WherethegreathighwayoftheSierrasnearsthesummit，andthepinesbegintoshowsterilereachesofrockandwasteintheirdrawn-upfiles，therearesignsofoccasionaldeparturesfromthemainroad，asifthewearytravellerhadattimessuccumbedtothelongascent，andturnedasideforrestandbreathagain。Thetiredeyesofmanyadustypassengerontheoldoverlandcoachhavegazedwistfullyonthosesylvanopenings，andimaginedrecessesofprimevalshadeandvirginwildernessintheirdimperspectives。
　　Hadhedescended，however，andfollowedoneofthesedivergingpaths，hewouldhavecomeuponsomerudewagontrack，or"logslide，"
　　leadingfromaclearingontheslope，ortheominoussaw-mill，halfhiddenintheforestitwasslowlydecimating。Thewoodlandhushmighthavebeenbrokenbythesoundofwaterpassingoversomeunseendaminthehollow，orthehissofescapingsteamandthrobofaninvisibleengineinthecovert。
　　Such，atleast，wastheexperienceofayoungfellowoffive-and-
　　twenty，who，knapsackonbackandstickinhand，hadturnedasidefromthehighwayandenteredthewoodsonepleasantafternooninJuly。Buthewasevidentlyadeliberatepedestrian，andnotarecentdepositoftheproceedingstage-coach；andalthoughhisstoutwalking-shoeswerecoveredwithdust，hehadneitherthehabitualslouchandslovenlinessofthetramp，northehurriedfatigueandgrowingnegligenceofaninvoluntarywayfarer。Hisclothes，whichwerestrongandserviceable，werebetterfittedfortheirpresentusagethantheordinarygarmentsoftheCaliforniantravellers，whichweretooapttobeeitheraboveorbelowtheirrequirements。Butperhapsthestranger'sgreatestclaimtooriginalitywas
　　theabsenceofanyweaponinhisequipment。Hecarriedneitherriflenorguninhishand，andhisnarrowleathernbeltwasemptyofeitherknifeorrevolver。
　　Ahalf-milefromthemainroad，whichseemedtohimtohavedroppedoutofsightthemomenthehadleftit，hecameuponahalf-clearedarea，wherethehastily-cutstumpsofpines，ofirregularheight，boreanoddresemblancetothebrokencolumnsofsomevastandruinedtemple。Afewfallenshafts，denudedoftheirbarkandtessellatedbranches，sawnintosymmetricalcylinders，laybesidethestumps，andlentthemselvestotheillusion。Butthefreshly-
　　cutchips，sodampthattheystillclunginlayerstoeachotherastheyhadfallenfromtheaxe，andthestumpsthemselves，stillwetandviscousfromtheirdrainedlife-blood，wereredolentofanodorofyouthandfreshness。
　　Theyoungmanseatedhimselfononeofthelogsanddeeplyinhaledthesharpbalsamicfragrance——albeitwithaslightcoughandalaterhurriedrespiration。This，andacertaindrawnlookabouthisupperlip，seemedtoindicate，inspiteofhisstrengthandcolor，somepulmonaryweakness。He，however，roseafteramoment'srestwithundiminishedenergyandcheerfulness，readjustedhisknapsack，andbegantolightlypickhiswayacrossthefallentimber。Afewpaceson，themuffledwhirofmachinerybecamemoreaudible，withthelazy，monotonouscommandof"Geethar，"fromsomeunseenox-driver。Presently，theslow，deliberately-swayingheadsofateamofoxenemergedfromthebushes，followedbytheclankingchainofthe"skids"ofsawnplanks，whichtheywereponderouslydraggingwiththatostentatioussubmissivenesspeculiartotheirspecies。Theyhadnearlypassedhimwhentherewasasuddenhitchintheprocession。Fromwherehestoodhecouldseethataprojectingplankhadstruckapileofchipsandbecomepartlyimbeddedinit。Toruntotheobstructionand，withafewdexterousstrokesandtheleverageofhisstoutstick，dislodgetheplankwastheworknotonlyofthemomentbutofanevidentlyenergetichand。Theteamsterlookedbackandmerelynoddedhisappreciation，andwitha"Geeup!Outofthat，now!"theskidsmovedon。
　　"Muchobliged，there!"saidaheartyvoice，asifsupplementingtheteamster'simperfectacknowledgment。
　　Thestrangerlookedup。Thevoicecamefromtheopen，sashless，shutterlesswindowofarudebuilding——amereshellofboardsandbeamshalfhiddeninthestillleafycovertbeforehim。Hehadcompletelyoverlookeditinhisapproach，evenashehadignoredthenearerthrobbingofthemachinery，whichwassoviolentastoimpartadecidedtremortotheslightedifice，andtoshakethespeakersostronglythathewasobligedwhilespeakingtosteadyhimselfbythesashlessframeofthewindowatwhichhestood。Hehadafaceofgood-naturedandalertintelligence，amaster'sindependenceandauthorityofmanner，inspiteofhisbluejeanoverallsandflannelshirt。
　　"Don'tmentionit，"saidthestranger，smilingwithequalbutmoredeliberategood-humor。Then，seeingthathisinterlocutorstilllingeredahospitablemomentinspiteofhisquickeyesandthejarringimpatienceofthemachinery，headdedhesitatingly，"I
　　fancyI'vewanderedoffthetrackabit。DoyouknowaMr。
　　Bradley——somewherehere？"
　　Thestranger'shesitationseemedtobemorefromsomehabitualconscientiousnessofstatementthanawkwardness。Themaninthewindowreplied，"I'mBradley。”
　　"Ah!Thankyou:I'vealetterforyou——somewhere。Hereitis。”Heproducedanotefromhisbreast-pocket。Bradleystoopedtoasittingpostureinthewindow。"Pitchitup。”Itwasthrownandcaughtcleverly。Bradleyopenedit，readithastily，smiledandnodded，glancedbehindhimasiftoimplorefurtherdelayfromtheimpatientmachinery，leanedperilouslyfromthewindow，andsaid，——
　　"Lookhere!Doyouseethatsilver-firstraightahead？"
　　"Yes。”
　　"Alittletotheleftthere'satrail。Followitandskirtalongtheedgeofthecanyonuntilyouseemyhouse。Askformywife——
　　that'sMrs。Bradley——andgiveheryourletter。Stop!"Hedrewacarpenter'spencilfromhispocket，scrawledtwoorthreewordsacrosstheopensheetandtosseditbacktothestranger。"Seeyouattea!Excuseme——Mr。Mainwaring——we'reshort-handed——and——theengine——"Butherehedisappearedsuddenly。
　　Withoutglancingatthenoteagain，thestrangerquietlyreplaceditinhispocket，andstruckoutacrossthefallentrunkstowardsthesilver-fir。HequicklyfoundthetrailindicatedbyBradley，althoughitwasfaintandapparentlywornbyasinglepairoffeetasashorterandprivatecutfromsomemoretravelledpath。Itwaswellforthestrangerthathehadakeeneyeorhewouldhavelostit；itwasequallyfortunatethathehadamountaineeringinstinct，forasuddenprofounddeepeningofthebluemistseendimlythroughtheleavesbeforehimcausedhimtoslackenhissteps。Thetrailbentabruptlytotheright；agulffullytwothousandfeetdeepwasathisfeet!ItwastheGreatCanyon。
　　Atthefirstglanceitseemedsonarrowthatarifle-shotcouldhavecrosseditstranquildepths；butasecondlookatthecomparativesizeofthetreesontheoppositemountainconvincedhimofhiserror。Anearersurveyoftheabyssalsoshowedhimthatinsteadofitswallsbeingperpendiculartheyweremadeofsuccessiveledgesorterracestothevalleybelow。Yettheairwassostill，andtheoutlinessoclearlycut，thattheymighthavebeenonlythereflectionsofthemountainsaroundhimcastupontheplacidmirrorofalake。Thespectaclearrestedhim，asitarrestedallmen，bysomeoccultpowerbeyondthemereattractionofbeautyormagnitude；eventheteamsterneverpasseditwithoutthetributeofastoneorbrokentwigtossedintoitsimmeasurableprofundity。
　　Reluctantlyleavingthespot，thestrangerturnedwiththetrailthatnowbegantoskirtitsedge。Thiswasnoeasymatter，astheundergrowthwasverythick，andthefoliagedensetotheperilousbrinkoftheprecipice。Hewalkedon，however，wonderingwhyBradleyhadchosensocircuitousanddangerousaroutetohishouse，whichnaturallywouldbesomedistancebackfromthecanyon。
　　Attheendoftenminutes'strugglingthroughthe"brush，"thetrailbecamevague，and，toallappearances，ended。Hadhearrived？Thethicketwasasdenseasbefore；throughtheintersticesofleafandsprayhecouldseethebluevoidofthecanyonathisside，andheevenfanciedthatthefoliageaheadofhimwasmoresymmetricalandlessirregular，andwastouchedhereandtherewithfaintbitsofcolor。Tocompletehisuttermystification，awoman'svoice，veryfresh，veryyouthful，andbynomeansunmusical，roseapparentlyfromthecircumambientair。Helookedhurriedlytotherightandleft，andevenhopelesslyintothetreesabovehim。
　　"Yes，"saidthevoice，asifrenewingasuspendedconversation，"itwastoofunnyforanything。TherewerethetwoMissourigirlsfromSkinner's，withtheirauburnhairringleted，mydear，liketheold'BooksofBeauty'——inwhitefrocksandsashesofanunripegreenishyellow，thatpuckeredupyourmouthlikepersimmons。Oneofthemwasspeechlessfromgoodbehavior，andtheother——well!theotherwassoenergeticshecalledoutthefiguresbeforethefiddlerdid，andshriekedtomyvis-a-vistodanceuptotheentirestranger——
　　meaningME，ifyouplease。”
　　Thevoiceappearedtocomefromthefoliagethatoverhungthecanyon，andthestrangerevenfanciedhecoulddetectthroughtheshimmeringleafyveilsomethingthatmovedmonotonouslytoandfro。
　　Mystifiedandimpatient，hemadeahurriedstrideforward，hisfootstruckawoodenstep，andthenextmomentthemysterywasmadeclear。Hehadalmoststumbledupontheendofalongverandathatprojectedovertheabyssbeforealow，moderndwelling，tilltheninvisible，nestlingonitsverybrink。Thesymmetrically-trimmedfoliagehehadnoticedweretheluxuriantMadeiravinesthathidtherudepillarsoftheveranda；themovingobjectwasarocking-
　　chair，withitsbacktowardstheintruder，thatdisclosedonlythebrownhairabove，andthewhiteskirtsandsmallslipperedfeetbelow，ofaseatedfemalefigure。Inthemeantime，asecondvoicefromtheinteriorofthehousehadrepliedtothefigureinthechair，whowasevidentlythefirstspeaker:——
　　"Itmusthavebeenveryfunny；butaslongasJimisalwaysbringingsomebodyoverfromthemill，Idon'tseehowIcangotothoseplaces。Youwerelucky，mydear，toescapefromthenewDivisionSuperintendentlastnight；hewasinsufferabletoJimwithhistalkofhisfriendtheSanFranciscomillionaire，andtomewithhischeapsocietyairs。Idohateaprovincialfinegentleman。”
　　Thesituationwasbecomingembarrassingtotheintruder。Attheapparitionofthewoman，theunaffectedandsimpledirectnesshehadpreviouslyshowninhisequallyabruptcontactwithBradleyhadfledutterly；confusedbytheawkwardnessofhisarrival，andshockedattheideaofoverhearingaprivateconversation，hesteppedhurriedlyontheveranda。
　　"Well？goon!"saidthesecondvoiceimpatiently。"Well，whoelsewasthere？WHATdidyousay？Idon'thearyou。What'sthematter？"
　　Theseatedfigurehadrisenfromherchair，andturnedayoungandprettyfacesomewhatsuperciliouslytowardsthestranger，asshesaidinalowtonetoherunseenauditor，"Hush!thereissomebodyhere。”
　　Theyoungmancameforwardwithanawkwardnessthatwasmoreboyishthanrustic。Hisembarrassmentwasnotlessenedbythesimultaneousentrancefromtheopendoorofasecondwoman，apparentlyasyoungasandprettierthanthefirst。
　　"Itrustyou'llexcusemefor——for——beingsowretchedlystupid，"hestammered，"butIreallythought，youknow，that——that——Iwasfollowingthetrailto——to——thefrontofthehouse，whenIstumbledin——inhere。”
　　Longbeforehehadfinished，bothwomen，bysomesimplefeminineintuition，wererelievedandevenprepossessedbyhisvoiceandmanner。Theysmiledgraciously。Thelater-comerpointedtotheemptychair。Butwithhishabitofpertinaciousconscientiousnessthestrangercontinued，"Itwasregularlystupid，wasn'tit？——andI
　　oughttohaveknownbetter。IshouldhaveturnedbackandgoneawaywhenIfoundoutwhatanassIwaslikelytobe，butIwas——
　　afraid——youknow，ofalarmingyoubythenoise。”
　　"Won'tyousitdown？"saidthesecondlady，pleasantly。
　　"Oh，thanks!I'vealetterhere——I"——hetransferredhisstickandhattohislefthandashefeltinhisbreast-pocketwithhisright。
　　Buttheactionwassoawkwardthatthestickdroppedontheveranda。
　　Bothwomenmadeamovementtorestoreittoitsembarrassedowner，who，however，quicklyanticipatedthem。"Praydon'tmindit，"hecontinued，withacceleratedbreathandheightenedcolor。"Ah，here'stheletter!"HeproducedthenoteBradleyhadreturnedtohim。"It'smine，infact——thatis，IbroughtittoMr。Bradley。HesaidIwastogiveitto——to——to——Mrs。Bradley。”Hepaused，glancingembarrassedlyfromtheonetotheother。
　　"I'mMrs。Bradley，"saidtheprettiestone，withalaugh。Hehandedhertheletter。Itranasfollows:——
　　"DEARBRADLEY——PutMr。Mainwaringthroughasfarashewantstogo，orhanghimupatTheLookout，justashelikes。TheBank'sbehindhim，andhishat'schalkedallovertheRoad；buthedon'tcaremuchaboutbeingonvelvet。Thatain'thisstyle——andyou'lllikehim。He'ssomebody'ssoninEngland。B。”
　　Mrs。Bradleyglancedsimplyatthefirstsentence。"Praysitdown，Mr。Mainwaring，"shesaidgently；"or，rather，letmefirstintroducemycousin——MissMacy。”
　　"Thanks，"saidMainwaring，withabowtoMissMacy，"butI——I——I——
　　think，"headdedconscientiously，"youdidnotnoticethatyourhusbandhadwrittensomethingacrossthepaper。”
　　Mrs。Bradleysmiled，andglancedatherhusband'sindorsement——"Allright。Wadein。”"It'snothingbutJim'sslang，"shesaid，withalaughandaslightlyheightenedcolor。"Heoughtnottohavesentyoubythatshortcut；it'sabother，andevendangerousforastranger。IfyouhadcomedirectlytoUSbytheroad，withoutmakingyourfirstcallatthemill，"sheadded，withatouchofcoquetry，"youwouldhavehadapleasanterwalk，andseenUS
　　sooner。Isuppose，however，yougotoffthestageatthemill？"
　　"Iwasnotonthecoach，"saidMainwaring，unfasteningthestrapofhisknapsack。"IwalkedoverfromLonePineFlat。”
　　"Walked!"echoedbothwomeninsimultaneousastonishment。
　　"Yes，"returnedMainwaringsimply，layingasidehisburdenandtakingtheprofferedseat。"It'saveryfinebitofcountry。”
　　"Why，it'sfifteenmiles，"saidMrs。Bradley，glancinghorror-
　　strickenathercousin。"Howdreadful!AndtothinkJimcouldhavesentyouahorsetoLonePine。Why，youmustbedead!"
　　"Thanks，I'mallright!Iratherenjoyedit，youknow。”
　　"But，"saidMissMacy，glancingwonderinglyathisknapsack，"youmustwantsomething，achange——orsomerefreshment——afterfifteenmiles。”
　　"Praydon'tdisturbyourself，"saidMainwaring，risinghastily，butnotquicklyenoughtopreventtheyounggirlfromslippingpasthimintothehouse，whencesherapidlyreturnedwithadecanterandglasses。
　　"PerhapsMr。MainwaringwouldprefertogointoJim'sroomandwashhishandsandputonapairofslippers？"saidMrs。Bradley，withgentleconcern。
　　"Thanks，no。Ireallyamnottired。IsentsomeluggageyesterdaybythecoachtotheSummitHotel，"hesaid，observingthewomen'seyesstillfixeduponhisknapsack。"IdaresayIcangetthemifIwantthem。I'vegotachangehere，"hecontinued，liftingtheknapsackasifwithasuddensenseofitsincongruitywithitssurroundings，anddepositingitontheendoftheveranda。
　　"Doletitremainwhereitis，"saidMrs。Bradley，greatlyamused，"andpraysitstillandtakesomerefreshment。You'llmakeyourselfillafteryourexertions，"sheadded，withacharmingassumptionofmatronlysolicitude。
　　"ButI'mnotatalldeservingofyoursympathy，"saidMainwaring，withalaugh。"I'mawfullyfondofwalking，andmyusualconstitutionalisn'tmuchunderthis。”
　　"Perhapsyouwerestrongerthanyouarenow，"saidMrs。Bradley，gazingathimwithafrankcuriositythat，however，broughtafaintdeepeningofcolortohischeek。
　　"Idaresayyou'reright，"hesaidsuddenly，withanapologeticsmile。"IquiteforgotthatI'masortofaninvalid，youknow，travellingformyhealth。I'mnotverystronghere，"headded，lightlytappinghischest，thatnow，relievedofthebandsofhisknapsack，appearedsomewhatthinandhollowinspiteofhisbroadshoulders。Hisvoice，too，hadbecomelessclearanddistinct。
　　Mrs。Bradley，whowasstillwatchinghim，hererosepotentially。
　　"Yououghttotakemorecareofyourself，"shesaid。"Youshouldbeginbyeatingthisbiscuit，drinkingthatglassofwhiskey，andmakingyourselfmorecomfortableinJim'sroomuntilwecangetthespareroomfixedalittle。”
　　"ButIamnottobesenttobed——amI？"askedMainwaring，inhalf-
　　real，half-amusedconsternation。
　　"I'mnotsosureofthat，"saidMrs。Bradley，withplayfulprecision。
　　"Butforthepresentwe'llletyouoffwithagoodwashandanapafterwardsinthatrocking-chair，whilemycousinandImakesomelittledomesticpreparations。Yousee，"sheaddedwithacertainproudhumility，"we'vegotonlyoneservant——aChinaman，andtherearemanythingswecan'tleavetohim。”
　　ThecoloragainroseinMainwaring'scheek，buthehadtactenoughtoreflectthatanyprotestorhesitationonhispartatthatmomentwouldonlyincreasethedifficultiesofhisgentleentertainers。HeallowedhimselftobeusheredintothehousebyMrs。Bradley，andshowntoherhusband'sroom，withoutperceivingthatMissMacyhadavailedherselfofhisabsencetoruntotheendoftheveranda，mischievouslytrytoliftthediscardedknapsacktoherownprettyshoulder，but，failing，heroicallystaggerwithitintothepassageandsoftlydeposititathisdoor。Thisdone，shepantinglyrejoinedhercousininthekitchen。
　　"Well，"saidMrs。Bradley，emphatically。"DIDyouever？Walkingfifteenmilesforpleasure——andwithsuchlungs!"
　　"Andthatknapsack!"addedLouiseMacy，pointingtothemarkinherlittlepalmwherethestraphadimbeddeditselfinthesoftflesh。
　　"He'snice，though；isn'the？"saidMrs。Bradley，tentatively。
　　"Yes，"saidMissMacy，"heisn't，certainly，oneofthoseprovincialfinegentlemenyouobjectto。ButDIDyouseehisshoes？Isupposetheymakethemilesgoquickly，orseemtomeasurelessbycomparison。”
　　"They'reprobablymoreserviceablethanthosehigh-heeledthingsthatCaptainGreysonhopsaboutin。”
　　"ButtheCaptainalwaysrides——andridesverywell——youknow，"saidLouise，reflectively。Therewasamoment'spause。
　　"IsupposeJimwilltellusallabouthim，"saidMrs。Bradley，dismissingthesubject，assheturnedhersleevesbackoverherwhitearms，preparatorytograpplingcertainculinarydifficulties。
　　"Jim，"observedMissMacy，shortly，"inmyopinion，knowsnothingmorethanhisnotesays。That'slikeJim。”
　　"There'snothingmoretoknow，really，"saidMrs。Bradley，withasuperiorair。"He'sundoubtedlythesonofsomeEnglishmanoffortune，sentouthereforhishealth。”
　　"Hush!"
　　MissMacyhadheardastepinthepassage。Ithaltedatlast，halfirresolutely，beforetheopendoorofthekitchen，andthestrangerappearedwithanembarrassedair。
　　Butinhisbriefabsenceheseemedtohavecompletelygroomedhimself，andstoodthere，theimpersonationofclose-cropped，clean，andwholesomeEnglishyoungmanhood。Thetwowomenappreciateditwithcat-likefastidiousness。
　　"Ibegyourpardon；butreallyyou'regoingtoletafellowdosomethingforyou，"hesaid，"justtokeephimfromlookinglikeafool。Ireallycandonoendofthings，youknow，ifyou'lltryme。I'vedonesomecamping-out，andcancookaswellasthenextman。
　　Thetwowomenmadeamovementofsmilingremonstrance，halfcoquettish，andhalfsuperior，untilMrs。Bradley，becomingconsciousofherbarearmsandthestranger'swanderingeyes，coloredfaintly，andsaidwithmoredecision:——
　　"Certainlynot。You'donlybeintheway。Besides，youneedrestmorethanwedo。Putyourselfintherocking-chairintheveranda，andgotosleepuntilMr。Bradleycomes。”
　　Mainwaringsawthatshewasserious，andwithdrew，alittleashamedathisfamiliarityintowhichhisboyishnesshadbetrayedhim。Buthehadscarcelyseatedhimselfintherocking-chairbeforeMissMacyappeared，carryingwithbothhandsalargetinbasinofunshelledpeas。
　　"There，"shesaidpantingly，placingherburdeninhislap，"ifyoureallywanttohelp，there'ssomethingtodothatisn'tveryfatiguing。Youmayshellthesepeas。”
　　"SHELLthem——Ibegpardon，buthow？"heasked，withsmilingearnestness。
　　"How？Why，I'llshowyou——look。”
　　Shefranklysteppedbesidehim，soclosethatherfull-skirteddresshalfencompassedhimandthebasininadeliciousconfusion，and，leaningoverhislap，withherlefthandpickedupapea-cod，which，withasinglemovementofhercharminglittlerightthumb，shebrokeattheend，andstrippedthegreenshallowofitstinytreasures。
　　Hewatchedherwithsmilingeyes；herown，lookingdownonhim，wereverybrightandluminous。"There；that'seasyenough，"shesaid，andturnedaway。
　　"But——onemoment，Miss——Miss——？"
　　"Macy，"saidlouise。
　　"WhereamItoputtheshells？"
　　"Oh!throwthemdownthere——there'sroomenough。”
　　Shewaspointingtothecanyonbelow。Theverandaactuallyprojectedoveritsbrink，andseemedtohanginmidairaboveit。
　　Mainwaringalmostmechanicallythrewhisarmouttocatchtheincautiousgirl，whohadsteppedheedlesslytoitsextremeedge。
　　"Howodd!Don'tyoufinditratherdangeroushere？"hecouldnothelpsaying。"Imean——youmighthavehadarailingthatwouldn'tintercepttheviewandyetbesafe？"
　　"It'safancyofMr。Bradley's，"returnedtheyounggirlcarelessly。"It'salllikethis。Thehousewasbuiltonaledgeagainstthesideoftheprecipice，andtheroadsuddenlydropsdowntoit。”
　　"It'stremendouslypretty，allthesame，youknow，"saidtheyoungmanthoughtfully，gazing，however，atthegirl'sroundedchinabovehim。
　　"Yes，"sherepliedcurtly。"Butthisisn'tworking。ImustgobacktoJenny。YoucanshellthepeasuntilMr。Bradleycomeshome。Hewon'tbelong。”
　　Sheturnedaway，andre-enteredthehouse。Withoutknowingwhy，hethoughtherwithdrawalabrupt，andhewasagainfeelinghisreadycolorrisewiththesuspicionofeitherhavingbeenbetrayedbytheyounggirl'sinnocentfearlessnessintosomeunpardonablefamiliarity，whichshehadquietlyresented，oroffeelinganeaseandfreedominthecompanyofthesetwowomenthatwereinconsistentwithrespect，andshouldberestrained。
　　He，however，begantoapplyhimselftothetaskgiventohimwithhisusualconscientiousnessofduty，andpresentlyacquiredacertainmanualdexterityintheoperation。Itwas"goodfun"tothrowthecast-offhusksintothemightyunfathomablevoidbeforehim，andwatchthemlingerwithsuspendedgravityinmidairforamoment——apparentlymotionless——untiltheyeitherlostthemselves，amerevanishingblackspotinthethinether，orslidsuddenlyatasharpangleintounknownshadow。Howdeucedoddforhimtobesittinghereinthisfashion!Itwouldbesomethingtotalkofhereafter，andyet，——hestopped——itwasnotatallinthelineofthatcharacteristicadventure，uncivilizednovelty，andbarbarousfreedomwhichforthelastmonthhehadsoughtandexperienced。Itwasnotatalllikehismeetingwiththegrizzlylastweekwhilewanderinginalonelycanyon；notabitinthelineofhischanceacquaintancewiththatnotoriousruffian，SpanishJack，orhiswitnessingwithhisowneyesthatactuallynchingaffairatAngels。
　　No!Norwasitatallcharacteristic，accordingtohispreviousideasoffrontierruralseclusion——asforinstancethePikeCountycabinofthefamilywherehestayedonenight，andwherethehandsomedaughteraskedhimwhathisChristiannamewas。No!
　　Thesetwoyoungwomenwereveryunlikeher；theyseemedreallyquitetheequalsofhisfamilyandfriendsinEngland，——perhapsmoreattractive，——andyet，yes，itwasthisveryattractivenessthatalarmedhisinbredsocialconservatismregardingwomen。Withamanitwasverydifferent；thatalert，active，intelligenthusband，instinctwiththethrobbinglifeofhissaw-mill，creatorandworkerinone，challengedhisunqualifiedtrustandadmiration。
　　Hehadbecomeconsciousforthelastminuteortwoofthinkingrapidlyandbecomingfeverishlyexcited；ofbreathingwithgreaterdifficulty，andarenewedtendencytocough。Thetendencyincreaseduntilheinstinctivelyputasidethepanfromhislapandhalfrose。Buteventhatslightexertionbroughtonanaccessionofcoughing。Heputhishandkerchieftohislips，partlytokeepthesoundfromdisturbingthewomeninthekitchen，partlybecauseofacertainsignificanttasteinhismouthwhichheunpleasantlyremembered。Whenheremovedthehandkerchiefitwas，asheexpected，spottedwithblood。Heturnedquicklyandre-enteredthehousesoftly，regainingthebedroomwithoutattractingattention。
　　Anincreasingfaintnesshereobligedhimtoliedownonthebeduntilitshouldpass。
　　Everythingwasquiet。Hehopedtheywouldnotdiscoverhisabsencefromtheverandauntilhewasbetter；itwasdeucedlyawkwardthatheshouldhavehadthisattackjustnow——andafterhehadmadesolightofhispreviousexertions。Theywouldthinkhimaneffeminatefraud，thesetwobright，activewomenandthatalert，energeticman。Afaintcolorcameintohischeekattheidea，andanuneasysensethathehadbeeninsomewayfoolishlyimprudentabouthishealth。Again，theymightbealarmedatmissinghimfromtheveranda；perhapshehadbetterhaveremainedthere；perhapsheoughttotellthemthathehadconcludedtotaketheiradviceandliedown。Hetriedtorise，butthedeepbluechasmbeforethewindowseemedtobeswellinguptomeethim，thebedslowlysinkingintoitsobliviousprofundity。Heknewnomore。
　　Hecametowiththesmellandtasteofsomepowerfulvolatilespirit，andthevaguevisionofMr。Bradleystillstandingatthewindowofthemillandvibratingwiththemachinery；thischangedpresentlytoapleasantlassitudeandlazycuriosityasheperceivedMr。Bradleysmileandapparentlyslipfromthewindowofthemilltohisbedside。"You'reallrightnow，"saidBradley，cheerfully。
　　HewasfeelingMainwaring'spulse。HadhereallybeenillandwasBradleyadoctor？
　　Bradleyevidentlysawwhatwaspassinginhismind。"Don'tbealarmed，"hesaidgayly。"I'mnotadoctor，butIpractisealittlemedicineandsurgeryonaccountofthemenatthemill，andaccidents，youknow。You'reallrightnow；you'velostalittleblood:butinacoupleofweeksinthisairwe'llhavethattuberclehealed，andyou'llbeasrightasatrivet。”
　　"Inacoupleofweeks!"echoedMainwaring，infaintastonishment。
　　"Why，Ileavehereto-morrow。”
　　"You'lldonothingofthekind"saidMrs。Bradley，withsmilingperemptoriness，suddenlyslippingoutfrombehindherhusband。
　　"Everythingisallperfectlyarranged。Jimhassentoffmessengerstoyourfriends，sothatifyoucan'tcometothem，theycancometoyou。Youseeyoucan'thelpyourself!IfyouWILLwalkfifteenmileswithsuchlungs，andthenfrightenpeopletodeath，youmustabidebytheconsequences。”
　　"Youseetheoldladyhasfixedyou，"saidBradley，smiling；"andshe'sthemasterhere。Come，Mainwaring，youcansendanyothermessageyoulike，andhavewhoandwhatyouwanthere；butHEREyoumuststopforawhile。”
　　"ButdidIfrightenyoureally？"stammeredMainwaring，faintly，toMrs。Bradley。
　　"Frightenus!"saidMrs。Bradley。"Well，lookthere!"
　　Shepointedtothewindow，whichcommandedaviewoftheveranda。
　　MissMacyhaddroppedintothevacantchair，withherlittlefeetstretchedoutbeforeher，hercheeksburningwithheatandfire，hereyespartlyclosed，herstrawhathangingbyaribbonroundherneck，herbrownhairclingingtoherearsandforeheadindamptendrils，andanenormouspalm-leaffanineachhandviolentlyplayinguponthischarmingpictureofexhaustionandabandonment。
　　"Shecametearingdowntothemill，bare-backedonourhalf-brokenmustang，abouthalfanhourago，tocallme'tohelpyou，'"
　　explainedBradley。"Heavenknowshowshemanagedtodoit!"
　　CHAPTERII。
　　ThemedicationofthewoodswasnotoverestimatedbyBradley。
　　TherewassurelysomeocculthealingpropertyinthatvastreservoirofbalmyandresinousodorsoverwhichTheLookoutbeetledandclung，andfromwhichattimesthepureexhalationsoftheterracedvalleyseemedtorise。Underitsremedialinfluenceandaconscientiousadherencetotherulesofabsoluterestandreposelaiddownforhim，Mainwaringhadnoreturnofthehemorrhage。Thenearestprofessionalmedicalauthority，hastilysummoned，sawnoreasonforchangingorforsupplementingBradley'sintelligentandsimpletreatment，althoughastoundedthatthepatienthadbeenundernomoreradicalorsystematiccurethantravelandexercise。ThewomenespeciallywereamazedthatMainwaringhadtaken"nothingforit，"intheirhabitualexperienceofanunfetteredpill-and-elixir-consumingdemocracy。Intheirknowledgeofthethousand"panaceas"thatfilledtheshelvesofthegeneralstore，thissingularabstentionoftheirguestseemedtoindicateanationalpeculiarity。
　　Hisbedwasmovedbesidethelowwindow，fromwhichhecouldnotonlyviewtheverandabutconverseattimeswithitsoccupants，andevenlistentothebookwhichMissMacy，seatedwithout，readaloudtohim。IntheeveningBradleywouldlingerbyhiscouchuntillate，beguilingthetediumofhisconvalescencewithcharacteristicstoriesandinformationwhichhethoughtmightpleasetheinvalid。
　　ForMainwaring，whohadbeenearlystruckwithBradley'sreadyandcultivatedintelligence，endedbyshylyavoidingthediscussionofmoreserioustopics，partlybecauseBradleyimpressedhimwithasuspicionofhisowninferiority，andpartlybecauseMainwaringquestionedthetasteofBradley'sapparentexhibitionofhismanifestsuperiority。Helearnedaccidentallythatthismill-ownerandbackwoodsmanwasacollege-bredman；butthepracticalapplicationofthateducationtotheordinaryaffairsoflifewasnewtotheyoungEnglishman'straditions，andgratedalittleharshlyonhisfeelings。HewouldhavebeenquitecontentifBradleyhad，likehimselfandfellowsheknew，undervaluedhistraining，andkepthisgiftsconservativelyimpractical。Theknowledgealsothathishost'seducationnaturallycamefromsomeprovincialinstitutionunlikeOxfordandCambridgemayhaveunconsciouslyaffectedhisgeneralestimate。Isayunconsciously，forhisstrictconscientiousnesswouldhaverejectedanysuchformalproposition。
　　Anothertrifleannoyedhim。HecouldnothelpnoticingalsothatalthoughBradley'smannerandsympathywereconfidentialandalmostbrotherly，henevermadeanyallusiontoMainwaring'sownfamilyorconnections，and，infact，gavenoindicationofwhathebelievedwasthenationalcuriosityinregardtostrangers。Somewhatembarrassedbythisindifference，MainwaringmadetheoccasionofwritingsomelettershomeanopportunityforlaughinglyalludingtothefactthathehadmadehismotherandhissistersfullyawareofthegreatdebttheyowedthehouseholdofTheLookout。
　　"They'llprobablyallsendyouaroundrobinofthanks，except，perhaps，mynextbrother，Bob。”
　　Bradleycontentedhimselfwithagestureofgeneraldeprecation，anddidnotaskWHYMainwaring'syoungbrothershouldcontemplatehisdeathwithsatisfaction。Nevertheless，sometimeafterwardsMissMacyremarkedthatitseemedhardthatthehappinessofonememberofafamilyshoulddependuponacalamitytoanother。"Asforinstance？"askedMainwaring，whohadalreadyforgottenthecircumstance。"Why，ifyouhaddiedandyouryoungerbrothersucceededtothebaronetcy，andbecomeSirRobertMainwaring，"
　　respondedMissMacy，withprecision。Thiswasthefirstandonlyallusiontohisfamilyandprospectiverank。Ontheotherhand，hehad——throughnaiveandboyishinquiries，whichseemedtoamusehisentertainers——acquired，ashebelieved，afullknowledgeofthehistoryandantecedentsoftheBradleyhousehold。HeknewhowBradleyhadbroughthisyoungwifeandhercousintoCaliforniaandabandonedalucrativelawpracticeinSanFranciscototakepossessionofthismountainmillandwoodland，whichhehadacquiredthroughsomeprofessionalservice。
　　"Thenyouareabarristerreally？"saidMainwaring，gravely。
　　Bradleylaughed。"I'mafraidI'vehadmorepractice——thoughnotaslucrativeaone——assurgeonordoctor。”
　　"Butyou'reregularlyontherolls，youknow；you'reenteredasCounsel，andallthatsortofthing？"continuedMainwaring，withgreatseriousness。
　　"Well，yes，"repliedBradley，muchamused。"I'mafraidImustpleadguiltytothat。”
　　"It'snotabadsortofthing，"saidMainwaring，naively，ignoringBradley'samusement。"I'vegotacousinwho'sgoneinforthelaw。
　　Gotoutofthearmytodoit——too。He'sasharpfellow。”
　　"ThenyouDOallowamantotrymanytrades——overthere，"saidMissMacy，demurely。
　　"Yes，sometimes，"saidMainwaring，graciously，butbynomeanscertainthatthecasewasatallanalogous。
　　Nevertheless，asifrelievedofcertaindoubtsoftheconventionalqualityofhishost'sattainments，henowgavehimselfuptoaveryheartyandhonestadmirationofBradley。"Youknowit'sawfullykindofhimtotalktoafellowlikemewhojustpulledthrough，andnevergotanyprizesatOxford，anddon'tunderstandthehalfofthesethings，"heremarkedconfidentiallytoMrs。Bradley。"HeknowsmoreaboutthethingsweusedtogoinforatOxfordthanlotsofourmen，andhe'sneverbeenthere。He'suncommonlyclever。”
　　"Jimwasalwaysverybrilliant，"returnedMrs。Bradley，indifferently，andwithmorethanevenconventionallypolitewifelydeprecation；"Iwishheweremorepractical。”
　　"Practical!Oh，Isay，Mrs。Bradley!Why，afellowthatcangoinamongalotofworkmenandtellthemjustwhattodo——anall-roundchapthatcanbeindependentofhisvalet，hisdoctor，andhis——
　　banker!ByJove——THAT'Spractical!"
　　"Imean，"saidMrs。Bradley，coldly，"thattherearesomethingsthatagentlemanoughtnottobepracticalaboutnorindependentof。Mr。Bradleywouldhavedonebettertohaveusedhistalentsinsomemorelegitimateandestablishedway。”
　　Mainwaringlookedatheringenuinesurprise。TohisinexperiencedobservationBradley'sintelligentenergyand，aboveall，hisoriginality，oughttohavebeenpricelessintheeyesofhiswife——
　　theAmericanfemaleofhisspecies。Hefeltthatslightshockwhichmostloyalorlogicalmenfeelwhenfirstbroughtfacetofacewiththeeasydisloyaltyandincomprehensiblelogicofthefeminineaffections。Herewasafellow，byJove，thatanywomanoughttobeproudof，and——and——hestoppedblankly。HewonderedifMissMacysympathizedwithhercousin。
　　Howbeit，thisdidnotaffectthecharmoftheiridylliclifeatTheLookout。Theprecipiceoverwhichtheyhungwasascharmingaseverinitspoeticillusionsofspaceanddepthandcolor；theisolationoftheircomfortableexistenceinthetastefulyetaudacioushabitation，thepleasantroutineofdailytasksandamusements，alltendedtomaketheenforcedquietandinactionofhisconvalescencealazyrecreation。Hewasreallyimproving；morethanthat，hewasconsciousofacertainsatisfactioninthispassiveobservationofnoveltythatwashealthierandperhapsTRUER
　　thanhispreviouspassionforadventureandthatfebriledesireforchangeandexcitementwhichhenowfeltwasapartofhisdisease。
　　Norwereincidentandvarietyentirelyabsentfromthistranquilexperience。HewasonedayastonishedatbeingpresentedbyBradleywithcopiesofthelatestEnglishnewspapers，procuredfromSacramento，andheequallyastonishedhishost，afterprofuselythankinghim，byonlylistlesslyglancingattheircolumns。Heestoppedaproposedvisitfromoneofhisinfluentialcountrymen；
　　intheabsenceofhisfairentertainersattheirdomesticduties，heextractedinfinitesatisfactionfromFoo-Yup，theChineseservant，whowasparticularlydetachedforhisservice。Fromhisinvalidcoignofvantageatthewindowhewasobservantofallthatpassedupontheveranda，thatal-frescoaudience-roomofTheLookout，andhewasgood-humoredlyconsciousthatagreatmanyeccentricandpeculiarvisitorswereinvariablydraggedthitherbyMissMacy，andgoadedintocharacteristicexhibitionwithinsightandhearingofherguest，withatooevidentview，undertheostentatiousexcuseofextendinghisknowledgeofnationalcharacterormischievouslyshockinghim。
　　"WhenyouarestrongenoughtostandCaptainGashweiler'sopinionsoftheEstablishedChurchandChinamen，"saidMissMacy，afteroneoftheserevelations，"I'llgetJimtobringhimhere，forreallyheswearssooutrageouslythateveninthebroadestinterestsofinternationalunderstandingandgood-willneitherMrs。Bradleynormyselfcouldbepresent。”
　　Onanotheroccasionsheprovokinglylingeredbeforehiswindowforamomentwitharifleslungjauntilyoverhershoulder。"Ifyouhearashotortwodon'texciteyourself，andbelievewe'rehavingalynchingcaseinthewoods。Itwillbeonlyme。There'ssomecreature——confess，youexpectedmetosay'critter'——hangingroundthebarn。Itmaybeabear。Good-by。”Shemissedthecreature，——
　　whichhappenedtobereallyabear，——muchtoMainwaring'sillogicalsatisfaction。"Iwonderwhy，"hereflected，withvagueuneasiness，"shedoesn'tleaveallthatsortofthingtogirlslikethattow-
　　headedgirlattheblacksmith's。”
　　Itchanced，however，thatthisblacksmith'stow-headeddaughter，who，itmaybeincidentallyremarked，hadtheadditionaleccentricitiesoflargeblackeyesandlargewhiteteeth，cametotheforeinquiteanotherfashion。Shortlyafterthis，Mainwaringbeingabletoleavehisroomandjointhefamilyboard，Mrs。
　　Bradleyfounditnecessarytoenlargeherdomesticservice，andarrangedwithhernearestneighbor，theblacksmith，toallowhisdaughtertocometoTheLookoutforafewdaysto"dothechores"
　　andassistinthehousekeeping，asshehadonpreviousoccasions。
　　ThedayofheradventBradleyenteredMainwaring'sroom，and，closingthedoormysteriously，fixedhisblueeyes，kindlingwithmischief，ontheyoungEnglishman。
　　"Youareaware，mydearboy，"hebeganwithaffectedgravity，"thatyouarenowlivinginalandofliberty，wheremereartificialdistinctionsarenotknown，andwhereFreedomfromhermountainheightsgenerallylevelsallsocialpositions。Ithinkyouhavegraciouslyadmittedthatfact。”
　　"IknowI'vebeentakingatremendouslotoffreedomwithyouandyours，oldman，andit'sadeucedshame，"interruptedMainwaring，withafaintsmile。
　　"Andthatnowhere，"continuedBradley，withimmovablefeatures，"doesequalityexistasperfectlyasaboveyonderunfathomableabyss，whereyouhavealso，doubtless，observedtheAmericaneagleproudlysoarsandscreamsdefiance。”
　　"Thenthatwasthefellowthatkeptmeawakethismorning，andmademewonderifIwasstrongenoughtoholdagunagain。”
　　"Thatwouldn'thavesettledthematter，"continuedBradley，imperturbably。"Thecaseissimplythis:MissMintySharpe，thatblacksmith'sdaughter，hasonceortwiceconsented，foraslightemolument，toassistinourdomesticserviceforadayortwo，andshecomesbackagainto-day。Now，undertheaegisofthatnoblebirdwhomyournationalinstinctstemptyoutodestroy，shehasonallpreviousoccasionstakenhermealswithus，atthesametable，ontermsofperfectequality。Shewillnaturallyexpecttodothesamenow。Mrs。Bradleythoughtitproper，therefore，towarnyou，that，incaseyourhealthwasnotquiteequaltothisdemocraticsimplicity，youcouldstilldineinyourroom。”
　　"Itwouldbegreatfun——ifMissSharpewon'tobjecttomypresence。”
　　"Butitmustnotbe'greatfun，'"returnedBradley，moreseriously；
　　"forMissMinty'sperceptionofhumorisprobablyaskeenasyours，andshewouldbequicktonoticeit。And，sofarfromhavinganyobjectiontoyou，Iaminclinedtothinkthatweoweherconsenttocometoherdesireofmakingyouracquaintance。”
　　"Shewillfindmyconductmostexemplary，"saidMainwaring，earnestly。
　　"Letushopeso，"concludedBradley，withunabatedgravity。"And，nowthatyouhaveconsented，letmeaddfrommyownexperiencethatMissMinty'slemon-piesaloneareworthyofanyconcession。
　　Thedinner-hourcame。Mainwaring，alittlepaleandinteresting，leaningonthearmofBradley，crossedthehall，andforthefirsttimeenteredthedining-roomofthehousewherehehadlodgedforthreeweeks。Itwasabright，cheerfulapartment，givinguponthelaurelsoftherockyhillside，andpermeated，liketherestofthehouse，withthewholesomespiceofthevalley——anodorthat，initspuredesiccatingproperty，seemedtoobliterateallflavorofalienhumanhabitation，andeventodominateandetherealizetheappetizingsmelloftheviandsbeforethem。Thebare，shining，planed，boardedwallsappearedtoresentanydecorationthatmighthavesavoredofdust，decay，ormoisture。Thefourlargewindowsandlong，opendoor，setinscantystripsoftheplainestspotlessmuslin，framedinthemselvespicturesofwoodsandrockandskyoflimitlessdepth，color，anddistance，thatmadeallotheradornmentimpertinent。Nature，invadingtheroomateveryopening，hadbanishedArtfromthoseneutralwalls。
　　"It'slikeapicnic，withcomfort，"saidMainwaring，glancingroundhimwithboyishappreciation。MissMintywasnotyetthere；theChinamanwasaloneinattendance。Mainwaringcouldnothelpwhispering，halfmischievously，toLouise，"YoudrawthelineatChinamen，Isuppose？"