelpit,itwassobeautiful."
　　"Isn'tit?"
　　"Perfect."
　　"Andsuchshadows,andsuchintensityofcolor."
　　"Wonderful!——andallalongtheridge,lookingdownthatdefile!"
　　"Yes,andthatpointwhereitseemsasifyouhadonlytostretchoutyourhandtopickamanzanitaberryfromtheothersideofthecanyon,halfamileacross!"
　　"Yes,andthatfirstglimpseofthevalleythroughtheGothicgatewayofrocks!"
　　"Andthecolorofthoserocks,——cinnamonandbronzewiththelightgreenoftheYerbabuenavinesplashingoverthem."
　　"Yes,butforcolorDIDyounoticethathillsideofyellowpoppiespouringdownintothevalleylikeagoldenNiagara?"
　　"Certainly,——andtheperfectclearnessofeverything."
　　"Andyetsuchcompletesilenceandrepose!"
　　"Oh,yes!"
　　"Ah,yes!"
　　Theywerebothgravelynoddingandshakingtheirheadswithsparklingeyesandbrightenedcolor,lookingnotateachotherbutatthefarlandscapevignettedthroughalozenge-shapedwindopeninginthetrees.SuddenlyMrs.Ashwoodstraightenedherselfinthesaddle,lookedgrave,liftedthereinsandapparentlythetenyearswiththemthathaddroppedfromher.Butshesaidinhereasiestwell-bredtones,andahalfsigh,"ThenImusttaketheroadbackagaintowhereitforks?"
　　"Oh,no!youcangobyCrystalSpring.It'snofurther,andI'llshowyoutheway.Butyou'dbetterstopandrestyourselfandyourhorseforalittlewhileattheSpringsHotel.It'saveryniceplace.ManypeopleridetherefromSanFranciscotoluncheonandreturn.Iwonderthatyourpartydidn'tpreferit;andiftheyarelookingforyou,——astheysurelymustbe,"hesaid,asifwithasuddenconceptionofherimportance,"they'llcometherewhentheyfindyou'renotatSanMateo."
　　Thisseemedreasonable,althoughtheprocessofbeing"fetched"andtakingthefivemilesride,whichshehadenjoyedsomuchalone,incompanywasnotattractive."Couldn'tIgoonatonce?"shesaidimpulsively.
　　"Youwouldmeetthemsooner,"hesaidthoughtfully.
　　ThiswasquiteenoughforMrs.Ashwood."IthinkI'llrestthispoorhorse,whoisreallytired,"she,saidwithcharminghypocrisy,"andstopatthehotel."
　　Shesawhisfacebrighten.Perhapshewasthesonofthehotelproprietor,orayouthfulpartnerhimself."Isupposeyoulivehere?"shesuggestedgently."Youseemtoknowtheplacesowell."
　　"No,"hereturnedquickly;"IonlyrundownherefromSanFranciscowhenIcangetadayoff."
　　Adayoff!Hewasinsomeregularemployment.Buthecontinued:
　　"AndIusedtogotoboarding-schoolnearhere,andknowallthesewoodswell."
　　Hemustbeanative!Howodd!Shehadnotconceivedthattheremightbeanyotherpopulationherethantheimmigrants;perhapsthatwaswhatmadehimsointerestinganddifferentfromtheothers."Thenyourfatherandmotherlivehere?"shesaid.
　　Hisfrankface,incapableofdisguise,changedsuddenly."No,"hesaidsimply,butwithoutanytraceofawkwardness.Thenafteraslightpausehelaidhishand——shenoticeditwaswhiteandwellkept——onhermustang'sneck,andsaid,"If——ifyoucaretotrustyourselftome,Icouldleadyouandyourhorsedownatrailintothevalleythatisatleastathirdofthedistanceshorter.Itwouldsaveyougoingbacktotheregularroad,andthereareoneortwolovelyviewsthatIcouldshowyou.Ishouldbesopleased,ifitwouldnottroubleyou.There'sasteepplaceortwo——butI
　　thinkthere'snodanger."
　　"Ishallnotbeafraid."
　　Shesmiledsograciously,and,asshefullybelieved,maternally,thathelookedatherthesecondtime.Tohisfirsthurriedimpressionofherasanelegantanddelicatelynurturedwoman——oneoftheclassofdistinguishedtouriststhatfashionwasbeginningtosendthither——hehadnowtoaddthatshehadaquantityoffinesilken-spunlighthairgatheredinaheavybraidbeneathhergrayhat;thathermouthwasverydelicatelylippedandbeautifullysensitive;thathersoftskin,althoughjustthentouchedwithexcitement,wasapalefadedvelvet,andseemedtobewornwithennuiratherthanexperience;thathereyeswerehiddenbehindastripofgrayveilwhenceonlyafaintglowwasdiscernible.Tothismuststillbeaddedapoeticfancyallhisownthat,asshesatthere,withtheskirtofhergrayhabitfallingfromherlongbodicedwaistoverthemustang'sfawn-coloredflanks,andwithherslimgauntletedhandslightlyswayingthereins,shelookedlikeQueenGuinevereintheforest.NotthatheparticularlyfanciedQueenGuinevere,orthatheatallimaginedhimselfLauncelot,butitwasquiteinkeepingwiththesuggestion-hauntedbrainofJohnMiltonHarcourt,whomtheastutereaderhasofcourselongsincerecognized.
　　Precedingherthroughthesoftcarpetedvaultwithawoodman'sinstinct,——fortherewasapparentlynotrailtobeseen,——thesoftinnertwilightbegantogivewaytotheouterstrongerday,andpresentlyshewasstartledtoseetheclearblueoftheskybeforeheronapparentlythesamelevelasthebrownpine-tessellatedfloorshewastreading.Notonlydidthisshowherthatshewascrossingaridgeoftheupland,butafewmomentslatershehadpassedbeyondthewoodstoagoldenhillsidethatslopedtowardsaleafy,sheltered,andexquisitely-proportionedvalley.Atinybutpicturesquetower,andafewstragglingroofsandgables,theflashingofacrystalstreamthroughtheleaves,andanarrowwhiteribbonofroadwindingbehinditindicatedthehostelrytheywereseeking.Sopeacefulandunfrequenteditlooked,nestlingbetweenthehills,thatitseemedasiftheyhaddiscoveredit.
　　Withhishandattimesuponthebridle,atothersmerelycaressinghermustang'sneck,heledtheway;therewereafewbreathlessplaceswherethecrownofhisstrawhatappearedbetweenherhorse'sreins,andagainwhensheseemedalmostslippingoveronhisshoulder,buttheywerepassedwithsuchfrankfearlessnessandinvincibleyouthfulconfidenceonthepartofherescortthatshefeltnotimidity.Thereweremomentswhenabitofthecharmedlandscapeunfoldingbeforethemoverpoweredthemboth,andtheyhaltedtogaze,——sometimeswithoutaword,oronlyasignificantgestureofsympathyandattention.AtoneofthoseartisticmanifestationsMrs.AshwoodlaidherslimglovedfingerslightlybutunwittinglyonJohnMilton'sarm,andwithdrewthem,however,withaquickgirlishapologyandafoolishcolorwhichannoyedhermorethantheappearanceoffamiliarity.Buttheywerenowgettingwelldownintothevalley;thecourtofthelittlehotelwasalreadyopeningbeforethem;theirunconventionalrelationsintheidyllicworldabovehadchanged;thenewonerequiredsomedelicacyofhandling,andshehadanideathateventhesimplicityoftheyoungstrangermightbeconfusing.
　　"Imustaskyoutocontinuetoactasmyescort,"shesaid,laughingly."IamMrs.AshwoodofPhiladelphia,visitingSanFranciscowithmysisterandbrother,whoare,Iamafraid,evennowhopelesslywaitingluncheonformeatSanMateo.Butasthereseemstobenoprospectofmyjoiningthemintime,Ihopeyouwillbeabletogivemethepleasureofyourcompany,withwhatevertheymaygiveushereinthewayofrefreshment."
　　"Ishallbeveryhappy,"returnedJohnMiltonwithunmistakablecandor;"butperhapssomeofyourfriendswillbearrivinginquestofyou,iftheyarenotalreadyhere."
　　"Thentheywilljoinusorwait,"saidMrs.Ashwoodincisively,withherfirstexhibitionoftheimperiousnessofarichandprettywoman.Perhapsshewasalittleannoyedthatherelaborateintroductionofherselfhadproducednoreciprocaldisclosurebyhercompanion."Willyoupleasesendthelandlordtome?"sheadded.
　　JohnMiltondisappearedinthehotelasshecanteredtotheporch.
　　Inanothermomentshewasgivingthelandlordherorderswiththeeasyconfidenceofonewhoknewherselfonlyasanalwayswelcomeandhighlyprivilegedguest,whichwasnotwithoutitseffect.
　　"And,"sheaddedcarelessly,"wheneverythingisreadyyouwillpleasetell——Mr."——
　　"Harcourt,"suggestedthelandlordpromptly.
　　Mrs.Ashwood'sperfectlytrainedfacegavenottheslightestsignofthesurprisethathadovertakenher."Ofcourse,——Mr.Harcourt."
　　"Youknowhe'sthesonofthemillionaire,"continuedthelandlord,notatallunwillingtodisplaytheimportanceofthehabituesofCrystalSpring,"thoughthey'vequarreledanddon'tgetontogether."
　　"Iknow,"saidtheladylanguidly,"and,ifanyonecomeshereforME,askthemtowaitintheparloruntilIcome."
　　Then,submittingherselfandherdustyhabittotheawkwardministrationoftheIrishchambermaid,shewasquitethrilledwithadelightfulcuriosity.ShevaguelyrememberedthatshehadheardsomethingoftheHarcourtfamilydiscord,——butthatwasthedivorceddaughtersurely!AndthisyoungmanwasHarcourt'sson,andtheyhadquarreled!Aquarrelwithafrank,open,ingenuousfellowlikethat——amereboy——couldonlybethefather'sfault.
　　LuckilyshehadnevermentionedthenameofHarcourt!Shewouldnotnow;heneednotknowthatitwashisfatherwhohadoriginatedtheparty;whyshouldshemakehimuncomfortableforthefewmomentstheyweretogether?
　　Therewasnothingofthisinherfaceasshedescendedandjoinedhim.Hethoughtthatfacehandsome,well-bred,andrefined.Butthisbreedingandrefinementseemedtohim——inhisignoranceoftheworld,possibly——asonlyagracefulconcealmentofaselfofwhichheknewnothing;andhewasnotsurprisedtofindthatherprettygrayeyes,nownolongerhiddenbyherveil,reallytoldhimnomorethanherlips.Hewasalittleafraidofher,andnowthatshehadlosthernaiveenthusiasmhewasconsciousofavagueremorsefulnessforhisinterruptedworkintheforest.Whatwashedoinghere?Hewhohadavoidedthecruel,selfishworldofwealthandpleasure,——aworldthatthiswomanrepresented,——theworldthathadstoodapartfromhimintheonedreamofhislife——andhadletLoodie!Hisquicklyresponsivefacedarkened.
　　"IamafraidIreallyinterruptedyouupthere,"shesaidgently,lookinginhisfacewithanexpressionofunfeignedconcern;"youwereatworkofsomekind,Iknow,andIhaveveryselfishlythoughtonlyofmyself.Butthewholescenewassonewtome,andIsorarelymeetanyonewhoseesthingsasIdo,thatIknowyouwillforgiveme."Shebenthereyesuponhimwithacertainsofttimidity."Youareanartist?"
　　"Iamafraidnot,"hesaid,coloringandsmilingfaintly;"Idon'tthinkIcoulddrawastraightline."
　　"Don'ttryto;they'renotpretty,andthemereabilitytodrawthemstraightorcurveddoesn'tmakeanartist.ButyouareaLOVERofnature,Iknow,andfromwhatIhaveheardyousayI