MeantimethevoiceandmuffledtappinghadbroughtthetremulousfingersofoldForsythtothedoor-latch。Heopenedthedoorpartly；aslightfigurethathadbeenlurkingintheshadowoftheporchpushedrapidlythroughtheopening。Therewasafaintoutcryquicklyhushed，andthedoorclosedagain。Theraysofasinglecandleshowedthetwooldpeoplehystericallyclaspingintheirarmsthefigurethathadentered——aslightbutvicious-lookingyoungfellowoffive-and-twenty。
　　"There，d——nit!"hesaidimpatiently，inavoicewhoserichdepthwaslikeJosephine's，butwhosequerulousactionwasthatofthetwooldpeoplebeforehim，"letmego，andquitthat，Ididn'tcomeheretobestrangled!Iwantsomemoney——money，youhear!
　　Devilishquick，too，forI'vegottobeoffagainbeforedaylight。
　　Solooksharp，willyou?"
　　"But，Stevydear，whenyoudidn'tcomethattimethreemonthsago，butwrotefromLosAngeles，yousaidyou'dmadeastrikeatlast，and"——
　　"Whatareyoutalkingabout?"heinterruptedviolently。"Thatwasjustmylyin'tokeepyoufromworryin'me。Threemonthsago——
　　threemonthsago!Why，youmusthavebeencrazytohaveswallowedit；Ihadn'tacent。"
　　"Norhavewe，"saidtheoldwoman，shrilly。"Thathellishsisterofyoursstillkeepsuslikebeggars。Ouronlyhopewasyou，ourownboy。Andnowyouonlycometo——togoagain。"
　　"ButSHEhasmoney；SHE'Sdoingwell，andSHEshallgiveittome，"
　　hewenton，angrily。"Shecan'tbullymewithherbusinessairsandmorality。Whoelsehasgotarighttoshare，ifitisnotherownbrother?"
　　Alasforthefatuousnessofhumanmalevolence!HadtheunhappycouplerelatedonlythesimplefactstheyknewaboutthenewguestofBurntRidgeRanch，andthemannerofhisintroduction，theymighthavesparedwhatfollowed。
　　Buttheoldwomanbrokeintoavindictivecry:"Whoelse，Steve——
　　whoelse?Why，thesluthasbroughtaMANhere——asneaking，deceitful，underhanded，crazylover!"
　　"Oh，hasshe?"saidtheyoungman，fiercely，yetsecretlypleasedatthispromisingevidenceofhissister'shumanweakness。"Whereisshe?I'llgotoher。She'sinherroom，Isuppose，"andbeforetheycouldrestrainhim，hehadthrownofftheirimpedingembracesanddartedacrossthehall。
　　Thetwooldpeoplestareddoubtfullyateachother。Foreventhispowerfulally，whosestrength，however，theywerebynomeanssureof，mightsuccumbbeforethedeterminedJosephine!Prudencedemandedamiddlecourse。"Ain'ttheybrotherandsister?"saidtheoldman，withanairofvirtuoustoleration。"Let'emfightitout。"
　　Theyoungmanimpatientlyenteredtheroomherememberedtohavebeenhissister's。Bythelightofthemoonthatstreameduponthewindowhecouldseeshewasnotthere。Hepassedhurriedlytothedoorofherbedroom；itwasopen；theroomwasempty，thebedunturned。Shewasnotinthehouse——shehadgonetothemill。Ah!
　　Whatwasthattheyhadsaid?Aninfamousthoughtpassedthroughthescoundrel'smind。Then，inwhathehalfbelievedwasanaccessofvirtuousfury，hebeganbythedimlighttorummageinthedrawersofthedeskforsuchloosecoinorvaluablesas，intheperfectsecurityoftheranch，wereoftenleftunguarded。Suddenlyheheardaheavyfootsteponthethreshold，andturned。
　　Anawfulvision——arecollection，sounexpected，soghostlikeinthatweirdlightthathethoughthewaslosinghissenses——stoodbeforehim。Itmovedforwardswithstaringeyeballsandwhiteandopenlipsfromwhichahorribleinarticulatesoundissuedthatwasthespeechofnolivingman!Withasingledesperate，almostsuperhumaneffortStephenForsythboundedaside，leapedfromthewindow，andranlikeamadmanfromthehouse。Thentheapparitiontrembled，collapsed，andsankinanundistinguishableheaptotheground。
　　WhenJosephineForsythreturnedanhourlaterwithhermillforeman，shewasstartledtofindherhelplesspatientinafitonthefloorofherroom。Withtheassistanceofhernowconvertedandpenitentemployee，shehadtheunfortunatemanconveyedtohisroom——butnotuntilshehadthoughtfullyrearrangedthedisorderofherdeskandclosedtheopendrawerswithoutattractingDickShipley'sattention。Inthemorning，hearingthatthepatientwasstillinthesemiconsciousexhaustionofhislateattack，butwithoutseeinghim，shesentforDr。Duchesne。Thedoctorarrivedwhileshewasabsentatthemill，where，afteracarefulexaminationofhispatient，hesoughtherwithsomelittleexcitement。
　　"Well?"shesaid，witheagergravity。
　　"Well，itlooksasifyourwishwouldbegratified。Yourfriendhashadanepilepticfit，butthephysicalshockhasstartedhismentalmachineryagain。Hehasrecoveredhisfaculties；hismemoryisreturning:hethinksandspeakscoherently；heisassaneasyouandI。"
　　"And"——saidJosephine，questioningthedoctor'sknittedeyebrows。
　　"Iamnotyetsurewhetheritwastheresultofsomeshockhedoesn'tremember；oranirritationofthebrain，whichwouldindicatethattheoperationhadnotbeensuccessfulandthattherewasstillsomephysicalpressureorobstructionthere——inwhichcasehewouldbesubjecttotheseattacksallhislife。"
　　"Doyouthinkhisreasoncamebeforethefitorafter?"askedthegirl，anxiously。
　　"Icouldn'tsay。Hadanythinghappened?"
　　"Iwasaway，andfoundhimontheflooronmyreturn，"sheanswered，halfuneasily。Afterapauseshesaid，"Thenhehastoldyouhisnameandallabouthimself?"
　　"Yes，it'snothingatall!HewasastrangerjustarrivedfromtheStates，goingtothemines——theoldstory；hadnonearrelations，ofcourse；wasn'tmissedoraskedafter；rememberswalkingalongtheridgeandfallingover；name，JohnBaxter，ofMaine。"Hepaused，andrelaxingintoaslightsmile，added，"I
　　haven'tspoiledyourromance，haveI?"
　　"No，"shesaid，withanansweringsmile。Thenasthedoctorwalkedbrisklyawaysheslightlyknittedherprettybrows，hungherhead，pattedthegroundwithherlittlefootbeyondthehemofhergown，andsaidtoherself，"Themanwaslyingtohim。"
　　CHAPTERIII
　　Onherreturntothehouse，Josephineapparentlycontentedherselfwithreceivingthebulletinofthestranger'sconditionfromtheservant，forshedidnotenterhisroom。Shehadobtainednotheoryoflastnight'sincidentfromherparents，who，beyondaquerulousagitationthatwasquickenedbythenewsofhisreturntoreason，refrainedfromeventhatinsidiouscommentwhichshehalffearedwouldfollow。Whenanotherdaypassedwithoutherseeinghim，sheneverthelesswasconsciousofalittleembarrassmentwhenhisattendantbroughthertherequestthatshewouldgivehimamoment'sspeechintheporch，whitherhehadbeenremoved。
　　Shefoundhimphysicallyweaker；indeed，somuchsothatshewasfain，eveninherembarrassment，toassisthimbacktothebenchfromwhichhehadceremoniouslyrisen。Butshewassostruckwiththechangeinhisfaceandmanner，achangesovirileandmasterful，inspiteofitsgentlesadnessofmanner，thatsherecoiledwithaslighttimidityasifhehadbeenastranger，althoughshewasalsoconsciousthatheseemedtobemoreathiseasethanshewas。Hebeganinalowexhaustedvoice，butbeforehehadfinishedhisfirstsentence，shefeltherselfinthepresenceofasuperior。
　　"Mythankscomeverylate，MissForsyth，"hesaid，withafaintsmile，"butnooneknowsbetterthanyourselfthereasonwhy，orcanbetterunderstandthattheymeanthattheburdenyouhavesogenerouslytakenonyourselfisabouttobelifted。Iknowall，MissForsyth。SinceyesterdayIhavelearnedhowmuchIoweyou，evenmylifeIbelieve，thoughIamafraidImusttellyouinthesamebreaththatTHATisoflittleworthtoanyone。Youhavekindlyhelpedandinterestedyourselfinapoorstrangerwhoturnsouttobeanobody，withoutfriends，withoutromance，andwithoutevenmystery。Youfoundmelyingintheroaddownyonder，afterastupidaccidentthatmighthavehappenedtoanyothercarelesstramp，andwhichscarcelygavemeaclaimtoabedinthecountyhospital，muchlessunderthiskindlyroof。Itwasnotmyfault，asyouknow，thatallthisdidnotcomeoutsooner；butwhileitdoesn'tlessenyourgenerosity，itdoesn'tlessenmydebt，andalthoughIcannothopetoeverrepayyou，Icanatleastkeepthescorefromrunningon。Pardonmyspeakingsobluntly，butmyexcuseforspeakingatallwastosay'Good-by'and'Godblessyou。'Dr。Duchesnehaspromisedtogivemealiftonmywayinhisbuggywhenhegoes。"
　　Therewasaslighttouchofconsciousnessinhisvoiceinspiteofitssadness，whichstrucktheyounggirlasaweakandevenungentlemanlynoteinhisotherwiseself-abnegatingandundemonstrativeattitude。Ifhewasacommontramp，hewouldn'ttalkinthatway，andifhewasn't，whydidhelie?Herpracticalgoodsensehereasserteditself。
　　"Butyouarefarfromstrongyet；infact，thedoctorsaysyoumighthavearelapseatanymoment，andyouhave——thatis，youSEEM
　　tohavenomoney，"shesaidgravely。
　　"That'strue，"hesaid，quickly。"IrememberIwasquiteplayedoutwhenIenteredthesettlement，andIthinkIhadpartedfromevensomelittletriflesIcarriedwithme。IamafraidIwasapoorfindtothosewhopickedmeup，andyououghttohavetakenwarning。ButthedoctorhasofferedtolendmeenoughtotakemetoSanFrancisco，ifonlytogiveafairtrialtothemachinehehassetoncemorea-going。"
　　"ThenyouhavefriendsinSanFrancisco?"saidtheyounggirlquickly。"Thosewhoknowyou?Whynotwritetothemfirst，andtellthemyouarehere?"
　　"Idon'tthinkyourpostmasterherewouldbepreoccupiedwithlettersforJohnBaxter，ifIdid，"hesaid，quietly。"Buthereisthedoctorwaiting。Good-by。"
　　Hestoodlookingatherinapeculiar，yethalf-resignedway，andheldouthishand。Foramomentshehesitated。Hadhebeenlessindependentandstrong，shewouldhaverefusedtolethimgo——haveofferedhimsomeslightemploymentattheranch；foroddlyenough，inspiteofthesuspicionthathewasconcealingsomething，shefeltthatshewouldhavetrustedhim，andhewouldhavebeenahelptoher。Buthewasnotonlydetermined，butSHEwasallthetimeconsciousthathewasatotallydifferentmanfromtheoneshehadtakencareof，andmerelyordinaryprudencedemandedthatsheshouldknowsomethingmoreofhimfirst。Shegavehimherhandconstrainedly；hepresseditwarmly。
　　Dr。Duchesnedroveup，helpedhimintothebuggy，smiledagood-
　　naturedbuthalf-perfunctoryassurancethathewouldlookafter"herpatient，"anddroveaway。
　　Thewholethingwasover，butsounexpectedly，sosuddenly，sounromantically，sounsatisfactorily，that，althoughhercommonsensetoldherthatitwasperfectlynatural，proper，business-
　　like，andreasonable，and，aboveall，finalandcomplete，shedidnotknowwhethertolaughorbeangry。Yetthiswasherpartingfromthemanwhohadbutafewdaysagomovedhertotearswithasinglehopelessgesture。Well，thiswouldteachherwhattoexpect。Well，whathadsheexpected?Nothing!
　　Yetfortherestofthedayshewasunreasonablyirritable，and，iftheconjointurebenotparadoxical，severelypractical，andinhumanlyjust。FallingfoulofsomepresumptionofMiguel's，baseduponhisprescriptiverightsthroughlongserviceontheestate，withtherecollectionofherseveritytowardshisantagonistinhermind，sheratedthattrustedretainerwithsuchpitilessequityandunfemininelogicthathishotLatinbloodchilledinhisveins，andhestoodlividontheroad。Then，informingDickShipleywithequallyrelentlesscalmthatshemightfeelitnecessarytochangeALLherforemenunlesstheycouldagreeinharmony，shesoughtthedignifiedseclusionofhercastle。Butherrespectedparents，whosetriumphantreliefatthestranger'sdeparturehademboldenedthemtoawaitherreturnintheirporchwithbendedbowsofinvectiveandliftedjavelinsofaggression，recoiledbeforetheresistlesshelmofthiscold-browedMinerva，whogallopedcontemptuouslypastthem。
　　Nevertheless，shesatlatethatnightatherdesk。Thecoldmoonlookeddownuponherwindow，andlituptheemptyporchwherehersilentguesthadmutelywatchedher。Foramomentsheregrettedthathehadrecoveredhisreason，excusingherselfonthepracticalgroundthathewouldneverhaveknownhisdependence，andhewouldhavebeenbettercaredforbyher。Shefeltrestlessanduneasy。
　　Thisslightdivergencefromthepracticalgrooveinwhichherlifehadbeensethaddisturbedherinmanyotherthings，andgivenherthefirstviewsofthenarrownessofit。
　　Suddenlysheheardastepintheporch。Thelatenessofthehour，perhapssomeotherreason，seemedtostartleher，andshehalfrose。ThenextmomentthefigureofMiguelappearedatthedoorway，andwithaquick，hurriedlookaroundhim，andattheopenwindow，heapproachedher。Hewasevidentlyundergreatexcitement，hishollowshavencheeklookedlikeawaxeneffigyinthemissionchurch；hisyellow，tobacco-stainedeyeglitteredlikephosphorescentamber，hislankgrayhairwasdampandperspiring；butmorestrikingthanthiswastheevidentrestrainthehadputuponhimself，pressinghisbroad-brimmedsombrerowithbothofhistremblingyellowhandsagainsthisbreast。Theyounggirlcastahurriedglanceattheopenwindowandatthegunwhichstoodinthecorner，andthenconfrontedhimwithclearandsteadyeyes，butapalercheek。
　　Ah，hebeganinSpanish，whichhehimselfhadtaughtherasachild，itwasastrangething，hiscomingthereto-night；but，then，motherofGod!itwasastrange，aterriblethingthatshehaddonetohim——oldMiguel，heruncle'sservant:hethathadknownherasamuchacha；hethathadlivedallhislifeattheranch——ay，andwhosefathersbeforehimhadlivedthereallTHEIRlivesanddriventhecattleovertheveryspotwhereshenowstood，beforethethievingAmericanscamehere!Buthewouldbecalm；yes，thesenorashouldfindhimcalm，evenasshewaswhenshetoldhimtogo。Hewouldnotspeak。No，he——Miguel——wouldcontainhimself；
　　yes，heHADmasteredhimself，butcouldherestrainothers?Ah，yes，OTHERS——thatwasit。CouldhekeepManuelandPepeandDominguezfromtalkingtothemilkman——thatleakingsieve，thatgabblingbruteofaShipley，forwhosesakeshehadcastoffheroldservantthatveryday?
　　Shelookedathimwithcoldastonishment，butwithoutfear。Washedrunkwithaguardiente，orhadhisjealousyturnedhisbrain?Hecontinuedgasping，butstillpressinghishatagainsthisbreast。
　　"Howdareyou?"shesaid，passionately。"Whathasthatstrangertodowithmyaffairsoryourinsolence?"
　　Hestoppedandgazedatherwithacertainadmiringloyalty。"Ah!
　　so，"hesaid，withadeepbreath，"thesenoraisthenieceofheruncle。ShedoeswellnottofearHIM——adog，"——withaslightshrug，——"whoismorethanrepaidbythesenora'scondescension。HE
　　darenotspeak!"
　　"Whodarenotspeak?Areyoumad?"Shestoppedwithasuddenterribleinstinctofapprehension。"Miguel，"shesaidinherdeepestvoice，"answerme，Icommandyou!Doyouknowanythingofthisman?"
　　ItwasMiguel'sturntorecoilfromhismistress。"Ah，myGod!isitpossiblethesenorahasnotsuspect?"
　　"Suspect!"saidJosephine，haughtily，albeitherproudheartwasbeatingquickly。"ISUSPECTnothing。IcommandyoutotellmewhatyouKNOW。"
　　Miguelturnedwitharapidgestureandclosedthedoor。Then，drawingherawayfromthewindow，hesaidinahurriedwhisper，——
　　"IknowthatthatmanhasnotthenameofBaxter!IknowthathehasthenameofRandolph，ayounggambler，whohavewonalargesumatSacramento，and，fearingtoberobbedbythosehewonof，havewalktohimselfthroughtheroadindisguiseofaminer。IknowthatyourbrotherEstebanhavedecoyedhimhere，andhavefallenonhim。"
　　"Stop!"saidtheyounggirl，hereyes，whichhadbeenfixedwiththeagonyofconviction，suddenlyflashingwiththeenergyofdespair。"Andyoucallyourselftheservantofmyuncle，anddaresaythisofhisnephew?"
　　"Yes，senora，"brokeouttheoldman，passionately。"ItisbecauseIamtheservantofyourunclethatI，andIALONE，daresayittoyou!ItisbecauseIperjuredmysoul，andhaveperjuredmysoultodenyitelsewhere，thatInowdaretosayit!ItisbecauseI，yourservant，knewitfromoneofmycountrymen，whowasofthegang，——becauseI，Miguel，knewthatyourbrotherwasnotfarawaythatnight，andbecauseI，whomyouwoulddismiss，havepickedupthispocket-bookofRandolph'sandyourbrother'sringwhichhehavedropped，andIhavefoundbeneaththebodyofthemanyousentmetofetch。"
　　Hedrewapacketfromhisbosom，andtosseditonthedeskbeforeher。
　　"Andwhyhaveyounottoldmethisbefore?"saidJosephine，passionately。
　　Miguelshruggedhisshoulders。
　　"Whatgood?PossiblythisdogRandolphwoulddie。Possiblyhewouldlive——asalunatic。Possiblywouldhappenwhathashappened!
　　Thesenoraisbeautiful。TheAmericanhaseyes。IftheDonaJosephine'sbeautyshallfinishwhatthesillyDonEsteban'sarmhavebegun——whatmatter?"
　　"Stop!"criedJosephine，pressingherhandsacrosshershudderingeyes。Then，uncoveringherwhiteandsetface，shesaidrapidly，"Saddlemyhorseandyourownatonce。Thentakeyourchoice!
　　Comewithmeandrepeatallthatyouhavesaidinthepresenceofthatman，orleavethisranchforever。ForifIliveIshallgotohimtonight，andtellthewholestory。"
　　Theoldmancastasingleglanceathismistress，shruggedhisshoulders，and，withoutaword，lefttheroom。Butintenminutestheywereontheirwaytothecountytown。
　　DaywasbreakingoverthedistantBurntRidge——afaint，ghostlylevel，likeafuneralpall，inthedimhorizon——astheydrewupbeforethegaunt，white-paintedpileofthehospitalbuilding。
　　Josephineutteredacry。Dr。Duchesne'sbuggywasbeforethedoor。
　　Onitsverythresholdtheymetthedoctor，darkandirritated。
　　"Thenyouheardthenews?"hesaid，quickly。
　　Josephineturnedherwhitefacetothedoctor's。"Whatnews?"sheasked，inavoicethatseemedstrangelydeepandresonant。
　　"Thepoorfellowhadanotherattacklastnight，anddiedofexhaustionaboutanhourago。Iwastoolatetosavehim。"
　　"Didhesayanything?Washeconscious?"askedthegirl，hoarsely。
　　"No；incoherent!NowIthinkofit，heharpedonthesamestringashedidthenightoftheoperation。Whatwasithesaid?youremember。"
　　"'You'llhavetokillmefirst，'"repeatedJosephine，inachokingvoice。
　　"Yes；somethingabouthisdyingbeforehe'dtell。Well，hecamebacktoitbeforehewentoff——theyoftendo。Youseemalittlehoarsewithyourmorningride。Youshouldtakecareofthatvoiceofyours。Bytheway，it'sagooddeallikeyourbrother's。"……
　　TheChatelaineofBurntRidgenevermarried。
　　THROUGHTHESANTACLARAWHEAT
　　CHAPTERI
　　Itwasanenormouswheat-fieldintheSantaClaravalley，stretchingtothehorizonlineunbroken。Themeridiansunshoneuponitwithoutglintorshadow；butattimes，whenastrongergustofthetradewindspassedoverit，therewasaquickslantingimpressionofthewholesurfacethatwas，however，asunlikeabillowasitselfwasunlikeasea。Evenwhenalighterzephyrplayeddownitslonglevel，theagitationwassuperficial，andseemedonlytomomentarilyliftaveilofgreenishmistthathungaboveitsimmovabledepths。Occasionalpuffsofdustalternatelyroseandfellalonganimaginarylineacrossthefield，asifacurrentofairwerepassingthroughit，butwereotherwiseinexplicable。
　　Suddenlyafaintshout，apparentlysomewhereinthevicinityoftheline，broughtoutaperfectlyclearresponse，followedbytheaudiblemurmurofvoices，whichitwasimpossibletolocalize。Yetthewholefieldwassodevoidofanysuggestionofhumanlifeormotionthatitseemedratherasifthevastexpanseitselfhadbecomesuddenlyarticulateandintelligible。
　　"Wotsay?"
　　"Wheeloff。"
　　"Whare?"
　　"Intheroad。"
　　Oneofthevoiceshereindicateditselfinthedirectionofthelineofdust，andsaid，"Comin'，"andamansteppedoutfromthewheatintoabroadanddustyavenue。
　　Withhispresencethreethingsbecameapparent。
　　First，thatthepuffsofdustindicatedtheexistenceoftheinvisibleavenuethroughtheunlimitedandunfencedfieldofgrain；
　　secondly，thatthestalksofwheatoneithersideofitweresotallastoactuallyhideapassingvehicle；andthirdly，thatavehiclehadjustpassed，hadlostawheel，andbeendraggedpartlyintothegrainbyitsfrightenedhorse，whichadustymanwastryingtorestrainandpacify。
　　Thehorse，givenuptoequinehysterics，andevidentlyconvincedthattheordinarybuggybehindhimhadbeenchangedintosomedangerousandappallingcreation，stillplungedandkickedviolentlytoridhimselfofit。Themanwhohadsteppedoutofthedepthsofthewheatquicklycrossedtheroad，unhitchedthetraces，drewbackthevehicle，and，glancingatthetraveler'sdustyanddisorderedclothes，said，withcurtsympathy:——
　　"Spilt，too；butnothurt，eh?"
　　"No，neitherofus。Iwentoverwiththebuggywhenthewheelcramped，butSHEjumpedclear。"
　　Hemadeagestureindicatingthepresenceofanother。Themanturnedquickly。Therewasasecondfigure，ayounggirlstandingbesidethegrainfromwhichhehademerged，embracingafewstalksofwheatwithonearmandahandinwhichshestillheldherparasol，whileshegraspedhergatheredskirtswiththeother，andtryingtofindasecurefootholdforhertwoneatnarrowslippersonacrumblingcakeofadobeabovethefathomlessdustoftheroadway。Herface，althoughannoyedanddiscontented，waspretty，andherlightdressandslimfigureweresuggestiveofacertainsuperiorcondition。
　　Theman'smanneratoncesoftenedwithWesterncourtesy。Heswunghisbroad-brimmedhatfromhishead，andbenthisbodywiththeceremoniousnessofthecountryball-room。"Ireckontheladyhadbettercomeuptotheshantyouto'thedustandsuntillwekinhelpyougetthesethingsfixed，"hesaidtothedriver。"I'llsendroundbytheroadforyourhoss，andhaveoneofminefetchupyourwagon。"
　　"Isitfar?"askedthegirl，slightlyacknowledginghissalutation，withoutwaitingforhercompaniontoreply。
　　"Onlyastepthisway，"heanswered，motioningtothefieldofwheatbesideher。
　　"WhatinTHERE?Inevercouldgointhere，"shesaid，decidedly。
　　"It'saheapshorterthanbytheroad，andnotsodusty。I'llgowithyou，andpilotyou。"
　　Theyounggirlcastavexedlookathercompanionastheprobablecauseofallthistrouble，andshookherhead。Butatthesamemomentonelittlefootslippedfromtheadobeintothedustagain。
　　Sheinstantlyclamberedbackwithalittlefeminineshriek，andejaculated:"Well，ofallthings!"andthen，fixingherblueannoyedeyesonthestranger，askedimpatiently，"Whycouldn'tIgotherebytheroad'nthewagon?Icouldmanagetoholdonandkeepin。"
　　"BecauseIreckonyou'dfindittoopow'fulhotwaitin'heretillwegotroundtoye。"
　　Therewasnodoubtitwasveryhot；theradiationfromthebakingroadwaybeatingupunderherparasol，andprickinghercheekbonesandeyeballslikeneedles。Shegaveafastidiouslittleshudder，furledherparasol，gatheredherskirtsstilltighter，facedabout，andsaid，"Goon，then。"Themanslippedbackwardsintotheranksofstalks，partingthemwithonehand，andholdingouttheotherasiftoleadher。Butsheevadedtheinvitationbyholdinghertightly-drawnskirtwithbothhands，andbendingherheadforwardasifshehadnotnoticedit。Thenextmomenttheroad，andeventhewholeouterworld，disappearedbehindthem，andtheyseemedfloatinginachokinggreentranslucentmist。
　　Buttheeffectwasonlymomentary；afewstepsfurthershefoundthatshecouldwalkwithlittledifficultybetweentheranksofstalks，whichwereregularlyspaced，andtheresemblancenowchangedtothatofalongpillaredconservatoryofgreenishglass，thattouchedallobjectswithitspervadinghue。Shealsofoundthatthecloseairaboveherheadwascontinuallyfreshenedbytheinterchangeofcurrentsoflowertemperaturefrombelow，——asifthewholevastfieldhadacirculationofitsown，——andthattheadobebeneathherfeetwasgratefullycooltohertread。Therewasnodust，ashehadsaid；whathadatfirsthalfsuffocatedherseemedtobesomestimulatingaromaofcreationthatfilledthenarrowgreenaisles，andnowimpartedastrangevigorandexcitementtoherasshewalkedalong。Meantimeherguidewasnotconversationallyidle。Now，nodoubt，shehadneverseenanythinglikethisbefore?
　　Itwasordinarywheat，onlyitwasgrownonadobesoil——therichestinthevalley。Thesestalks，shecouldseeherself，weretenandtwelvefeethigh。Thatwasthetrouble，theyallrantoomuchtostalk，thoughthegrainyieldwas"suthen'pow'ful。"Shecouldtellthattoherfriends，forhereckonedshewastheonlyyoungladythathadeverwalkedundersuchagrowth。PerhapsshewasnewtoCaliforny?Hethoughtsofromthestart。Well，thiswasCaliforny，andthiswasnottheleastofthewaysitcould"layover"everyothercountryonGod'syearth。Manyfolksthoughtitwasthegoldandtheclimate，butshecouldseeforherselfwhatitcoulddowithwheat。Hewonderedifherbrotherhadevertold，herofit?No，thestrangerwasn'therbrother。Norcousin，norcompany?No；onlythehireddriverfromaSanJosehotel，whowastakin'herovertoMajorRandolph's。Yes，heknewtheoldmajor；theranchwasaprettyplace，nighuntothreemilesfurtheron。Nowthatheknewthedriverwasnorelationofhershedidn'tmindtellingherthatthebuggywasa"ratheroldconsarn，"andthedriverdidn'tknowhisbusiness。Yes，itmightbefixedupsoastotakeherovertothemajor's；therewasoneoftheirownmen——ayoungfellow——whocoulddoanythingthatCOULDbedonewithwoodandiron，——areg'largenius!——andHE'Dtackleit。Itmighttakeanhour，butshe'dfinditquitecoolwaitingintheshanty。Itwasaroughplace，fortheyonlycampedoutthereduringtheseasontolookafterthecrop，andlivedattheirownhomestherestofthetime。Wasshegoingtostaylongatthemajor's?Henoticedshehadnotbroughthertrunkwithher。Hadsheknownthemajor'swifelong?Perhapsshethoughtofsettlingintheneighborhood?
　　Allthisnaive，good-humoredquestioning——sooftencruellymisunderstoodasmerevulgarcuriosity，butasoftenthecourteousinstinctofsimpleunaffectedpeopletoentertainthestrangerbyinvitinghimtotalkofwhatconcernshimselfratherthantheirownselves——wasnevertheless，Ifear，metonlybymonosyllablesfromtheyoungladyoranimpatientquestioninreturn。Shescarcelyraisedhereyestothebroadjean-shirtedbackthatprecededherthroughthegrainuntilthemanabruptlyceasedtalking，andhismanner，withoutlosingitshalf-paternalcourtesy，becamegraver。
　　Shewasbeginningtobeconsciousofherincivility，andwastryingtothinkofsomethingtosay，whenheexclaimedwithaslightairofrelief，"Hereweare!"andtheshantysuddenlyappearedbeforethem。