"Youarewrong，Itellyou，athousandtimeswrong。Thegirlissimplyupsetbythisearthquake。It'sagreatpityherfatherdidn'tcomeinsteadoftelegraphing。AndbyJove，ratherthanhearanymoreofthis，I'llsendforhimmyself，"saidthemajor，inanenergeticbutsuppressedvoice。
　　"Andthegirlwon'tthankyou，andyou'llbeafoolforyourpains，"returnedMrs。Randolph，withdrypersistency。
　　"Butaccordingtoyourownideasofpropriety，Malloryoughttobethefirstonetobeconsulted——andbyme，too。"
　　"Notinthiscase。Ofcourse，beforeanyactualengagementison，youcanspeakofEmile'sattentions。"
　　"ButsupposeMalloryhasotherviews。Supposehedeclinesthehonor。Themanisnofool。"
　　"Thankyou。Butforthatveryreasonhemust。Listentome，major；ifhedoesn'tcaretopleasehisdaughterforherownsake，hewillhavetodosoforthesakeofdecency。Yes，Itellyou，shehasthoroughlycompromisedherself——quiteenough，ifitiseverknown，tospoilanyotherengagementherfathermaymake。Why，askAdele!ThedayoftheearthquakesheABSOLUTELYhadtheaudacitytosendhimoutoftheroomupstairsintoyourstudyforherfan，andthenfollowhimuptherealone。Theservantsknewit。Iknewit，forIwasinherroomatthetimewithFatherAntonio。Theearthquakemadeitplaintoeverybody。Declineit!No。Mr。
　　Mallorywillthinktwiceaboutitbeforehedoesthat。What'sthat?Who'sthere?"
　　Therewasasuddenrustleinthebusheslikethepassageofsomefrightenedanimal——andthenallwasstillagain。
　　CHAPTERV
　　Thesun，anhourhigh，butonlyjusttoppingthegreenishcrestsofthewheat，wasstreaminglikethemorningbreezethroughtheopenlengthofTomBent'sworkshed。Anexaggeratedandprolongedshadowoftheyounginventorhimselfatworkbesidehisbenchwasstretchingitselffarintothebroken-downranksofstalkstowardstheinvisibleroad，andfallingattheveryfeetofRoseMalloryassheemergedfromthem。
　　Shewasverypale，veryquiet，andverydetermined。Thetravelingmantlethrownoverhershoulderswasdusty，theribbonsthattiedherhatunderherroundchinhadbecomeunloosed。Sheadvanced，walkingdownthelineofshadowdirectlytowardshim。
　　"IamafraidIwillhavetotroubleyouoncemore，"shesaidwithafaintsmile，whichdidnot，however，reachherperplexedeyes。
　　"CouldyougivemeanykindofaconveyancethatwouldtakemetoSanJoseatonce?"
　　Theyoungmanhadstartedattherustlingofherdressintheshavings，andturnedeagerly。Thefaintestindicationofalossofinterestwasvisibleforaninstantinhisface，butitquicklypassedintoasmileofrecognition。Yetshefeltthathehadneithernoticedanychangeinherappearance，norexperiencedanywonderatseeingherthereatthathour。
　　"Ididnottakeabuggyfromthehouse，"shewentonquickly，"forIleftearly，anddidnotwanttodisturbthem。Infact，theydon'tknowthatIamgone。IwasworriedatnothearingnewsfrommyfatherinSanFranciscosincetheearthquake，andIthoughtI
　　wouldrundowntoSanJosetoinquirewithoutputtingthemtoanytrouble。Anythingwilldothatyouhaveready，ifIcantakeitatonce。"
　　Stillwithoutexhibitingtheleastsurprise，Bentnoddedaffirmatively，putdownhistools，beggedhertowaitamoment，andranoffinthedirectionofthecabin。Ashedisappearedbehindthewheat，shelapsedquitesuddenlyagainsttheworkbench，butrecoveredherselfamomentlater，leaningwithherbackagainstit，herhandsgraspingitoneitherside，andherknitbrowsanddeterminedlittlefaceturnedtowardstheroad。Thenshestooderectagain，shookthedustoutofherskirts，liftedherveil，wipedhercheeksandbrowwiththecornerofasmallhandkerchief，andbeganwalkingupanddownthelengthoftheshedasBentreappeared。
　　Hewasaccompaniedbythemanwhohadfirstledherthroughthewheat。Hegazeduponherwithapparentlyallthecuriosityandconcernthattheotherhadlacked。
　　"YouwanttogettoSanJoseasquickasyoucan?"hesaidinterrogatively。
　　"Yes，"shesaidquickly，"ifyoucanhelpme。"
　　"Youwalkedallthewayfromthemajor'shere?"hecontinued，withouttakinghiseyesfromherface。
　　"Yes，"sheansweredwithanaffectationofcarelessnessshehadnotshowntoBent。"ButIstartedveryearly，itwascoolandpleasant，anddidn'tseemfar。"
　　"I'llputyoudowninSanJoseinsidethehour。Youshallhavemyhorseandtrottingsulky，andI'lldriveyoumyself。Willthatdo?"
　　Shelookedathimwonderingly。Shehadnotforgottenhispreviousrestraintandgravity，butnowhisfaceseemedtohaverelaxedwithsomehumoroussatisfaction。Shefeltherselfcoloringslightly，butwhetherwithshameorreliefshecouldnottell。
　　"Ishallbesomuchobligedtoyou，"sherepliedhesitatingly，"andsowillmyfather，Iknow。"
　　"Ireckon，"saidthemanwiththesamelookofamusedconjecture；
　　then，withaquick，assuringnod，heturnedaway，anddivedintothewheatagain。
　　"You'reallrightnow，MissMallory，"saidBent，complacently。
　　"Dawsonwillfixit。He'sgotagoodhorse，andhe'sagooddriver，too。"Hepaused，andthenaddedpleasantly，"Isupposethey'reallwellupatthehouse?"
　　Itwassoevidentthathisremarkcarriednopersonalmeaningtoherselfthatshewasobligedtoanswercarelessly，"Oh，yes。"
　　"IsupposeyouseeagooddealofMissRandolph——MissAdele，I
　　thinkyoucallher?"heremarkedtentatively，andwithacertainboyishenthusiasm，whichshehadneverconceivedpossibletohisnature。
　　"Yes，"sherepliedalittledryly，"sheistheonlyyoungladythere。"Shestopped，rememberingAdele'snaivedescriptionofthemanbeforeher，andsaidabruptly，"Youknowher，then?"
　　"Alittle，"repliedtheyoungman，modestly。"IseeherprettyoftenwhenIampassingtheupperendoftheranch。She'sverywellbroughtup，andhermannersareveryrefined——don'tyouthinkso?——andyetshe'sjustassimpleandnaturalasacountrygirl。
　　There'sagreatdealineducationafterall，isn'tthere?"hewentonconfidentially，"andalthough"——heloweredhisvoiceandlookedcautiouslyaroundhim——"Ibelievethatsomeofusheredon'tfancyhermothermuch，there'snodoubtthatMrs。Randolphknowshowtobringupherchildren。Somepeoplethinkthatkindofeducationisallartificial，anddon'tbelieveinit，butIdo!"
　　Withtheconsciousnessthatshewasrunningawayfromthesepeopleandtheshamefuldisclosureshehadheardlastnight——withtherecollectionofAdele'sscandalousinterpretationofhermostinnocentactionsandhersuddenandcompleterevulsionagainstallthatshehadpreviouslyadmiredinthathousehold，tohearthismanwhohadseemedtoheralivingprotestagainsttheirideasandprinciples，nowexpressingthemandholdingthemupforemulation，almosttookherbreathaway。
　　"IsupposethatmeansyouintendtofixMajorRandolph'swellforhim?"shesaiddryly。
　　"Yes，"hereturnedwithoutnoticinghermanner；"andIthinkIcanfindthatwateragain。I'vebeenstudyingitupallnight，anddoyouknowwhatI'mgoingtodo?Iamgoingtomaketheearthquakethatlostithelpmetofinditagain。"Hepaused，andlookedatherwithasmileandareturnofhisformerenthusiasm。"Doyourememberthecrackintheadobefieldthatstoppedyouyesterday?"
　　"Yes，"saidthegirl，withaslightshiver。
　　"Itoldyouthenthatthesamecrackwasasplitintherockoutcropfurtheruptheplain，andwasdeeper。Iamsatisfiednow，fromwhatIhaveseen，thatitisreallyaruptureofthewholestrataallthewaydown。That'stheoneweakpointthattheimprisonedwaterissuretofind，andthat'swheretheborerwilltapit——inthenewwellthattheearthquakeitselfhassunk。"
　　Itseemedtohernowthatsheunderstoodhisexplanationperfectly，andshewonderedthemorethathehadbeensomistakeninhisestimateofAdele。SheturnedawayalittleimpatientlyandlookedanxiouslytowardsthepointwhereDawsonhaddisappeared。Bentfollowedhereyes。
　　"He'llbehereinamoment，MissMallory。Hehastodriveslowlythroughthegrain，butIhearthewheels。"Hestopped，andhisvoicetookupitspreviousnoteofboyishhesitation。"Bytheway——
　　I'll——I'llbegoinguptotheRanchothisafternoontoseethemajor。HaveyouanymessageforMrs。Randolph——orfor——forMissAdele?"
　　"No"——saidRose，hesitatingly，"and——and"——
　　"Isee，"interruptedBent，carelessly。"Youdon'twantanythingsaidaboutyourcominghere。Iwon't。"
　　Itstruckherthatheseemedtohavenoulteriormeaninginthesuggestion。Butbeforeshecouldmakeanyreply，Dawsonreappeared，drivingahandsomemareharnessedtoalight，spider-
　　likevehicle。Hehadalsoassumed，evidentlyingreathaste，ablackfrockcoatbuttonedoverhiswaistcoatlessandcravatlessshirt，andatallblackhatthatalreadyseemedtobecrackinginthesunlight。Hedroveup，atonceassistedhertothenarrowperchbesidehim，andwithanodtoBentdroveoff。Hisbreathlessexpeditionrelievedtheleave-takingoftheseyoungpeopleofanyceremony。
　　"Isuppose，"saidMr。Dawson，givingahalfglanceoverhisshoulderastheystruckintothedustyhighway，——"Isupposeyoudon'tcaretoseeanybodybeforeyougettoSanJose?"
　　"No-o-o，"saidRose，timidly。
　　"AndIreckonyouwouldn'tmindmyracin'abitifanybodykemup?"
　　"No。"
　　"Themare'ssorto'fastidiousabouttakin'anybody'sdust。"
　　"Isshe?"saidRose，withafaintsmile。
　　"Awful，"respondedhercompanion；"andthequeerestthingofallis，shecan'tbeartohaveanyonebehindher，either。"
　　Heleanedforwardwithhisexpressionofhumorousenjoymentofsomelatentjokeanddidsomethingwiththereins——Rosenevercouldclearlyunderstandwhat，thoughitseemedtoherthathesimplyliftedthemwithostentatiouslightness；butthemaresuddenlyseemedtoLENGTHENherselfandloseherheight，andthestalksofwheatoneithersideofthedustytrackbegantomeltintoeachother，andthenslippedlikeaflashintoonelong，continuous，shimmeringgreenhedge。Soperfectwasthemare'sactionthatthegirlwasscarcelyconsciousofanyincreasedeffort；soharmoniousthewholemovementthatthelightskeletonwagonseemedonlyaprolongedprocessofthatlong，slimbodyandfree，collarlessneck，bothstraightasthethinshaftsoneachsideandstraighterthanthedelicateribbon-liketraceswhich，inwhatseemedamereaffectationofconsciouspower，hungattimesalmostlimpbetweenthewhiffle-treeandthenarrowbreastbandwhichwasallthatconfinedtheanimal'spowerfulfore-quarters。SosuperbwasthereachofitslongeasystridethatRosecouldscarcelyseeanyundulationsinthebrownshiningbackonwhichshecouldhaveplacedherfoot，norfeltthesoftbeatofthedelicatehoofsthattookthedustsofirmlyandyetsolightly。
　　TherapidityofmotionwhichkeptthembothwithheadsbentforwardandseemedtoforcebackanyutterancethatrosetotheirlipssparedRosetheobligationofconversation，andhercompanionwasequallyreticent。ButitwasevidenttoherthathehalfsuspectedshewasrunningawayfromtheRandolphs，andthatshewishedtoavoidtheembarrassmentofbeingovertakeneveninpersuasivepursuit。Itwasnotpossiblethatheknewthecauseofherflight，andyetshecouldnotaccountforhisevidentdesiretobefriendher，nor，aboveall，forhisapparentlyhumorousenjoymentofthesituation。Hadhetakenitgravely，shemighthavebeentemptedtopartlyconfideinhimandaskhisadvice。Wasshedoingright，afterall?OughtshenottohavestayedlongenoughtospeakhermindtoMrs。Randolphanddemandtobesenthome?No!Shehadnotonlyshrunkfromrepeatingtheinfamousslandershehadoverheard，butshehadaterriblefearthatifshehaddoneso，Mrs。Randolphwascapableofdenyingit，orevenchargingherofbeingstillundertheinfluenceoftheearthquakeshockandofwalkinginhersleep。No!Shecouldnottrusther——shecouldtrustnoonethere。
　　Hadnoteventhemajorlistenedtothoseinfamouslies?Hadshenotseenthathewashelplessinthehandsofthiscabalinhisownhousehold?——acabalthatsheherselfhadthoughtlesslyjoinedagainsthim。
　　Theyhadreachedthefirstslightascent。Hercompaniondrewouthiswatch，lookedatitwithsatisfaction，andchangedthepositionofhishandsonthereins。Withoutbeingabletodetectthedifference，shefelttheywereslackeningspeed。Sheturnedinquiringlytowardshim；henoddedhishead，withahalfsmileandagesturetohertolookahead。ThespiresofSanJosewerealreadyfaintlyupliftingfromthedistantfringeofoaks。
　　Sosoon!Infifteenminutesshewouldbethere——andTHEN!Sherememberedsuddenlyshehadnotyetdeterminedwhattodo。ShouldshegoonatoncetoSanFrancisco，ortelegraphtoherfatherandawaithimatSanJose?Ineithercaseanewfearoftheprecipitancyofheractionandtheinadequacyofherreasonshadsprungupinhermind。Wouldherfatherunderstandher?Wouldheunderratethecauseandbemortifiedattheinsultshehadgiventhefamilyofhisoldfriend，or，moredreadfulstill，wouldheexaggerateherwrongsandseekapersonalquarrelwiththemajor。
　　Hewasamanofquicktemper，andhadtheWesternideasofredress。
　　Perhapsevennowshewasprecipitatingaduelbetweenthem。Hercheeksgrewwanagain，herbreathcamequickly，tearsgatheredinhereyes。Oh，shewasadreadfulgirl，sheknewit；shewasanutterlymiserableone，andsheknewthattoo!
　　Thereinsweretightened。Thepacelessenedandatlastfelltoawalk。Consciousofhertelltaleeyesandtroubledface，shedarednotturntohercompaniontoaskhimwhy，butglancedacrossthefields。
　　"WhenyoufirstcameIdidn'tgettoknowyourname，MissMallory，butIreckonIknowyourfather。"
　　Herfather!Whatmadehimsaythat?Shewantedtospeak，butshefeltshecouldnot。Inanothermoment，ifhewenton，shemustdoSOMETHING——shewouldcry!
　　"Ireckonyou'llbewantingtogotothehotelfirst，anyway?"
　　There!——sheknewit!HeWOULDkeepon!Andnowshehadburstintotears。
　　Themarewasstillwalkingslowly；themanwaslazilybendingforwardovertheshaftsasifnothinghadoccurred。Thensuddenly，illogically，andwithoutamoment'swarning，thepridethathadsustainedhercrumbledandbecameasthedustoftheroad。
　　Sheburstoutandtoldhim——thisstranger!——thismanshehaddisliked!——allandEVERYTHING。Howshehadfelt，howshehadbeendeceived，andwhatshehadoverheard!
　　"Ithoughtasmuch，"saidhercompanion，quietly，"andthat'swhyI
　　sentforyourfather。"
　　"Yousentformyfather!——when?——where?"echoedRose，inastonishment。
　　"Yesterday。Hewastocometo-day，andifwedon'tfindhimatthehotelitwillbebecausehehasalreadystartedtocomeherebytheupperandlongerroad。ButyouleaveittoME，anddon'tyousayanythingtohimofthisnow。Ifhe'satthehotel，I'llsayI
　　droveyoudowntheretoshowoffthemare。Sabe?Ifheisn't，I'llleaveyouthereandcomebackheretofindhim。I'vegotsomethingtotellhimthatwillsetYOUallright。"Hesmiledgrimly，liftedthereins，themarestartedforwardagain，andthevehicleanditsoccupantsdisappearedinavanishingdustcloud。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　ItwasnearlynoonwhenMr。Dawsonfinishedrubbingdownhissweatingmareinthelittlestableshedamongthewheat。HehadleftRoseatthehotel，fortheyfoundMr。Malloryhadpreviouslystartedbyacircuitousrouteforthewheatranch。Hehadresumednotonlyhisworkingclothesbuthisworkingexpression。HewasnowsuperintendingtheunloadingofawainofstoresandimplementswhenthelightcarryalloftheRandolphsrolledintothefield。ItcontainedonlyMrs。Randolphandthedriver。AslightlookofintelligencepassedbetweenthelatterandthenearestoneofDawson'scompanions，succeeded，however，byadulllookofstupidvacancyonthefacesofalltheothers，includingDawson。Mrs。
　　Randolphnoticedit，andwasforewarned。ShereflectedthatnohumanbeingseverlookedNATURALLYasstupidasthatandwereabletowork。Shesmiledsarcastically，andthenbeganwithdrydistinctnessandnarrowinglips。
　　"MissMallory，ayoungladyvisitingus，wentoutforanearlywalkthismorningandhasnotreturned。Itispossibleshemayhavelostherwayamongyourwheat。Haveyouseenanythingofher?"
　　Dawsonraisedhiseyesfromhisworkandglancedslowlyaroundathiscompanions，asiftakingtheheavysenseoftheassembly。Oneortwoshooktheirheadsmechanically，andreturnedtotheirsuspendedlabor。Hesaid，coolly:——
　　"Nobodyhereseemsto。"
　　Shefeltthattheywerelying。Shewasonlyawomanagainstfivemen。Shewasonlyapettydomestictyrant；shemighthavebeenalargerone。Butshehadallthecourageofthatpossibility。
　　"MajorRandolphandmysonareaway，"shewenton，drawingherselferect。"ButIknowthatthemajorwillpayliberallyifthesemenwillsearchthefield，besidesmakingitallrightwithyour——
　　EMPLOYERS——forthelossoftime。"
　　Dawsonutteredasinglewordinalowvoicetothemannearesthim，whoapparentlycommunicatedittotheothers，forthefourmenstoppedunloading，andmovedawayoneaftertheother——eventhedriverjoiningintheexodus。Mrs。Randolphsmiledsarcastically；
　　itwasplainthatthesepeople，withalltheirboastedindependence，werequiteamenabletopecuniaryconsiderations。Nevertheless，asDawsonremainedlookingquietlyather，shesaid:——
　　"ThenIsupposethey'veconcludedtogoandsee?"
　　"No；I'vesentthemawaysothattheycouldn'tHEAR。"
　　"Hearwhat?"
　　"WhatI'vegottosaytoyou。"
　　Shelookedathimsuddenly。Thenshesaid，withadisdainfulglancearoundher:"IseeIamhelplesshere，and——thankstoyourtrickery——alone。Haveacare，sir；IwarnyouthatyouwillhavetoanswertoMajorRandolphforanyinsolence。"
　　"Ireckonyouwon'ttellMajorRandolphwhatIhavetosaytoyou，"
　　hereturnedcoolly。
　　Herlipswerenearlyagrayishhue，butshesaidscornfully:"Andwhynot?Doyouknowwhoyouaretalkingto?"
　　Themancamelazilyforwardtothecarryall，carelesslybrushedasidetheslackreins，andrestinghiselbowsonthehorse'sback，laidhischinonhishands，ashelookedupinthewoman'sface。
　　"Yes；IknowwhoI'mtalkingto，"hesaidcoolly。"Butasthemajordon't，Ireckonyouwon'ttellhim。"
　　"Standawayfromthathorse!"shesaid，herwholefacetakingthegrayishcolorofherlips，butherblackeyesgrowingsmallerandbrighter。"Handmethosereins，andletmepass!Whatcanailleareyoutostopme?"
　　"Ithoughtso，"returnedtheman，withoutalteringhisposition；
　　"youdon'tknowME。YouneversawMEbefore。Well，I'mJimDawson，thenephewofL'Hommadieu，YOUROLDMASTER!"
　　Shegrippedtheironrailoftheseatasiftoleapfromit，butcheckedherselfsuddenlyandleanedback，withasetsmileonhermouththatseemedstampedthere。Itwasremarkablethatwiththatsmilesheflungawayheroldaffectationofsuperciliousnessforanolderandruderaudacity，andthatnotonlytheexpression，butthetypeofherfaceappearedtohavechanged。
　　"Idon'tsay，"continuedthemanquietly，"thathedidn'tMARRYyoubeforehedied。ButyouknowaswellasIdothatthelawsofhisStatedidn'trecognizethemarriageofamasterwithhisoctoroonslave!AndyouknowaswellasIdothatevenifhehadfreedyou，hecouldn'tchangeyourblood。Why，ifI'dbeenwillingtostayatAvoyellestobeanigger-driverlikehim，theplantationof'deFontanges'——whosenameyouhavetaken——wouldhavebeenlefttome。
　　IfYOUhadstayedthere，youmighthavebeenmypropertyinsteadofYOURowningasquaremanlikeRandolph。Youdidn'tthinkofthatwhenyoucamehere，didyou?"hesaidcomposedly。
　　"Oh，monDieu!"shesaid，droppingrapidlyintoadifferentaccent，withherwhiteteethandfixedmirthlesssmile，"soitisaclaimforPROPERTY，eh?You'rewantingmoney——you?Tresbien，youforgetweareinCalifornia，whereonedoesnotownaslave。Andyouhaveafinestorythere，mypoorfriend。Verypretty，butveryhardtoprove，m'sieu。Andthesepeasantsareinit，eh，workingitonshareslikethefarm，eh?"
　　"Well，"saidDawson，slightlychanginghisposition，andpassinghishandoverthehorse'sneckwithahalf-weariedcontempt，"oneofthesemenisfromPlaquemine，andtheotherfromCoupee。Theyknowallthel'Hommadieus'history。Andtheyknowastreakofthetarbrushwhentheyseeit。Theytookyourmeasurewhentheycameherelastyear，andsizedyouupfairly。SohadI，forthematterofthat，whenIFIRSTsawyou。Andwecomparednotes。Butthemajorisasquareman，forallheisyourhusband，andwereckonedhehadabigenoughcontractonhishandstotakecareofyouandl'Hommadieu'shalf-breeds，andso"——hetossedthereinscontemptuouslyaside——"wekeptthistoourselves。"
　　"Andnowyouwant——what——eh?"
　　"Wewantanendtothisfoolery，"hebrokeoutroughly，steppingbackfromthevehicle，andfacinghersuddenly，withhisfirstangrygesture。"Wewantanendtotheseairsandgrimaces，andallthisdandyniggerbusiness；wewantanendtothis'cake-walking'
　　throughthewheat，andfloutingofthehonestlaborofyourbetters。Wewantyouandyour'deFontanges'toclimbdown。Andwewantanendtothisroping-inofwhitefolkstosuityourlittlegame；wewantanendtoyourtryingtomixyourniggerbloodwithanyonehere，andweintendtostopit。Wedrawthelineatthemajor。"
　　Lashedasshehadbeenbythosewordsapparentlyoutofallsemblanceofherformersocialarrogance，alowerandmorestubbornresistanceseemedtohavesprungupinher，asshesatsideways，watchinghimwithhersetsmileandcontractingeyes。
　　"Ah，"shesaiddryly，"soSHEISHERE。Ithoughtso。Whichofyouisit，eh?It'sagoodspec——Mallory'sarichman。She'snotparticular。"
　　Themanhadstoppedasiflistening，hisheadturnedtowardstheroad。Thenheturnedcarelessly，andfacingheragain，wavedhishandwithagestureoftireddismissal，andsaid，"Go!You'llfindyourdriverovertherebythetool-shed。Hehasheardnothingyet——
　　butI'vegivenyoufairwarning。Go!"
　　Hewalkedslowlybacktowardstheshed，asthewoman，snatchingupthereins，droveviolentlyoffinthedirectionwherethemenhaddisappeared。Butsheturnedaside，ignoringherwaitingdriverinherwildandrecklessabandonmentofallheroldconventionalattitudes，andlashingherhorseforwardwiththesamesetsmileonherface，thesameoddrelaxationoffigure，andthesamesquaringofherelbows。
　　Avoidingthemainroad，shepushedintoanarrowtrackthatintersectedanothernearerthesceneoftheaccidenttoRose'sbuggythreeweeksbefore。Shehadnearlypasseditwhenshewashailedbyastrangevoice，andlookingup，perceivedahorsemanflounderinginthemazesofthewheattoonesideofthetrack。
　　Whatevermeanthoughtofherpastlifeshewasflyingfrom，whatevermeanpurposeshewasflyingto，shepulledupsuddenly，andassuddenlyresumedhererect，aggressivestiffness。Thestrangerwasamiddle-agedman；indressandappearanceadwellerofcities。Heliftedhishatasheperceivedtheoccupantofthewagontobealady。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，butIfearI'velostmywayintryingtomakeashortcuttotheExcelsiorCompany'sRanch。"
　　"Youareinitnow，"saidMrs。Randolph，quickly。
　　"Thankyou，butwherecanIfindthefarmhouse?"
　　"Thereisnone，"shereturned，withheroldsuperciliousness，"unlessyouchoosetogivethatnametotheshantiesandshedswherethelaborersandservantslive，neartheroad。"
　　Thestrangerlookedpuzzled。"I'mlookingforaMr。Dawson，"hesaidreflectively，"butImayhavemadesomemistake。DoyouknowMajorRandolph'shousehereabouts?"
　　"Ido。IamMrs。Randolph，"shesaidstiffly。
　　Thestranger'sbrowcleared，andhesmiledpleasantly。"Thenthisisafortunatemeeting，"hesaid，raisinghishatagainashereinedinhishorsebesidethewagon，"forIamMr。Mallory，andI
　　waslookingforwardtothepleasureofpresentingmyselftoyouanhourortwolater。Thefactis，anoldacquaintance，Mr。Dawson，telegraphedmeyesterdaytomeethimhereonurgentbusiness，andI
　　feltobligedtogotherefirst。"
　　Mrs。Randolph'seyessparkledwithasuddengratifiedintelligence，buthermannerseemedrathertoincreasethanabateitsgrimprecision。
　　"Ourmeetingthismorning，Mr。Mallory，isbothfortunateandunfortunate，forIregrettosaythatyourdaughter，whohasnotbeenquiteherselfsincetheearthquake，wasmissingearlythismorningandhasnotyetbeenfound，thoughwehavesearchedeverywhere。Understandme，"shesaid，asthestrangerstarted，"I
　　havenofearforherPERSONALsafety，IamonlyconcernedforanyINDISCRETIONthatshemaycommitinthepresenceofthesestrangerswhosecompanyshewouldseemtoprefertoours。"
　　"ButIdon'tunderstandyou，madam，"saidMallory，sternly；"youarespeakingofmydaughter，and"——
　　"Excuseme，Mr。Mallory，"saidMrs。Randolph，liftingherhandwithherdriestdeprecationandhermostdesiccatingsmile，"I'mnotpassingjudgmentorcriticism。Iamofaforeignrace，andconsequentlydonotunderstandthefreedomofAmericanyoungladies，andtheirfamiliaritywiththeoppositesex。Imakenocharges，Ionlywishtoassureyouthatshewillnodoubtbefoundinthecompanyandundertheprotectionofherowncountrymen。
　　Thereis，"sheaddedwithironicaldistinctness，"ayoungmechanic，orfieldhand，or'quackwell-doctor，'whomsheseemstoadmire，andwithwhomsheappearstobeonequalterms。"
　　Malloryregardedherforamomentfixedly，andthenhissternnessrelaxedtoamischievouslycomplacentsmile。"ThatmustbeyoungBent，ofwhomI'veheard，"hesaidwithunabatedcheerfulness。
　　"AndIdon'tknowbutwhatshemaybewithhim，afterall。FornowIthinkofit，achuckle-headedfellow，ofwhomamomentagoI
　　inquiredthewaytoyourhouse，toldmeI'dbetterasktheyoungmanandyoungwomanwhowere'philanderingthroughthewheat'
　　yonder。Supposewelookforthem。FromwhatI'veheardofBenthe'stoomuchwrappedupinhisinventionsforflirtation，butitwouldbeagoodjoketostumbleuponthem。"
　　Mrs。Randolph'seyessparkledwithaminglingofgratifiedmaliceandundisguisedcontemptforthefatuousfatherbesideher。Butbeforeshecouldacceptordeclinethechallenge，ithadbecomeuseless。Amurmurofyouthfulvoicesstruckherear，andshesuddenlystooduprightandtransfixedinthecarriage。Forloungingdownslowlytowardsthemoutofthedimgreenaislesofthearboredwheat，lostinthemselvesandtheshimmeringveiloftheirseclusion，cametheengineer，ThomasBent，andonhisarm，gazingingenuouslyintohisface，thefigureofAdele，——herownperfectdaughter。
　　"Idon'tthink，mydear，"saidMr。Mallory，astheanxiousRoseflewintohisarmsonhisreturntoSanJose，afewhourslater，"thatitwillbenecessaryforyoutogobackagaintoMajorRandolph'sbeforeweleave。Ihavesaid'Good-by'foryouandthankedthem，andyourtrunksarepackedandwillbesenthere。
　　Thefactis，mydear，youseethisaffairoftheearthquakeandthedisastertotheartesianwellhaveupsetalltheirarrangements，andIamafraidthatmylittlegirlwouldbeonlyintheirwayjustnow。"