"Ah!"saidJack，withthoughtfulgravity。"Well，kindlygivemylovetoyoursister，willyou?"
　　"GeorgeWashingtondidn'thavenosister，"saidtheboy，cunningly。
　　"CanIhavebeenmistaken?"saidHamlin，liftinghishandtohisforeheadwithgrievedaccents。"ThenitseemsYOUhave。Kindlygivehermylove。"
　　"Whichone?"askedtheboy，withaswiftglanceofmischief。"I'vegotfour。"
　　"Theonethat'slikeyou，"returnedHamlin，withpromptexactitude。
　　"Now，where'sthe'bresh'youspokeof?"
　　"Keepalongtheedgeuntilyoucometothelog-slide。Follerthat，andit'llleadyouintothewoods。Butyewon'tgofar，Itellye。
　　Whenyouhavetoturnback，insteado'comin'backhere，youkintakethetrailthatgoesroundthewoods，andthat'llbringyeoutintothestageroadag'innearthepost-officeattheGreenSpringscrossin'andthenewhotel。That'llbewarye'llturnup，I
　　reckon，"headded，reflectively。"Fellersthatcomeyergunnin'
　　andfishin'gin'rallydo，"heconcluded，withahalf-inquisitiveair。
　　"Ah?"saidMr。Hamlin，quietlysheddingtheinquiry。"GreenSpringsHoteliswherethestagestops，eh?"
　　"Yes，andatthepost-office，"saidtheboy。"She'llbealongheresoon，"headded。
　　"IfyoumeantheSantaCruzstage，"saidHamlin，"she'sherealready。Ipassedherontheridgehalfanhourago。"
　　Theboygaveasuddenstart，andaquickuneasyexpressionpassedoverhisface。"Go'longwithye!"hesaid，withaforcedsmile:
　　"itain'thertimeyet。"
　　"ButISAWher，"repeatedHamlin，muchamused。"Areyouexpectingcompany?Hullo!Whereareyouoffto?Comeback。"
　　Buthiscompanionhadalreadyvanishedinthethicketwiththeundeliberateandimpulsiveactofananimal。Therewasamomentaryrustleinthealdersfiftyfeetaway，andthenallwassilent。Thehiddenbrooktookupitsmonotonousmurmur，thetappingofadistantwoodpeckerbecamesuddenlyaudible，andMr。Hamlinwasagainalone。
　　"Wonderwhetherhe'sgotparentsinthestage，andhasbeenplayingtruanthere，"hemused，lazily。"Lookedasifhe'dbeenuptosomedevilment，ormorelikeasifhewasprimedforit。Ifhe'dbeenalittleolder，I'dhavebethewasinleaguewithsomeroad-agentstowatchthecoach。JustmylucktohavehimlightoutasIwasbeginningtogetsometalkoutofhim。"Hepaused，lookedathiswatch，andstraightenedhimselfinhisstirrups。"Fouro'clock。I
　　reckonImightaswelltrythewoodsandwhatthatimpcallsthe'bresh；'Imaystrikeashantyoranativebytheway。"
　　Withthisdetermination，Mr。Hamlinurgedhishorsealongthefainttrailbythebrinkofthewatercoursewhichtheboyhadjustindicated。Hehadnodefiniteendinviewbeyondtheonethathadbroughthimthedaybeforetothatlocality——hisquestoftheunknownpoetess。Hiscluewouldhaveseemedtoordinaryhumanitythefaintest。Hehadmerelynotedtheprovincialnameofacertainplantmentionedinthepoem，andlearnedthatitshabitatwaslimitedtothesouthernlocalrange；whileitspeculiarnomenclaturewasclearlyofFrenchCreoleorGulfStateorigin。Thisgavehimalargethoughsparsely-populatedareaforlocality，whileitsuggestedasettlementofLouisianiansorMississippiansneartheSummit，ofwhom，throughtheirnativegamblingproclivities，hewasprofessionallycognizant。ButhemainlytrustedFortune。Secureinhisfaithinthefemininecharacterofthatgoddess，hereliedagreatdealonherwell-knownweaknessforscampsofhisquality。
　　Itwasnotlongbeforehecametothe"slide"——alightly-cutorshallowditch。Itdescendedslightlyinacoursethatwasfarfromstraight，attimesdivergingtoavoidtheobstaclesoftreesorboulders，attimesshavingthemsocloselyastoleavesmoothabrasionsalongtheirsidesmadebythegrindingpassageoflonglogsdowntheincline。Thetrackitselfwasslipperyfromthis，andpreoccupiedallHamlin'sskillasahorseman，eventothepointofstoppinghisusualcarelesswhistle。Attheendofhalfanhourthetrackbecamelevelagain，andhewasconfrontedwithasingularphenomenon。
　　Hehadenteredthewood，andthetrailseemedtocleavethroughafar-stretching，motionlessseaoffernsthatflowedoneithersidetotheheightofhishorse'sflanks。Thestraightshaftsofthetreesroselikecolumnsfromtheirhiddenbasesandwerelostagaininaroofofimpenetrableleafage，leavingaclearspaceoffiftyfeetbetween，throughwhichthesurroundinghorizonofskywasperfectlyvisible。Allthelightthatenteredthisvastsylvanhallcamefromthesides；nothingpermeatedfromabove；nothingradiatedfrombelow；theheightofthecrestonwhichthewoodwasplacedgaveitthislateralillumination，butgaveitalsotheprofoundisolationofsometempleraisedbylong-forgottenhands。
　　Inspiteoftheheightoftheseclearshafts，theyseemeddwarfedbytheexpanseofthewood，andinthefarthestperspectivethebaseoffernsandthecapitaloffoliageappearedalmosttomeet。
　　Astheboyhadwarnedhim，theslidehadturnedaside，skirtingthewoodtofollowtheincline，andpresentlythelittletrailhenowfollowedvanishedutterly，leavinghimandhishorseadriftbreast-
　　highinthisgreenandyellowseaoffronds。ButMr。Hamlin，imperiousofobstacles，andtouchedbysomecuriosity，continuedtoadvancelazily，takingthebearingsofalargerred-woodinthecentreofthegroveforhisobjectivepoint。Theelasticmassgavewaybeforehim，brushinghiskneesorcombinghishorse'sflankswithwide-spreadelfinfingers，andclosingupbehindhimashepassed，asiftoobliterateanytrackbywhichhemightreturn。
　　Yethisusualluckdidnotdeserthimhere。Beingonhorseback，hefoundthathecoulddetectwhathadbeeninvisibletotheboyandprobablytoallpedestrians，namely，thatthegrowthwasnotequallydense，thattherewerecertainthinnerandmoreopenspacesthathecouldtakeadvantageofbymorecircuitousprogression，always，however，keepingthebearingsofthecentraltree。Thisheatlastreached，andhaltedhispantinghorse。Hereanewideawhichhadbeenhauntinghimsinceheenteredthewoodtookfullerpossessionofhim。Hehadseenorknownallthisbefore!Therewasastrangefamiliarityeitherintheseobjectsorintheimpressionorspelltheyleftuponhim。Herememberedtheverses!
　　Yes，thiswasthe"underbrush"whichthepoetesshaddescribed:thegloomaboveandbelow，thelightthatseemedblownthroughitlikethewind，thesuggestionofhiddenlifebeneaththistangledluxuriance，whichshealonehadpenetrated，——allthiswashere。
　　But，morethanthat，herewastheatmospherethatshehadbreathedintotheplaintivemelodyofherverse。ItdidnotnecessarilyfollowthatMr。Hamlin'stranslationofhersentimentwasthecorrectone，orthattheideasherverseshadprovokedinhismindwereatallwhathadbeenhers:inhiseasysusceptibilityhewassimplythrownintoacorrespondingmoodofemotionandrelievedhimselfwithsong。Oneoftheverseshehadalreadyassociatedinhismindwiththerhythmofanoldplantationmelody，anditstruckhisfancytotakeadvantageofthesolitudetotryitseffect。
　　Hummingtohimself，atfirstsoftly，heatlastgrewbolder，andlethisvoicedriftawaythroughthestarkpillarsofthesylvancolonnadetillitseemedtosuffuseandfillitwithnomoreeffortthanthelightwhichstrayedinoneitherside。Sittingthus，hishatthrownalittlebackfromhisclusteringcurls，thewhiteneckandshouldersofhishorseupliftinghimabovethecrestedmassoffern，hisredsashtheonefleckofcolorintheirolivedepths，I
　　amafraidhelookedmuchmoreliketherealminstrelofthegrovethantheunknownpoetesswhotransfiguredit。Butthis，ashasbeenalreadyindicated，wasJackHamlin'speculiargift。Evenashehadpreviouslyoutshonethevaqueroinhisborroweddress，henowsilencedandsupplantedafewflutteringblue-jays——rightfultenantsofthewood——withamoregracefulandairypresenceandafarsweetervoice。
　　TheopenhorizontowardsthewesthadtakenawarmercolorfromthealreadyslantingsunwhenMr。Hamlin，havingrestedhishorse，turnedtothatdirection。Hehadnoticedthatthewoodwasthinnerthere，and，pushingforward，hewaspresentlyrewardedbythesoundoffar-offwheels，andknewhemustbenearthehigh-roadthattheboyhadspokenof。Havinggivenuphispreviousintentionofcrossingthestream，thereseemednothingbetterforhimtodothantofollowthetruant'sadviceandtaketheroadbacktoGreenSprings。Yethewasloathtoleavethewood，haltingonitsverge，andturningtolookbackintoitscharmedrecesses。Onceortwice——
　　perhapsbecauseherecalledthewordsofthepoem——thatyellowishseaoffernshadseemedinstinctwithhiddenlife，andhehadevenfancied，hereandthere，aswayingofitsplumedcrests。Howbeit，hestilllingeredlongenoughfortheopensunlightintowhichhehadobtrudedtopointoutthebraveryofhishandsomefigure。Thenhewheeledhishorse，thelightglancedfrompolisheddoublebitandbridle-fripperies，caughthisredsashandbullionbuttons，struckapartingflashfromhissilverspurs，andhewasgone!
　　Foramomentthelightstreamedunbrokenlythroughthewood。AndthenitcouldbeseenthattheyellowmassofundergrowthHADmovedwiththepassageofanotherfigurethanhisown。Foreversincehehadenteredtheshade，awoman，shawledinavague，shapelessfashion，hadwatchedhimwonderingly，eagerly，excitedly，glidingfromtreetotreeasheadvanced，orelsedroppingbreathlesslybelowthefrondsoffernwhenceshegazedathimasbetweenpartedfingers。Whenhewheeledshehadrunopenlytothewest，albeitwithhiddenfaceandstillclingingshawl，andtakenalastlookathisretreatingfigure。Andthen，withafaintbutlingeringsigh，shedrewbackintotheshadowofthewoodagainandvanishedalso。
　　CHAPTERIII
　　AttheendoftwentyminutesMr。Hamlinreinedinhismare。Hehadjustobservedinthedistantshadowsofaby-lanethatintersectedhisroadthevanishingflutteroftwolightprintdresses。Withoutamoment'shesitationhelightlyswervedoutofthehigh-roadandfollowedtheretreatingfigures。
　　Ashenearedthem，theyseemedtobetwoslimyounggirls，evidentlysopreoccupiedwiththerusticamusementofedgingeachotheroffthegrassyborderintothedustofthetrackthattheydidnotperceivehisapproach。Littleshrieks，slightscufflings，andinterjectionsof"Cynthy!youlimb!""Quitthat，Eunice，now!"
　　and"Ijustcallthatrealmean!"apparentlydrownedthesoundofhiscanterinthesoftdust。Checkinghisspeedtoagentletrot，andpressinghishorseclosebesidetheoppositefence，hepassedthemwithgravelyupliftedhatandaserious，preoccupiedair。Butinthatsingle，seeminglyconventionalglance，Mr。Hamlinhadseenthattheywerebothpretty，andthatonehadtheshortupperlipofhiserrantlittleguide。Ahundredyardsfartheronhehalted，asifirresolutely，gazeddoubtfullyaheadofhim，andthenturnedback。Anexpressionofinnocent——almost
　　childlike——concernwascloudingtherascal'sface。Itwaswell，asthetwogirlshaddrawncloselytogether，havingbeenapparentlysurprisedinthemidstofaglowingeulogiumofthisgloriouspassingvisionbyitssuddenreturn。Athisnearerapproach，theonewiththeshortupperliphidthatpiquantfeatureandtherestofherrosyfacebehindtheother'sshoulder，whichwassuddenlyandsignificantlyopposedtotheadvanceofthishandsomeintruder，withacertaindignity，halfreal，halfaffected，butwhollycharming。Theprotectressappeared——possiblyfromherdefensiveattitude——thesuperiorofhercompanion。
　　AudaciousasJackwastohisownsex，hehadearlylearnedthatsuchrarebutdiscomposinggracesashepossessedrequiredacertainapologeticattitudewhenpresentedtowomen，andthatitwasonlyaplainmanwhocouldbealwayscomplacentlyself-
　　confidentintheirpresence。Therewas，consequently，ahesitatingloweringofthishypocrite'sbrowneyelashesashesaid，inalmostpainedaccents，——
　　"Excuseme，butIfearI'vetakenthewrongroad。I'mgoingtoGreenSprings。"
　　"Ireckonyou'vetakenthewrongroad，whereveryou'regoing，"
　　returnedtheyounglady，havingapparentlymadeuphermindtoresenteachofJack'sperfectionsasaseparateimpertinence:"thisisaPRIVATEroad。"Shedrewherselffairlyuphere，althoughgurgledatintheearandpinchedinthearmbyhercompanion。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"saidJack，meekly。"IseeI'mtrespassingonyourgrounds。I'mverysorry。Thankyoufortellingme。Ishouldhavegoneonamileortwofarther，Isuppose，untilIcametoyourhouse，"headded，innocently。
　　"Amileortwo!You'dhaverunchockag'in'ourgateinanotherminit，"saidtheshort-lippedone，eagerly。Butasharpnudgefromhercompanionsentherbackagainintocover，whereshewaitedexpectantlyforanothercrushingretortfromherprotector。
　　But，alas!itdidnotcome。Onecannotbealwayswitty，andJacklookeddistressed。Nevertheless，hetookadvantageofthepause。
　　"Itwassostupidinme，asIthinkyourbrother"——lookingatShort-lip——"verycarefullytoldmetheroad。"
　　Thetwogirlsdartedquickglancesateachother。"Oh，Bawb!"saidthefirstspeaker，inweariedaccents，——"THATlimb!Hedon'tkeer。"
　　"ButheDIDcare，"saidHamlin，quietly，"andgavemeagooddealofinformation。Thankstohim，Iwasabletoseethatfernywoodthat'ssofamous——abouttwomilesuptheroad。Youknow——theonethatthere'sapoemwrittenabout!"
　　Theshottold!Short-lipburstintoadisplayofdazzlinglittleteethandcaughttheothergirlconvulsivelybytheshoulders。Thesuperiorgirlbentherprettybrows，andsaid，"Eunice，what'sgoneofye?Quitthat!"but，asHamlinthought，paledslightly。
　　"Ofcourse，"saidHamlin，quickly，"youknow——thepoemeverybody'stalkingabout。Dearme!letmesee!howdoesitgo?"Therascalknithisbrows，said，"Ah，yes，"andthenmurmuredtheversehehadlatelysungquiteasmusically。
　　Short-lipwasshamelesslyexaltedandexcited。Reallyshecouldscarcelybelieveit!Shealreadyheardherselfrelatingthewholeoccurrence。Herewasthemostbeautifulyoungmanshehadeverseen——anentirestranger——talkingtotheminthemostbeautifulandnaturalway，rightinthelane，andrecitingpoetrytohersister!
　　Itwaslikeanovel——onlymoreso。ShethoughtthatCynthia，ontheotherhand，lookeddistressed，and——shemustsayit——"silly。"
　　AllofwhichJacknoted，andwaswise。Hehadgotallhewanted——
　　atpresent。Hegathereduphisreins。
　　"Thankyousomuch，andyourbrother，too，MissCynthia，"hesaid，withoutlookingup。Then，adding，withapartingglanceandsmile，"Butdon'ttellBobhowstupidIwas，"heswiftlydeparted。
　　InhalfanhourhewasattheGreenSpringsHotel。Asherodeintothestableyard，henoticedthatthecoachhadonlyjustarrived，havingbeendetainedbyaland-slipontheSummitroad。WiththerecollectionofBobfreshinhismind，heglancedattheloungersatthestageoffice。Theboywasnotthere，butamomentlaterJackdetectedhimamongthewaitingcrowdatthepost-officeopposite。Withaviewoffollowinguphisinquiries，hecrossedtheroadastheboyenteredthevestibuleofthepost-office。Hearrivedintimetoseehimunlockoneofarowofnumberedletter-
　　boxesrentedbysubscribers，whichoccupiedapartitionbythewindow，andtakeoutasmallpackageandaletter。ButinthatbriefglanceMr。Hamlindetectedtheprintedaddressofthe"ExcelsiorMagazine"onthewrapper。Itwasenough。Luckwascertainlywithhim。
　　Hehadtimetogetridofthewickedsparklethathadlithisdarkeyes，andtoloungecarelesslytowardstheboyasthelatterbrokeopenthepackage，andthenhurriedlyconcealeditinhisjacket-
　　pocket，andstartedforthedoor。Mr。Hamlinquicklyfollowedhim，unperceived，and，ashesteppedintothestreet，gentlytappedhimontheshoulder。Theboyturnedandfacedhimquickly。ButMr。
　　Hamlin'seyesshowednothingbutlazygood-humor。
　　"Hullo，Bob。Whereareyougoing?"
　　Theboyagainlookedupsuspiciouslyatthisrevelationofhisname。
　　"Home，"hesaid，briefly。
　　"Oh，overyonder，"saidHamlin，calmly。"Idon'tmindwalkingwithyouasfarasthelane。"
　　Hesawtheboy'seyesglancefurtivelytowardsanalleythatranbesidetheblacksmith'sshopafewrodsahead，andwasconvincedthatheintendedtoevadehimthere。Slippinghisarmcarelesslyintheyouth's，heconcludedtoopenfireatonce。
　　"Bob，"hesaid，withirresistiblegravity，"IdidnotknowwhenI
　　metyouthismorningthatIhadthehonorofaddressingapoet——
　　noneotherthanthefamousauthorof'Underbrush。'"
　　Theboystartedback，andendeavoredtowithdrawhisarm，butMr。
　　Hamlintightenedhishold，without，however，changinghiscarelessexpression。
　　"Yousee，"hecontinued，"theeditorisafriendofmine，and，beingafraidthispackagemightnotgetintotherighthands——asyoudidn'tgiveyourname——hedeputizedmetocomehereandseethatitwasallsquare。Asyou'reratheryoung，forallyou'resogifted，IreckonI'dbettergohomewithyou，andtakeareceiptfromyourparents。That'saboutsquare，Ithink?"
　　TheconsternationoftheboywassoevidentandsofarbeyondMr。
　　Hamlin'sexpectationthatheinstantlyhaltedhim，gazedintohisshiftingeyes，andgavealongwhistle。
　　"WhosaiditwasforME?Wotyoutalkin'about?Lemmego!"gaspedtheboy，withtheshortintermittentbreathofmingledfearandpassion。
　　"Bob，"saidMr。Hamlin，inasingularlycolorlessvoicewhichwasveryrarewithhim，andanexpressionquiteunlikehisown，"whatisyourlittlegame?"
　　Theboylookeddownindoggedsilence。
　　"Outwithit!Whoareyouplayingthison?"
　　"It'sallamongmyownfolks；it'snothin'toYOU，"saidtheboy，suddenlybeginningtostruggleviolently，asifinspiredbythisextenuatingfact。
　　"Amongyourownfolks，eh?WhiteVioletandtherest，eh?ButSHE'Snotinit?"
　　Noreply。
　　"Handmeoverthatpackage。I'llgiveitbacktoyouagain。"
　　TheboyhandedittoMr。Hamlin。Hereadtheletter，andfoundtheinclosurecontainedatwenty-dollargold-piece。Ahalf-
　　supercilioussmilepassedoverhisfaceatthisrevelationoftheinadequateemolumentsofliteratureandthetriflinginducementstocrime。Indeed，Ifeartheaffairbegantotakealessseriousmoralcomplexioninhiseyes。
　　"ThenWhiteViolet——yoursisterCynthia，youknow，"continuedMr。
　　Hamlin，ineasyparenthesis——"wroteforthis?"holdingthecoincontemplativelyinhisfingers，"andyoucalculatedtonabityourself?"
　　ThequicksearchingglancewithwhichBobreceivedthenameofhissister，Mr。Hamlinattributedonlytohisnaturalsurprisethatthisstrangershouldbeonsuchfamiliartermswithher；buttheboyrespondedimmediatelyandbluntly:——
　　"No!SHEdidn'twriteforit。Shedidn'twantnobodytoknowwhoshewas。Nobodywroteforitbutme。NobodyKNEWFOLKSWASPAID
　　FORPO'TRYBUTME。Ifounditoutfromafeller。Iwroteforit。
　　Iwasn'tgoin'toletthatskunkofaneditorhaveithimself!"
　　"AndyouthoughtYOUwouldtakeit，"saidHamlin，hisvoiceresumingitsoldtone。"Well，George——ImeanBob，yourconductwaspraiseworthy，althoughyourintentionswerebad。Still，twentydollarsisrathertoomuchforyourtrouble。Supposewesayfiveandcallitsquare?"Hehandedtheastonishedboyfivedollars。
　　"Now，GeorgeWashington，"hecontinued，takingfourothertwenty-
　　dollarpiecesfromhispocket，andaddingthemtotheinclosure，whichhecarefullyrefolded，"I'mgoingtogiveyouanotherchancetoliveuptoyourreputation。You'lltakethatpackage，andhandittoWhiteViolet，andsayyoufoundit，justasitis，inthelock-box。I'llkeeptheletter，foritwouldknockyouendwaysifitwasseen，andI'llmakeitallrightwiththeeditor。But，asI'vegottotellhimthatI'veseenWhiteVioletmyself，andknowshe'sgotit，IexpectYOUtomanageinsomewaytohavemeseeher。I'llmanagetherestofit；andIwon'tblowonyou，either。
　　You'llcomebacktothehotel，andtellmewhatyou'vedone。Andnow，George"concludedMr。Hamlin，succeedingatlastinfixingtheboy'sevasiveeyewithapeculiarlook，"itmaybejustaswellforyoutounderstandthatIknoweverynookandcornerofthisplace，thatI'vealreadybeenthroughthatunderbrushyouspokeofoncethismorning，andthatI'vegotamarethatcangowhereverYOUcan，andad——dsightquicker!"
　　"I'llgivethepackagetoWhiteViolet，"saidtheboy，doggedly。
　　"Andyou'llcomebacktothehotel?"
　　Theboyhesitated，andthensaid，"I'llcomeback。"
　　"Allright，then。Adios，general。"
　　Bobdisappearedaroundthecornerofacross-roadatarapidtrot，andMr。Hamlinturnedintothehotel。
　　"Smartlittlechapthat!"hesaidtothebarkeeper。
　　"Youbet!"returnedtheman，who，havingrecognizedMr。Hamlin，wasdelightedattheprospectofconversingwithagentlemanofsuchdecidedlydangerousreputation。"Buthe'sbeenallowedtorunalittlewildsinceoldmanDelatourdied，andthewidder'sgotenoughtodo，Ireckon，lookin'arterherfourgals，andtakin'
　　keerofoldDelatour'sranchoveryonder。Iguessit'sprettyhardsleddin'forhersometimestogetclo'esandgrubforthefamerly，withoutfollerin'Bobaround。"
　　"Sharpgirls，too，Ireckon；oneofthemwritesthingsforthemagazines，doesn'tshe?——Cynthia，eh?"saidMr。Hamlin，carelessly。
　　Evidentlythisfactwasnotanotoriousonetothebarkeeper。He，however，said，"Dunno；mabbee；herfatherwaseddicated，andthewidderDelatour，too，thoughshe'ssorterqueer，I'veheardtell。
　　Lord!Mr。Hamlin，YOUoughterrememberoldmanDelatour!FromOpelousas，Louisiany，youknow!HigholdsportFrenchstyle，frilledbosom——open-handed，andus'terbuckag'in'faroawful!
　　Why，hedroppedaheapo'moneytoYOUoverinSanJosetwoyearsagoatpoker!Youmustrememberhim!"
　　TheslightestpossibleflushpassedoverMr。Hamlin'sbrowundertheshadowofhishat，butdidnotgetlowerthanhiseyes。HesuddenlyHADrecalledthespendthriftDelatourperfectly，andasquicklyregrettednowthathehadnotdoubledthehonorariumhehadjustsenttohisportionlessdaughter。Butheonlysaid，coolly，"No，"andthen，raisinghispalefaceandaudaciouseyes，continuedinhislaziestandmostinsultingmanner，"no:thefactis，mymindisjustnowpreoccupiedinwonderingifthegasisleakinganywhere，andifanythingiseverservedoverthisbarexceptelegantconversation。Whenthegentlemanwhomixesdrinkscomesback，perhapsyou'llbegoodenoughtotellhimtosendawhiskysourtoMr。JackHamlinintheparlor。Meantime，youcanturnoffyoursodafountain:Idon'twantanyfizzinmine。"
　　Havingthusquiterecoveredhimself，Mr。Hamlinloungedgracefullyacrossthehallintotheparlor。Ashedidso，adarkishyoungman，withaslimboyishfigure，athinface，andadiscontentedexpression，rosefromanarmchair，heldouthishand，and，withasaturninesmile，said:——
　　"Jack!"
　　"Fred!"
　　Thetwomenremainedgazingateachotherwithahalf-amused，half-
　　guardedexpression。Mr。Hamlinwasfirsttobegin。"Ididn'tthinkYOU'Dbesuchafoolastotryonthiskindofthing，Fred，"
　　hesaid，halfseriously。
　　"Yes，butitwastokeepyoufrombeingamuchbiggeronethatI
　　huntedyouup，"saidtheeditor，mischievously。"Readthat。Igotitanhourafteryouleft。"AndheplacedalittletriumphantlyinJack'shandtheletterhehadreceivedfromWhiteViolet。
　　Mr。Hamlinreaditwithanunmovedface，andthenlaidhistwohandsontheeditor'sshoulders。"Yes，myyoungfriend，andyousatdownandwroteheraprettyletterandsenthertwentydollars——
　　which，permitmetosay，wasd——dpoorpay!Butthatisn'tyourfault，Ireckon:it'sthemeannessofyourproprietors。"
　　"Butitisn'tthequestion，either，justnow，Jack，howeveryouhavebeenabletoanswerit。Doyoumeantosayseriouslythatyouwanttoknowanythingmoreofawomanwhocouldwritesuchaletter?"
　　"Idon'tknow，"saidJack，cheerfully。"Shemightbeadevilishsightfunnierthanifshehadn'twrittenit——whichisthefact。"
　　"YoumeantosaySHEdidn'twriteit?"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Whodid，then?"
　　"HerbrotherBob。"
　　Afteramoment'sscrutinyofhisfriend'sbewilderedface，Mr。
　　Hamlinbrieflyrelatedhisadventures，fromthemomentofhismeetingBobatthemountain-streamtothebarkeeper'sgossipingcommentandsequel。"Therefore，"heconcluded，"theauthorof'Underbrush'isMissCynthiaDelatour，oneoffourdaughtersofawidowwholivestwomilesfromhereatthecrossing。Ishallseeherthiseveningandmakesure；butto-morrowmorningyouwillpaymethebreakfastyouoweme。She'sgood-looking，butIcan'tsayI
　　fancythepoeticstyle:it'salittletoohigh-tonedforme。
　　However，IlovemylovewithaC，becausesheisyourContributor；
　　IhateherwithaC，becauseofherConnections；ImetherbyChanceandtreatedherwithCivility；hernameisCynthia，andshelivesonaCross-road。"
　　"Butyousurelydon'texpectyouwilleverseeBob，again!"saidtheeditor，impatiently。"YouhavetrustedhimwithenoughtostarthimfortheSandwichIslands，tosaynothingoftheruinousprecedentyouhaveestablishedinhismindofthevalueofpoetry。
　　Iamsurprisedthatamanofyourknowledgeoftheworldwouldhavefaithinthatimpthesecondtime。"
　　"Myknowledgeoftheworld，"returnedMr。Hamlin，sententiously，"tellsmethat'stheonlywayyoucantrustanybody。ONCEdoesn'tmakeahabit，norshowacharacter。Icouldseebyhisbunglingthathehadnevertriedthisonbefore。Justnowthetemptationtowipeouthispunishmentbydoingthesquarething，andcomingbackasortofhero，isstrongerthananyother。'Tisn'teverybodythatgetsthatchance，"headded，withanoddlaugh。
　　Nevertheless，threehourspassedwithoutbringingBob。Thetwomenhadgonetothebilliard-room，whenawaiterbroughtanote，whichhehandedtoMr。Hamlinwithsomeapologetichesitation。Itborenosuperscription，buthadbeenbroughtbyaboywhodescribedMr。
　　Hamlinperfectly，andrequestedthatthenoteshouldbehandedtohimwiththeremarkthat"Bobhadcomeback。"
　　"Andishetherenow?"askedMr。Hamlin，holdingtheletterunopenedinhishand。
　　"No，sir；herunrightoff。"
　　Theeditorlaughed，butMr。Hamlin，havingperusedthenote，putawayhiscue。"Comeintomyroom，"hesaid。
　　Theeditorfollowed，andMr。Hamlinlaidthenotebeforehimonthetable。"Bob'sallright，"hesaid，"forI'llbetathousanddollarsthatnoteisgenuine。"
　　Itwasdelicatelywritten，inacultivatedfemininehand，utterlyunlikethescrawlthathadfirstexcitedtheeditor'scuriosity，andranasfollows:——
　　Hewhobroughtmethebountyofyourfriend——forIcannotcallarecompensesofarabovemydesertsbyanyothername——givesmealsotounderstandthatyouwishedforaninterview。Icannotbelievethatthisismereidlecuriosity，orthatyouhaveanymotivethatisnotkindlyandhonorable，butIfeelthatImustbegandprayyounottoseektoremovetheveilbehindwhichIhavechosentohidemyselfandmypooreffortsfromidentification。ITHINKI
　　knowyou——IKNOWIknowmyself——wellenoughtobelieveitwouldgiveneitherofusanyhappiness。YouwillsaytoyourgenerousfriendthathehasalreadygiventheUnknownmorecomfortandhopethancouldcomefromanypersonalcomplimentorpublicity，andyouwillyourselfbelievethatyouhaveallunconsciouslybrightenedasadwoman'sfancywithaDreamandaVisionthatbeforetodayhadbeenunknowntoWHITEVIOLET。
　　"Haveyoureadit?"askedMr。Hamlin。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Thenyoudon'twanttoseeitanymore，orevenrememberyoueversawit，"saidMr。Hamlin，carefullytearingthenoteintosmallpiecesandlettingthemdriftfromthewindowslikeblownblossoms。
　　"But，Isay，Jack!lookhere；Idon'tunderstand!Yousayyouhavealreadyseenthiswoman，andyet"——
　　"IHAVEN'Tseenher，"saidJack，composedly，turningfromthewindow。
　　"Whatdoyoumean?"
　　"ImeanthatyouandI，Fred，aregoingtodropthisfoolingrighthereandleavethisplaceforFriscobyfirststageto-morrow，and——
　　thatIoweyouthatdinner。"
　　CHAPTERIV