"Toseeus，mydear，"saidKittyloftily;"andthen，too，hehastosettlesomethingaboutHISshareoftheproperty;foryouknowgrandpaleftashareofittohim。Notthathe’severbotheredhimselfaboutit，forhe’srich，——akindofMonteCristo，youknow，——withagoldmineandanislandoffthecoast，tosaynothingofawholecountythatheowns，thatiscalledafterhim，andmillionsofwildcattlethatheridesamongandlassos！It’sdreadfullyhardtodo。Youknowyoutakealongropewithaslipknot，andyouthrowitaroundyourheadso，and"——
　　"Hark！"saidMarie，withadramaticstart，andherfingeronhersmallmouth，"hecomes！"
　　Therewastheclearrollofwheelsalongthesmooth，frozencarriagesweeptowardsthehouse，thesharpcrispclickofhoofsonstone，theopeningofheavydoors，thesuddensparklinginvasionoffrigidair，theupliftingofvoicesingreeting，——butallfamiliar！
　　TherewereGabrielLane’scheery，hopefultones，thesopranoofCousinJaneandCousinEmma，thebaritoneofMr。Gunn，andthegravemeasuredoratoricalutteranceofParsonDexter，whohadjoinedthepartyatthestation;butcertainlytheaccentsofnoSTRANGER。Hadhecome？Yes，forhisnamewasjustthencalled，andthequickearofMariehaddetectedalight，lounging，alienfootstepcrossthecoldstripofmarblevestibule。Thetwogirlsexchangedarapidglance;eachlookedintothemirror，andtheninterrogativelyattheother，noddedtheirheadsaffirmatively，anddescendedtothedrawing—room。Agrouphadalreadydrawnroundthefire，andasmallcentralfigure，who，withitsbackturnedtowardsthem，wasstillenwrappedinanenormousovercoatofrichfur，wasengagedinpresentinganalternatesmallvarnishedleatherboottothewarmthofthegrate。Astheyenteredtheroomtheheavyfurwasyieldedupwithapparentreluctance，andrevealedtotheastonishedgirlsamanofordinarystaturewithaslightandelegantfiguresetoffbyatravelingsuitofirreproachablecut。
　　Hislightreddish—yellowhair，mustache，andsunburnedcheek，whichseemedallofonecolorandoutline，madeitimpossibletodetectthegrayoftheoneorthehollownessoftheother，andgavenoindicationofhisage。Yettherewasclearlynomistake。HerewasGabrielLaneseizingtheirnervouslycoldfingersandpresentingthemtotheir"UncleSylvester。"
　　FarfromattemptingtokissKitty，thestrangerforaninstantseemedobliviousofthelittlehandsheofferedhiminthehalf—
　　preoccupiedbowhegaveher。ButMariewasnotsoeasilypassedover，and，withheraudaciousfacechallenginghis，heabstractedlyimpartedtotheshakeofherhandsomethingofthefervorthatheshouldhaveshownhisrelative。And，then，stillwarminghisfeetonthefender，heseemedtohaveforgottenthemboth。
　　"Accustomedasyouhavebeen，sir，"saidtheReverendMr。Dexter，seizinguponanawkwardsilence，andaccentingitlaboriously，"perhapsIshouldsayINUREDasyouhavebeentotheexcitingandstirringincidentsofalawlessandadventurouscommunity，youdoubtlessfindinapastoral，yetcultivatedandrefined，seclusionlikeLakevilleadegreeof"——
　　"Oh，severaldegrees，"saidUncleSylvester，blandlyflickingbitsofbuffalohairfromhiswell—fittingtrousers;"it’scolder，youknow——muchcolder。"
　　"Iwasreferringtoalessmaterialcontrast，"continuedMr。
　　Dexter，witharesignedsmile;"yet，astothemerequestionofcold，Iamtold，sir，thatinCaliforniatherearecertainsevereregionsofaltitude——althoughthemeantemperature"——
　　"IsupposeoutinCaliforniayoufellowswouldsayourtemperaturewasadarnedsightMEANER，eh？"brokeinAmosGunn，withaconfidentialglanceattheothers，asifofferingahumorousdiversionsuitedtotheCaliforniantaste。UncleSylvesterdidnot，however，smile。GazingcriticallyatGunn，hesaidthoughtfully："Ithinknot;I’veevenknownmenkilledforsayinglessthanthat，"andturnedtotheclergyman。"Youarequiteright;someofthehigherpassesareverycold。Iwaslostinoneofthemin’56withasmallparty。Wewereseventymilesfromanysettlement，wehadhadnothingtoeatforthirty—sixhours;ourcampfire，meltingthesnow，sanktwelvefeetbelowthesurface。"
　　Thecircleclosedeagerlyaroundhim，Marie，Kitty，andCousinJanepressingforwardwithexcitedfaces;eventheclergymanassumedanexpressionofprofoundinterest。"AmanbythenameofThompson，I
　　think，"continuedUncleSylvester，thoughtfullygazingatthefire，"wasfrozenafewyardsaway。Towardsmorning，havingbeenfifty—
　　eighthourswithoutfood，ourlastdropofwhiskeyexhausted，andthefireextinguished，wefound"——
　　"Yes，yes！"saidhalfadozenvoices。
　　"Wefound，"continuedUncleSylvester，rubbinghishandscheerfully，"wefoundit——exceedinglycold。Yes——EXCEEDINGLYcold！"
　　Therewasadeadsilence。
　　"Butyouescaped！"saidKittybreathlessly。
　　"Ithinkso。Ithinkweallescaped——thatis，exceptThompson，ifhisnameWASThompson;itmighthavebeenParker，"continuedUncleSylvester，gazingwithacertainlanguidastonishmentontheeagerfacesaroundhim。
　　"ButHOWdidyouescape？"
　　"Oh，somehow！Idon’trememberexactly。Idon’tthink，"hewentonreflectively，"thatwehadtoeatThompson——ifitwasHIM——atleastnotthen。No"——withafainteffortofrecollection——"thatwouldhavebeenanotheraffair。Yes，"assuringlytotheeager，frightenedeyesofCousinJane，"youarequiteright，thatwassomethingaltogetherdifferent。Dearme;onequitemixesupthesethings。Eh？"
　　Aservanthadentered，andafterahurriedcolloquywithGabriel，thelatterturnedtoUncleSylvester——
　　"Excuseme，butIthinktheremustbesomemistake！Webroughtupyourluggagewithyou——twotrunks——inthestationwagon。Amanhasjustarrivedwiththreemore，whichhesaysareyours。"
　　"Thereshouldbefiveinall，Ithink，"saidUncleSylvesterthoughtfully。
　　"Maybethereare，sir，Ididn’tcountexactly，"saidtheservant。
　　"Allright，"saidUncleSylvestercheerfully，turningtohisbrother。"Youcanputtheminmyroomoronthelanding，excepttwomarked’L’inatriangle。TheycontainsomethingsIpickedupforyouandthegirls。We’lllookthemoverinthemorning。And，ifyoudon’tmind，I’llexcusemyselfnowandgotobed。"
　　"Butit’sonlyhalfpastten，"saidGabrielremonstratingly。"Youdon’t，surely，gotobedathalfpastten？"
　　"IdowhenItravel。TravelisSOexhausting。Good—night！Don’tletanybodydisturbthemselvestocomewithme。"
　　Hebowedlanguidlytothecompany，anddisappearedwithayawngracefullydisguisedintoapartingsmile。
　　"Well！"saidCousinJane，drawingalongbreath。
　　"Idon’tbelieveit’syourUncleSylvesteratall！"saidMarievivaciously。"It’ssometrickthatGabrielisplayinguponus。
　　Andhe’snotevenagoodactor——heforgetshispart。"
　　"And，then，fivetrunksforonesingleman！Heavens！whatcanhehaveinthem"saidCousinEmma。
　　"Perhapshisconfederates，tospringoutuponusatnight，aftereverybody’sasleep。"
　　"Areyousureyourememberedhim，papa？"saidKittysottovoce。
　　"Certainly。And，mydearchild，heknowsallthefamilyhistoryaswellasyoudo;and"——continuedherfatherwithaslightlaughthatdidnot，however，concealacertainseriousnessthatwasnewtohim——"IonlywishIunderstoodasmuchaboutthepropertyashedoes。Bytheway，Amos，"hebrokeoffsuddenly，turningtotheyoungman，"heseemedtoknowyourpeople。"
　　"Mostmeninthefinancialworlddo，"saidGunnalittlesuperciliously。
　　"Yes;butheaskedmeifyouhadn’tarelativeofsomekindinSouthernCaliforniaorMexico。"
　　Aslightflush——soslightthatonlythekeen，vivaciouslyobservanteyesofMarienoticedit——passedovertheyoungman’sface。
　　"Ibelieveitisaknownfactthatourbranchofthefamilyneveremigratedfromtheirnativetown，"hesaidemphatically。"TheGunnswereratherpeculiarandparticularinthatrespect。"
　　"ThentherewerenooffshootsfromtheoldSTOCK，"saidGabriel。
　　Nevertheless，thispetjokeofGabriel’sdidnotdissipatetheconstraintanddisappointmentleftuponthecompanybyUncleSylvester’sunsatisfyingperformanceandearlywithdrawal，andtheyseparatedsoonafter，KittyandMariebeinggladtoescapeupstairstogether。OnthelandingtheymettwooftheIrishhousemaidsinastateofagitatedexhaustion。Itappearedthatthe"sthrangegintleman"hadrequestedthathisbedberemadefrombedclothesandbeddingALWAYSCARRIEDWITHHIMINHISTRUNKS！Fromtheirapologetictoneitwasevidentthathehadliberallyrewardedthem。
　　"Shure，Miss，"protestedNorah，indeprecationofKitty’sflashingeye，"there’sthimthat’slivedamongshnakesandpoysinriptilesandfaverousdisaysesthat’sparticklaravthebedsandsheetstheylieon。Hisht！HowlyMother！it’ssomethingelsehe’swantingnow！"
　　ThedoorofUncleSylvester’sroomhadslowlyopened，andabluepyjama’dsleeveappeared，carefullydepositingthesheafofbowsandarrowsoutsidethedoor。"Isay，Norah，orBridgetthere，someofyoutakethoseinfernalthingsaway。Andlookout，willyou，forthearrowheadsaredeadlypoison。Thefoolwhogot’emdidn’tknowtheywereAfrican，andnotIndianatall！Andholdon！"Thehandvanished，andpresentlyreappearedholdingtworifles。"Andtaketheseaway，too！They’reloaded，capped，andNOTonthehalf—
　　cock！Ajar，afall，theslightestshockisenoughtosendthemoff！"
　　"I’mdreadfullysorrythatyoushouldfinditsouncomfortableinourhouse，UncleSylvester，"saidKitty，withaflushedcheekandvibratingvoice。
　　"Oh，it’syou——isit？"saidUncleSylvester’svoicecheerfully。"I
　　thoughtitwasBridgetoutthere。No，Idon’tintendtofindituncomfortable。That’swhyI’mputtingthesethingsoutside。But，forHeaven’ssake，don’tYOUtouchthem。Leavethattotheineffableasswhoputthemthere。Good—night！"
　　Thedoorclosed;thewhisperingvoicesofthegirlsfadedfromthecorridor;thelightswereloweredinthecentralhall，onlytheredCyclopeaneyeofanenormouscolumnarstove，likealighthouse，gleamedthroughthedarkness。Outside，thesilentnightsparkled，glistened，andfinallypaled。Towardsmorning，havinginvestedthesturdywoodenouterwallsofthehouseandfilmedwithdelicatetraceryeveryavailableinchofwindowpane，itseemedstealthilytoinvadethehouseitself，stillingandchillingitasitdrewcloserarounditscentralheartofwarmthandlife。Onlyoncethefrigidstillnesswasbrokenbytheopeningofadoorandstepsalongthecorridor。Thiswasprecededbyanacridsmellofburningbark。
　　ItwassubtleenoughtopermeatetheupperfloorandthebedroomofMarieduPage，whowasthatnightalightandnervoussleeper。
　　Peeringfromherdoor，shecouldsee，onthelowercorridor，theextraordinaryspectacleofUncleSylvester，robedinagorgeousJapanesedressing—gownofquiltedsatintrimmedwiththefurofthebluefox，candleinhand，leisurelyexaminingthewallofthepassage。Presently，drawingoutafootrulefromhispocket，heactuallybegantomeasureit！MissDuPagesawnomore。Hurriedlyclosingherdoor，shelockedandboltedit，firmlyconvincedthatGabrielLanewasharboringintheguiseofUncleSylvesterasomnambulist，amaniac，oranimpostor。
　　PARTII。
　　"Itdoesn’tseemasifUncleSylvesterwasanythemorecomfortableforhavinghisownprivatebeddingwithhim，"saidKittyLane，enteringMarie’sroomearlythenextmorning。"Bridgetfoundhimcurledupinhisfurslikeacatasleeponthedrawing—roomsofathismorning。"
　　Mariestarted;sherememberedherlastnight’svision。Butsomeinstinct——sheknewnotwhat——keptherfromrevealingitatthismoment。Sheonlysaidalittleironically：——
　　"Perhapshemissedthewildfreedomofhisbarbariclifeinasmallbedroom。"
　　"No。Bridgetsayshesaidsomethingaboutbeingsmokedoutofhisroombyaridiculouswoodfire。Theidea！Asifamanbroughtupinthewoodscouldn’tstandalittlesmoke。No——that’shisexcuse！
　　Marie！——doyouknowwhatIfirmlybelieve？"
　　"No，"saidMariequickly。
　　"Ifirmlybelievethatpoormanisashamedofhispastroughlife，anddoeseverythinghecantoforgetit。That’swhyheaffectsthoseultra—civilizedandeffeminateways，andgoestotheotherextreme，aspeoplealwaysdo。"
　　"Thenyouthinkhe’sreallyreformed，andisn’tlikelytotakeanimpulsetorobandmurderanybodyagain？"
　　"Why，Marie，whatnonsense！"
　　Nevertheless，UncleSylvesterappearedquitefreshandcheerfulatbreakfast。Itseemedthathehadlitthefirebeforeundressing，butthegreenlogswerepiledsofarintotheroomthatthesmokenearlysuffocatedhim。Fearfulofalarmingthehousebylettingthesmokeescapethroughthedoor，heopenedthewindow，andwhenithadpartlydispersed，soughtrefugehimselffromthearcticairofhisbedroominthedrawing—room。Sofartheactdidnotseeminconsistentwithhissanity，orevenintelligenceandconsiderationforothers。ButMariefixeduponhimapairofblack，audaciouseyes。
　　"Didyoueverwalkinyoursleep，Mr。Lane？"
　　"No;but"——thoughtfullybreakinganegg——"Ihaveridden，Ithink。"
　　"Inyoursleep？Oh，dotellusallaboutit！"saidCousinsJaneandEmmainchorus。
　　UncleSylvestercastaresignedglanceoutofthewindow。"Oh，yes——certainly;itisn’tmuch。YouseeatonetimeIwasinthehabitofmakinglongmonotonousjourneys，andtheywereoftenexhausting，and，"headded，becomingweariedasifattherecollection，"alwaysdreadfullytiresome。Asthetrailwassometimesveryuncertainanddangerous，Irodeaverysurefootedmulethatcouldgoanywherewheretherewasspacebigenoughtosethersmallhoofsupon。OnenightIwascomingdowntheslopeofamountaintowardsanarrowvalleyandriverthatwerecrossedbyanold，abandonedflume，ofwhichnothingwasnowleftbuttheuprighttrestle—workandlonghorizontalstring—piece。Asthetrailwasverydifficultandthemule’spacewasslow，Ifoundmyselfdozingattimes，andatlastImusthavefallenasleep。IthinkImusthavebeenawakenedbyasingularregularityinthemovementofthemule——orelseitwasthemonotonyofstepthathadputmetosleepandthecessationofitawakenedme。Yousee，atfirstIwasnotcertainthatIwasn’treallydreaming。Forthetrailseemedtohavedisappeared;thewallofrockononesidehadvanishedalso，andthereappearedtobenothingaheadofmebuttheoppositehillside。"
　　UncleSylvesterstoppedtolookoutofthewindowatapassingcarriage。Thenhewenton。"Themooncameout，andIsawwhathadhappened。Themule，eitherofherownfreewill，orobeyingsomemovementIhadgiventhereinsinmysleep，hadswervedfromthetrail，gotontopoftheflume，andwasactuallywalkingacrossthevalleyonthenarrowstring—piece，afootwide，halfamilelong，andsixtyfeetfromtheground。Iknew，"hecontinued，examininghisnapkinthoughtfully，"thatshewasperfectlysurefooted，andthatifIkeptquietshecouldmakethepassage，butIsuddenlyrememberedthatmidwaytherewasabreakandgapoftwentyfeetinthecontinuousline，andthatthestring—piecewastoonarrowtoallowhertoturnroundandretracehersteps。"
　　"Goodheavens！"saidCousinJane。
　　"Ibegyourpardon？"saidUncleSylvesterpolitely。
　　"Ionlysaid，’Goodheavens！’Well？"sheaddedimpatiently。
　　"Well？"repeatedUncleSylvestervaguely。"Oh，that’sall。IonlywantedtoexplainwhatImeantbysayingIhadriddeninmysleep。"
　　"But，"saidCousinJane，leaningacrossthetablewithgrimdeliberationandemphasizingeachwordwiththehandleofherknife，"how——did——you——and——that——mulegetdown？"
　　"Oh，withslingsandropes，youknow——so，"demonstratingbyplacinghisnapkin—ringinaslingmadeofhisnapkin。
　　"AndIsupposeyoucarriedtheslingsandropeswithyouinyourfivetrunks！"gaspedCousinJane。
　　"No。Fellowsontheriverbrought’eminthemorning。Mightysprychaps，thoseriverminers。"
　　"Very！"saidCousinJane。
　　Breakfastover，theywerenotsurprisedthattheirsybariticguestexcusedhimselffromaninspectionofthetowninthefrigidmorningair，anddeclinedjoiningaskatingpartytothelakeonthegroundthathecouldkeepwarmerindoorswithhalftheexertion。AnhourlaterfoundhimstandingbeforethefireinGabrielLane’sstudy，lookinglanguidlydownonhiselderbrother。
　　"Then，asfarasIcansee，"hesaidquietly，"youhavemadeducksanddrakesofyourshareoftheproperty，andthatvirtuallyyouareinthehandsofthismanGunnandhisfather。"
　　"You’reputtingittoostrongly，"saidGabrieldeprecatingly。"Inthefirstplace，myinvestmentswithGunn’sfirmarebynomeansfailures，andtheyonlyholdassecurityamortgageontheforestlandbelowthehill。It’sscarcelyworththemoney。Iwouldhavesolditlongago，butithadbeenafancyoffather’stokeepitwildlandforthesakeofoldtimesandthehealthinessofthetown。"
　　"Thereusedtobealogcabinthere，wheretheoldmanhadahabitofcampingoutwheneverhefeltcrampedbycivilizationuphere，wasn’tthere？"saidUncleSylvestermeditatively。
　　"Yes，"saidGabrielimpatiently;"it’sstillthere——buttoreturntoMr。Gunn。HehastakenafancytoKitty，andevenifIcouldnotliftthemortgage，there’ssomepossibilitythatthelandwouldstillremaininthefamily。"
　　"IthinkI’lldriveoverthisafternoonandtakealookattheoldshantyifthisinfernalweatherletsup。"
　　"Yes;butjustnow，mydearSylvester，letusattendtobusiness。
　　Iwanttoshowyouthoseinvestments。"
　　"Oh，certainly;trot’emout，"saidhisbrother，pluckingupasimulationofinterestashetookaseatatthetable。
　　FromadrawerofhisdeskGabrielbroughtoutabundleofprospectusesandlaidthembeforeUncleSylvester。
　　Alanguidsmileofrecognitionlitupthelatter’sface。"Ah！
　　yes，"hesaid，glancingatthem。"Theoldlot：’Carmelita，’’SantaMaria，’and’Preciosa！’JustasIimagined——andyetwho’dhavethoughtofseeingthemHERE！Agooddealrougedandpowdered，MissCarmelita，sinceIfirstknewyou！Considerablybolsteredupbymiraculoustestimonytoyourpowers，mydearSantaMaria，sincethedayIfoundyouout，tomycost！Andyoutoo，Preciosa！——apreciouslotofmoneyIdroppedonyouintheolddays！"
　　"Youarejoking，"saidGabriel，withanuneasysmile。"Youdon’tmeantoimplythatthisstockisoldandworthless？"
　　"Thereisn’tacapitalinAmericaorEuropewhereforthelastfiveyearsithasn’tbeenfloatedwithanewcharactereachtime。MydearGabriel，thatstockisn’tworththepaperitisprintedon。"
　　"ButitisimpossiblethatanexperiencedfinancierlikeGunncouldbedeceived！"
　　"I’msorrytohearTHAT。"
　　"Come，Sylvester！confessyou’vetakenaprejudiceagainstGunnfromyoursuddendislikeofhisson！Andwhathaveyouagainsthim？"
　　"Icouldn’tsayexactly，"saidUncleSylvesterreflectively。"Itmaybehiseyes，oronlyhiscravat！But，"risingcheerfullyandplacinghishandlightlyonhisbrother’sshoulder，"don’tYOU
　　worryyourselfaboutthatstock，oldman;I’LLseethatsomebodyelsehastheworryandyouthecash。Andastothelandand——
　　Kitty——well，youholdontothembothuntilyoufindoutwhichtheyoungmanisreallyafter。"
　　"Andthen？"saidGabriel，withasmile。
　　"Don’tgivehimeither！But，Isay，haven’twehadenoughbusinessthismorning？Let’stalkofsomethingelse。Who’stheFrenchgirl？"
　　"Marie？She’sthedaughterofJulesduPage——don’tyouremember？——
　　father’sfriend。WhenJulesdied，itwasalwaysthoughtthatfather，whohadhalfadoptedherasachild，wouldleavehersomelegacy。Butyouknowthatfatherdiedwithoutmakingawill，andthat——richashewas——hisactualassetswerefarlessthanwehadreasontoexpect。Kitty，whofeltthedisappointmentaskeenlyasherfriend，Ibelievewouldhavedividedherownsharewithher。
　　It’sodd，bytheway，thatfathercouldhavebeensodeceivedintheamountofhiscapital，orhowhegotridofhismoneyinawaythatweknewnothingof。Doyouknow，Sylvester，I’vesometimessuspected"——
　　"What？"saidUncleSylvestersuddenly。
　　Theboredlanguorofhisfacehadabruptlyvanished。Everymusclewasalert;hisgrayeyesglittered。
　　"ThatheadvancedmoneytoDuPage，wholostit，orthattheyspeculatedtogether，"returnedGabriel，who，followingUncleSylvester’svoiceonly，hadnotnoticedthechangeofexpression。
　　"ThatwouldseemtobeaweaknessoftheLanefamily，"saidUncleSylvestergrimly，withareturnofhisformercarelessness。"ButthatisnotYOURownopinion——that’sasuggestionofsomeoneelse？"
　　"Well，"saidGabriel，withalaughandaslightadditionofcolor，"itWASGunn’stheory。Asamanoftheworldandapracticalfinancier，youknow。"
　　"Andyou’vetalkedwithHIMaboutit？"
　　"Yes。Itwasamatterofgeneralwonderyearsago。"
　　"Verylikely——but，justnow，don’tyouthinkwe’vehadenoughfinancialtalk？"saidUncleSylvester，withaboredcontractionofhiseyebrows。"Come，"lookingaroundtheroom，"you’vechangedtheinterioroftheoldhouse。"
　　"Yes。Unfortunately，justafterfather’sdeathitwasputinthehandsofalocalarchitectorbuilder，oneoffather’soldfriends，butnotaveryskillfulworkman，whomadechangeswhilethefamilywereaway。That’swhyyourpresentbedroom，whichwasfather’soldstudy，hadaslicetakenoffittomakethecorridorlarger，andwhythebigchimneyandhearthstonearestillthere，althoughthefireplaceismodernized。ThatwasFlint’sstupidity。"
　　"Whosestupidity？"askedUncleSylvester，trimminghisnails。
　　"Flint’s——theoldarchitect。"
　　"Whydidn’tyoumakehimchangeitbackagain？"
　　"HeleftLakevilleshortlyafter，andIbroughtanarchitectfromSt。LouisafterIreturnedfromEurope。Butnothingcouldbedonetoyourroomwithouttakingdownthechimney，soitremainedasFlintleftit。"
　　"Thatremindsme，Gabriel，I’mafraidIspokerathercavalierlytoKitty，lastnight，aboutthearrangementsoftheroom。Thefactis，I’vetakenafancytoit，andshouldliketofititupmyself。
　　HaveIyourpermission？"
　　"Certainly，mydearSylvester。"
　　"I’vesomeknickknacksinmytrunks，andI’lldoitatonce。"
　　"Asyoulike。"
　　"Andyou’llseethatIamnotdisturbed;andyou’llexplainittoKitty，withmyapologies？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"ThenI’moff。"
　　Gabrielglancedathisbrotherwithaperplexedsmile。Herewastheboredtraveler，explorer，gold—seeker，soldieroffortune，actuallyaspleasedasagirlovertheprospectofarranginghisroom！Hecalledafterhim，"Sylvester！"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Isay，ifyoucould，youknow，justtrytointerestthesepeopleto—nightwithsomeofyouradventures——somethingtoldSERIOUSLY，youknow，asifyoureallywereinearnest——I’dbeawfullyobligedtoyou。Thefactis，——you’llexcuseme，——buttheythinkyoudon’tcomeuptoyourreputation。"
　　"Theywantastory？"
　　"Yes，——oneofyourexperiences。"
　　"I’llgivethemone。Ta—ta！"
　　FortherestofthedayUncleSylvesterwasinvisible，althoughhisactivepresenceinhisroomwasbetrayedbythesoundofhammeringandmovingoffurniture。Astheremainderofthepartywereskatingonthelake，thiseccentricitywasnotremarkedexceptbyone，——MarieduPage，——whoonpretenseofaslightcoldhadstayedathome。Butwithhersuspicionsoftheformernight，shehaddeterminedtowatchthesingularrelativeofherfriend。AddedtoanaturalloyaltytotheLanes，shewasmovedbyacertaincuriosityandfascinationtowardsthisincomprehensibleman。
　　Thehousewasveryquietwhenshestoleoutofherroomandpassedsoftlyalongthecorridor;sheexaminedthewallcarefullytodiscoveranythingthatmighthaveexcitedthevisitor’sattention。
　　Therewereafewlargeengravingshangingthere;couldhehavedesignedtoreplacethembysomeothers？Suddenlyshewasstruckwiththedistinctconvictionthatthewallofthecorridordidnotcoincidewiththewallofhisroomasrepresentedbythelineofthedoor。Therewascertainlyaspacebetweenthetwowallsunaccountedfor。ThiswasundoubtedlywhathadattractedHIS
　　attention;butwhatBUSINESSwasitofhis？
　　Shereflectedthatshehadseeninthewalloftheconservatoryanoldclosedstaircase，nowusedasshelvesfordriedherbsandseeds，whichshehadbeentoldwastheold—timecommunicationbetweenthegardenandGrandfatherLane’sstudy，——theroomnowoccupiedbythestranger。Perhapsitledstillfarther，andthusaccountedforthespace。Determinedtosatisfyherself，shenoiselesslydescendedtotheconservatory。There，surely，wasthestaircase，——anarrowflightofwoodenstepsencumberedwithpackagesofherbs，——losingitselfinupperdarkness。Bytheaidofacandleshemanagedtogropeandpickherwayupstepbystep。
　　Thenshepaused。Thestaircasehadabruptlyendedonthelevelofthestudy，nowcutofffromitbythenewpartition。Shewasinastiflinginclosure，formedbythewalls，scarcelyeighteenincheswide。Itwasmadenarrowerbyasingularexcrescenceontheoldwall，whichseemedtohavebeenabrickedcloset，nowhalfdestroyedandinruins。Sheturnedtodescend，whenastrangesoundfromUncleSylvester’sroomstruckherear。Itwasthesoundoftappingonthefloorclosetothepartition，withinafootofwhereshewasstanding。Atthesamemomenttherewasadecidedmovementoftheplankoftheflooringbeneaththepartition：itbegantoslideslowly，andthenwasgraduallywithdrawnintotheroom。Withpromptpresenceofmind，sheinstantlyextinguishedhercandleanddrewherselfbreathlesslyagainstthepartition。
　　Whentheplankwasentirelywithdrawn，arayoflightslippedthroughtheopening，revealingthebareraftersofthefloor，andahandandarminsertedunderthepartition，gropingasiftowardsthebrickedcloset。Asthefingersoftheexploringhandwerewidelyextended，MariehadnodifficultyinrecognizingononeofthemapeculiarsignetringwhichUncleSylvesterwore。Aswiftimpulseseizedher。TotheaudaciousMarieimpulseandactionwerethesamething。Bendingstealthilyovertheaperture，shesuddenlysnatchedtheringfromtheextendedfinger。Thehandwasquicklywithdrawnwithastartanduncontrolledexclamation，andsheavailedherselfofthatinstanttogliderapidlydownthestairs。
　　Sheregainedherroomstealthily，havingthesatisfactionamomentlaterofhearingUncleSylvester’sdooropenandthesoundofhisfootstepsinthecorridor。Buthewasevidentlyunabletodiscoveranyouteringresstotheinclosure，orbelievedthelossofhisringanaccident，forhepresentlyreturned。Meantime，whatwasshetodo？
　　TellKittyofherdiscovery，andshowthering？No——notyet！
　　Oddlyenough，nowthatshehadthering，takenfromhiswickedfingerintheveryact，shefounditasdifficultasevertobelieveinhisburglariousdesign。Shemustwait。Themischief——
　　iftherehadbeenmischief——wasdone;thebreakinginofthebrickedclosetwas，fromtheappearanceoftheruins，abygoneact。
　　CouldithavebeensomeyouthfulescapadeofUncleSylvester’s，thesceneofwhichhewasrevisitingascriminalsarecompelledtodo？
　　Andhadtherebeenanythingtakenfromthecloset——orwasitsdestructionapartofthechangesintheoldhouse？HowcouldshefindoutwithoutaskingKitty？Therewasoneway。SherememberedthatMr。GunnhadonceshownagreatdealofinteresttoKittyabouttheoldhomestead，andevenofoldMr。Lane’swoodlandcabin。
　　ShewouldaskHIM。Itwasafriendlyact，forKittyhadnotoflatebeenverykindtohim。
　　Theopportunitypresenteditselfatdusk，asMr。Gunn，somewhatabstracted，stoodapartatthedrawing—roomwindow。Mariehopedhehadenjoyedhimselfwhileskating;herstupidcoldhadkeptherindoors。Shehadamusedherselframblingabouttheoldhomestead;
　　itwassuchaqueerplace，sofullofoldnooksandcornersandunaccountablespaces。Justtheplace，shewouldthink，whereoldtreasuresmighthavebeenstored。Eh？
　　Mr。Gunnhadnotspoken——hehadonlycoughed。Butinthedarknesshiseyeswerefixedangrilyonherface。Withoutobservingit，shewenton。Sheknewhewasinterestedintheoldhouse;shehadheardhimtalktoKittyaboutit：hadKittyeversaidanythingaboutsomeoldsecrethoardingplace？
　　No，certainlynot！Andshewasmistaken，heneverwasinterestedinthehouse！Hecouldnotunderstandwhathadputthatideainherhead！Unlessitwasthisridiculous，shadystrangerintheguiseofanunclewhomtheyhadgotthere。Itwaslikehisaffectation！
　　"Oh，dear，no，"saidMarie，withunmistakabletruthfulness，"HEdidnotsayanything。But，"withsuddeninconsistentaggression，"isTHATthewayyouspeaktoKittyofheruncle？"
　　Reallyhedidn’tknow——hewasjokingonly，andhewasafraidhemustjustnowaskhertoexcusehim。HehadreceivedlettersthatmadeitpossiblethathemightbecalledsuddenlytoNewYorkatanymoment。Mariestared。ItwasevidentthathehadproposedtoKittyandbeenrejected！Butshewasnonearerherdiscovery。
　　Norwastheretheleastrevelationinthecalm，half—bored，yetgood—humoredpresenceofthewickeduncleatdinner。Soindifferentdidheseem，notonlytohisownvillainybuteventothelossithadentailed，thatshehadawildimpulsetotaketheringfromherpocketanddisplayitonherownfingerbeforehimthenandthere。Buttheconvictionthathewouldinsomewaybeequaltotheoccasionpreventedher。Thedinnerpassedoffwithsomeconstraint，nodoubtemanatingfromtheconsciousKittyandGunn。Nevertheless，whentheyhadreturnedtothedrawing—room，Gabrielrubbedhishandsexpectantly。
　　"IprevailedonSylvesterthismorningtopromisetotellussomeofhisexperiences——somethingCOMPLETEandsatisfactorythistime。
　　Eh？"
　　UncleSylvester，warminghiscoldbloodbeforethefire，lookedmomentarilyforgetfuland——disappointing。CousinsJaneandEmmashruggedtheirshoulders。
　　"Eh，"saidUncleSylvesterabsently，"er——er——ohyes！Well"（morecheerfully），"aboutwhat，eh？"
　　"Letitbe，"saidMariepointedly，fixingherblackmagneticeyesonthewickedstranger，"letitbesomethingabouttheDISCOVERYofgold，oraburiedTREASUREHOARD，orarobbery。"
　　ToherintensedisgustUncleSylvester，farfrombeingdiscomfitedorconfused，actuallylookedpleased，andhisgrayeyesthawedslightly。
　　"Certainly，"hesaid。"Well，then！DownontheSanJoaquinRivertherewasanoldchap——oneoftheearliestsettlers——infact，he’dcomeonfromOregonbeforethegolddiscovery。Hisname，dearme！"——continuedUncleSylvester，withaneffortofmemoryandapparentlybeginningalreadytolosehisinterestinthestory——
　　"was——er——Flint。"
　　AsUncleSylvesterpausedhere，CousinJanebrokeinimpatiently。
　　"Well，that’snotanuncommonname。Therewasanoldcarpenterhereinyourfather’stimewhowascalledFlint。"
　　"Yes，"saidUncleSylvesterlanguidly。"Butthereis，orwas，somethinguncommonaboutit——andthat’sthepointofthestory，forintheoldtimeFlintandGunnwereofthesamestock。"
　　"IsthisaCalifornianjoke？"saidGunn，withaforcedsmileonhisflushedface。"Ifso，spareme，forit’sanoldone。"
　　"It’smucholderHISTORY，Mr。Gunn，"saidUncleSylvesterblandly，"whichIrememberfromaboy。WhenthefirstFlinttradednearSaultSainteMarie，theCanadianvoyageursliterallytranslatedhisnameintoPierreaFusil，andhewentbythatnamealways。ButwhentheEnglishsupersededtheFrenchinnumbersandlanguagethenamewasliterallytranslatedbackagaininto’PeterGunn，’whichhisdescendantsbear。"
　　"Alaboredformoftheoldjoke，"saidGunn，turningcontemptuouslyaway。
　　"Butthestory，"saidCousinsJaneandEmma。"Thestoryofthegolddiscovery——nevermindthenames。"
　　"Excuseme，"saidUncleSylvester，placinghishandinthebreastofhiscoatwithadelightfulexaggerationofoffendeddignity。
　　"But，doubtshavingbeencastuponmypreliminarystatement，IfearImustdeclineproceedingfurther。"Nevertheless，hesmiledunblushinglyatMissDuPageashefollowedGunnfromtheroom。
　　ThenextmorningthosewhohadnoticedthestrainedrelationsofMissKittyandMr。GunnwerenotsurprisedthatthelatterwasrecalledonpressingbusinesstoNewYorkbythefirsttrain;butitwasamatterofsomeastonishmenttoGabrielLaneandMarieduPagethatUncleSylvestershouldhavebeenupearly，andactuallyaccompaniedthatgentlemanasfarasthestation！Indeed，thelanguidexplorerandgold—seekerexhibitedremarkableactivity，and，cladinaroughtouristsuit，announced，overthebreakfast—
　　table，hisintentionoftakingalongtrampthroughthewoods，whichhehadnotrevisitedsinceaboy。Tothisendhehadevenprovidedhimselfwithasmallknapsack，andforoncerealizedKitty’sidealofhischaracter。
　　"Don’tgotoofar，"saidGabriel，"for，althoughthecoldhasmoderated，thebarometerisfallingfast，andthereiseveryappearanceofsnow。Takecareyouarenotcaughtinoneofourblizzards。"
　　"ButYOUareallgoingonthelaketoskate！"protestedUncleSylvester。
　　"Yes;fortheveryreasonthatitmaybeourlastchance;butshoulditsnowweshallbenearerhomethanyoumaybe。"
　　Nevertheless，whenitcameontosnow，asGabrielhadpredicted，theskatingpartywasbynomeanssonearhomeashehadimagined。
　　Ashrewdkeennessandsomestimulatingelectricconditionoftheatmospherehadtemptedtheyoungpeoplefaroutonthelake，andtheyhadignoredthefirstfalloffinegrayishgranulationsthatsweptalongtheicysurfacelikelittlepuffsofdustorsmoke。
　　Thenthefallgrewthicker，thegrayskycontracted，thehurryingflakes，dashedagainstthembyafiercenorthwester，werelarger，heavier，andseemedanalmostpalpableforcethatheldthemback。
　　Theirskates，alreadycloggedwithdrift，werebeginningtobeuseless。Thebarewind—sweptspaceswerebecomingrarer;theycouldonlystumbleonblindlytowardsthenearestshore。Norwhentheyreacheditweretheyyetsafe;theycouldscarcelystandagainstthestillincreasingstormthatwasfastobliteratingthebanksandstretchofmeadowbeyond。Theironlyhopeofshelterwastherangeofwoodsthatjoinedthehill。Holdinghandsinsinglefile，thelittleparty，consistingofKitty，Marie，andCousinsJaneandEmma——stout—heartedGabrielleadingandCousinJohnbringinguptherear——atlastsucceededinreachingit，andwererejoicedtofindthemselvesnearoldLane’shalf—ruinedcabin。Totheiraddedjoyandastonishment，whiffsofwhirlingsmokewereissuingfromthecrumblingchimney。Theyrantothecrazydoor，pushedasideitsweakfastening，andfound——UncleSylvestercalmlyenjoyingapipebeforeablazingfire。Asmallpickaxeandcrowbarwerelyinguponamoundoffreshlyturnedearthbesidethechimney，wheretherottenflooringhadbeentornup。
　　Thetumultuousentranceoftheskatingpartyrequirednoexplanation;
　　butwhencongratulationshadbeenexchanged，thewetsnowshakenoff，andtheyhaddrawnroundthefire，curiouseyeswerecastuponthesolitaryoccupantandthepileofearthanddebrisbeforehim。
　　"Ibelieve，"saidGabriellaughingly，"thatyouhavebeensoboredherethatyouhaveactuallyplayedatgold—huntingforamusement。"
　　UncleSylvestertookthepipefromhismouthandnodded。
　　"It’sacommondiversionofyours，"saidMarieaudaciously。
　　UncleSylvestersmiledsweetly。
　　"AndhaveyoubeensuccessfulTHISTIME？"askedMarie。
　　"Igotthecolor。"
　　"Eh？"
　　UncleSylvesterroseandplacedhimselfwithhisbacktothefire，gentlysurveyingtheassembledgroup。
　　"Iwasinterruptedinastoryofgold—digginglastevening，"hesaidblandly。"HowfarhadIgot？"
　　"YouweredownontheSanJoaquinRiverinthespringof’50，withachapnamedFlint，"chorusedCousinsJaneandEmmapromptly。
　　"Ah！yes，"saidUncleSylvester。"Well，inthosedaystherewasascarcityofmoneyinthediggings。Golddusttherewasinplenty，butnoCOIN。Youcanfancyitwasabothertoweighoutapinchofdusteverytimeyouwantedadrinkofwhiskeyorapoundofflour;
　　buttherewasnootherlegaltender。Prettysoon，however，alotofgoldandsilverpiecesfoundtheirwayintocirculationinourcampandthecampsaroundus。Theywereforeign——oldFrenchandEnglishcoins。Here’soneofthemthatIkept。"HetookfromhispocketagoldcoinandhandedittoGabriel。
　　Lanerosetohisfeetwithanexclamation：
　　"Why，thisislikethelouis—d’orthatgrandfathersavedthroughthewarandgavetofather。"
　　UncleSylvestertookthecoinback，placeditinhislefteye，likeamonocle，andwinkedgravelyatthecompany。
　　"ItistheSAME！"hewentonquietly。"Iwasinterested，forIhadagoodmemory，andIrememberedthat，asaboy，grandfatherhadshownmeoneofthosecoinsandtoldmehewaskeepingthemforoldJulesduPage，whodidn’tbelieveinbanksandbank—notes。Well，I
　　tracedthemtoatradercalledFlint，whowasshippinggolddustfromStocktontoPeterGunn&Sons，inNewYork。"
　　"Towhom？"askedGabrielquickly。
　　"OldGunn——thefatherofyourfriend！"saidUncleSylvesterblandly。"Wetalkedthematteroveronourwaytothestationthismorning。Well，toreturn。FlintonlysaidthathehadgotthemfromamancalledThompson，whohadgotthemfromsomebodyelseinexchangeforgoods。AyearortwoafterwardsthissameThompsonhappenedtobefrozenupwithmeinStarvationCamp。WhenhethoughthewasdyingheconfessedthathehadbeenbribedbyFlinttosaywhathehadsaid，butthathebelievedthecoinswerestolen。Meantime，Flinthaddisappeared。Otherthingsclaimedmyattention。Ihadquiteforgottenhim，untilonenight，fiveyearsafterwards，Iblunderedintoadesertedmining—camp，byfallingasleeponmymule，whocarriedmeacrossabrokenflume，but——I
　　thinkItoldyouthatstoryalready。"
　　"Youneverfinishedit，"saidCousinJanesharply。
　　"Letmedosonow，then。IwasreallysavedbysomeIndians，whotookmeforaspiritupaloftthereinthemoonlightandspreadthealarm。Thefirstwhitemantheybroughtmewasawretcheddrunkardknowntotheboysas’OldFusil，’or’FuselOil，’whowentintodeliriumtremensatthesightofme。Well，whodoyousupposeheturnedouttobe？Flint！Flintplayedoutandruined！CastoffanddiscardedbyhisrelationsinNewYork——thefoundationofwhosefortuneshehadlaidbythevillainytheyhadacceptedandcondoned。
　　ForFlint，asthecarpenteroftheoldhomestead，haddiscoveredtheexistenceofabrickedclosetinthewalloffather’sstudy，partitioneditoffsothathecouldbreakintoitwithoutdetectionandrifleitathisleisure，andwhohadthuscarriedoffthatpartofgrandfather’shoardwhichfatherhadconcealedthere。Heknewitcouldneverbemissedbythedescendants。But，throughhasteorignorance，heDIDNOTTOUCHTHEPAPERSanddocumentsalsohiddenthere。AndTHEYtoldoftheexistenceofgrandfather’ssecondcache，orhiding—place，beneaththishearth，andwereleftformetodiscover。"
　　Hecoollyrelithispipe，fixedhiseyesonMariewithoutapparentlypayingattentiontothebreathlessscrutinyoftheothers，andwenton："Flint，aliasPierreaFusil，aliasGunn，diedamaniac。Iresolvedtotestthetruthofhisstory。Icamehere。
　　Iknewtheoldhomestead，asaboywhohadwanderedovereverypartofit，farbetterthanyou，Gabriel，oranyone。TheelderGunnhadonlyheardofitthroughthecriminaldisclosureofhisrelative，andonlywishedtoabsorbitthroughhissonintime，andthusobliteratealltraceofFlint’soutrage。Irecognizedtheroomperfectly——thankstoourdearKitty，whohadtakenupthecarpet，whichthusdisclosedthelooseplankbeforetheclosetthatwashiddenbythepartition。Underpretextofrearrangingtheroom——forwhichKittywillforgiveme——Ispentthedaybehindalockeddoor，makingmywaythroughthepartition。ThereIfoundtherifledcloset，butthepapersintact。TheycontainedafulldescriptionofthesumtakenbyFlint，andalsoofalargersumburiedinacaskbesidethischimney。Ihadjustfinishedunearthingitafewmomentsbeforeyoucame。IhadatfirsthopedtoofferittothefamilyasaChristmasgiftto—morrow，but"——Hestoppedandsuckedslowlyathispipe。
　　"Weanticipatedyou，"saidGabriellaughing。
　　"No，"saidUncleSylvestercoolly。"Butbecauseitdon’thappentobelongtoYOUatall！AccordingtothepaperIhaveinmypocket，whichisaboutaslegaladocumentasIeversaw，itisfather’sfreegifttoMissMarieduPage。"
　　Kittythrewherarmsaroundherwhiteandbreathlessfriendwithajoyfulcry，andhonestGabriel’sfaceshonewithunselfishgratification。
　　"Foryourself，mydearGabriel，youmustbesatisfiedwiththefactthatMessrs。PeterGunn&Sonswilltakebackyourwildcatstockatthepriceyoupaidforit。Itisthepricetheypayfortheirshareinthislittletransaction，asIhadthehonorofpointingouttoMr。Gunnonourwaytothestationthismorning。"
　　"ThenyouthinkthatyoungMr。GunnknewthatFlintwashisrelation，andthathehadstolenfather’smoney，"saidKitty，"andthatMr。Gunnonlywantedto"——Shestopped，withflashingeyes。
　　"Ithinkhewouldhavelikedtohavemadeanarrangement，mydear，thatwouldkeepthesecretandthepropertyinthefamily，"saidUncleSylvester。"ButIdon’tthinkhesuspectedtheexistenceofthesecondtreasurehere。"
　　"Andthen，sir，"saidCousinJane，"itappearsthatallthesewretched，unsatisfactoryscrapsofstoriesyouweretellinguswerenothingafterallbut"——
　　"MywayoftellingTHISone，"saidUncleSylvester。
　　Astheotherswereeagerlygatheringaroundtheunearthedtreasure，Marieapproachedhimtimidly，allheraudacitygone，tearsinhereyes，andhisringheldhesitatinglybetweenherfingers。"HowcanIthankyou——andhowCANyoueverforgiveme？"
　　"Well，"saidUncleSylvester，gazingathercritically，"youmightkeeptheringtothinkoverit。"