WhenthestageforSanFranciscorolledawaythenextmorningwithMr。Hamlinandtheeditor，thelattermighthaverecognizedintheoccupantofadust-coveredbuggythatwascomingleisurelytowardsthemthetallfigure，longbeard，andstraightdusterofhislatevisitor，Mr。JamesBowers。ForMr。Bowerswasonthesamequestthattheothershadjustabandoned。LikeMr。Hamlin，hehadbeenlefttohisownresources，butMr。Bowers'sresourceswerealife-
　　longexperienceandtechnicalskill；hetoohadnotedthetopographicalindicationsofthepoem，andhisknowledgeofthesylvaofUpperCaliforniapointedasunerringlyasMr。Hamlin'slucktothecryptogamoushauntsoftheSummit。Suchabnormalgrowthswereindicativeofcertainlocalitiesonly，but，astheywerenotremunerativefromapecuniarypointofview，weretobeavoidedbythesagaciouswoodman。Itwasclear，therefore，thatMr。Bowers'svisittoGreenSpringswasnotprofessional，andthathedidnotevenfigurativelyaccepttheomen。
　　Hebaitedandrestedhishorseatthehotel，wherehisbucolicexterior，however，didnotelicitthatattentionwhichhadbeenaccordedtoMr。Hamlin'scharminginsolenceortheeditor'scultivatedmanner。Butheglancedoveratownshipmaponthewallsofthereading-room，andtooknoteofthenamesoftheownersofdifferentlots，farms，andranches，passingthatofDelatourwiththeothers。Thenhedroveleisurelyinthedirectionofthewoods，and，reachingthem，tiedhishorsetoayoungsaplingintheshade，andenteredtheirdomainwithashamblingbutfamiliarwoodman'sstep。
　　ItisnotthepurposeofthisbriefchronicletofollowMr。Bowersinhisprofessionaldiagnosisofthelocality。HerecognizedNatureinoneofhermoodsofwastefulextravagance，——awastethathisexperiencedeyecouldtellwasalsosappingthevitalityofthoseoutwardlyrobustshaftsthatrosearoundhim。Heknew，withouttestingthem，thathalfofthesefair-seemingcolumnswerehollowandrottenatthecore；hecoulddetectthechillodorofdecaythroughthehotbalsamicspicesstirredbythewindthatstreamedthroughtheirlongaisles，——likeincenseminglingwiththeexhalationsofacrypt。Hestoppednowandthentoparttheheavyfrondsdowntotheirrootsinthedankmoss，seeingagain，ashehadtoldtheeditor，theweirdSECONDtwilightthroughtheirminiaturestems，andthemicrocosmoflifethatfilledit。But，evenwhilepayingthistributetotheaccuracyoftheunknownpoetess，hewas，likehispredecessor，hauntedmorestronglybytheatmosphereandmelodyofherverse。Itsspellwasuponhim，too。
　　UnlikeMr。Hamlin，hedidnotsing。Heonlyhaltedonceortwice，silentlycombinghisstraightnarrowbeardwithhisthreefingers，untiltheactionseemedtodrawdownthelinesofhisfaceintolimitlessdejection，andaninscrutablemelancholyfilledhissmallgrayeyes。ThefewbirdswhichhadhailedMr。Hamlinastheirsuccessfulrivalfledawaybeforethegrotesqueandangularhalf-
　　lengthofMr。Bowers，asifthewindhadblowninascarecrowfromthedistantfarms。
　　Suddenlyheobservedthefigureofawoman，withherbacktowardshim，leaningmotionlessagainstatree，andapparentlygazingintentlyinthedirectionofGreenSprings。Hehadapproachedsoneartoherthatitwassingularshehadnotheardhim。Mr。Bowerswasabashfulmaninthepresenceoftheothersex。Hefeltexceedinglyembarrassed；ifhecouldhavegoneawaywithoutattractingherattentionhewouldhavedoneso。Neithercouldheremainsilent，atacitspyofhermeditation。Hehadrecoursetoapolitebutsingularlyartificialcough。
　　Tohissurprise，shegaveafaintcry，turnedquicklytowardshim，andthenshrankbackandlapsedquitehelplessagainstthetree。
　　Herevidentdistressovercamehisbashfulness。Herantowardsher。
　　"I'msorryIfrightedye，ma'am，butIwasafraidImightskeeryemoreifIlaylow，andsaidnothin'。"
　　Eventhen，ifshehadbeensomefairyoungcountrygirl，hewouldhaverelapsedafterthisspeechintohisformerbashfulness。Butthefaceandfiguresheturnedtowardshimwereneitheryoungnorfair:awomanpastforty，withgraythreadsandsplashesinherbrushed-backhair，whichwasturnedoverherearsintwocurlslikefrayedstrandsofrope。Herforeheadwasratherhighthanbroad，hernoselargebutwell-shaped，andhereyesfullbutsosingularlylightincolorastoseemalmostsightless。Theshortupperlipofherlargemouthdisplayedherteethinanhabitualsmile，whichwasinturnsoflatlycontradictedbyeveryotherlineofhercarewornfacethatitseemedgratuitouslyartificial。Herfigurewashiddenbyashapelessgarmentthatpartookequallyoftheshawl，cloak，andwrapper。
　　"Iamveryfoolish，"shebegan，inavoiceandaccentthatatonceassertedacultivatedwoman，"butIsoseldommeetanybodyherethatavoicequitestartledme。That，andtheheat，"shewenton，wipingherface，intowhichthecolorwasreturningviolently——"forIseldomgooutasearlyasthis——Isupposeaffectedme。"
　　Mr。BowershadthatinnateFar-WesternreverenceforwomanhoodwhichIfancychallengesthemostpolishedpoliteness。Heremainedpatient，undemonstrative，self-effacing，andrespectfulbeforeher，hisangulararmslightlybutnotobtrusivelyadvanced，theofferofprotectionbeingintheactratherthaninanyspokenword，andrequiringnoresponse。
　　"Likeasnot，ma'am，"hesaid，cheerfullylookingeverywherebutinherburningface。"ThesunISpow'fulhotatthistimeo'day；I
　　feltitmyselfcomin'yer，and，thoughthedampofthistimberkindersetsitback，it'slikelytocomeoutag'in。Yecan'tcheckitnomorethanthesapinthatchokedlimbthar"——hepointedostentatiouslywhereafallenpinehadbeencaughtinthebentandtwistedarmofanother，butwhichstillputoutafewgreentasselsbeyondthepointofimpact。"Doyoulivefarfromhere，ma'am?"headded。
　　"Onlyasfarasthefirstturningbelowthehill。"
　　"I'vegotmybuggyhere，andI'mgoin'thatway，andIcanjistsetyedowntharcoolandcomfortable。Ef，"hecontinued，inthesameassuringtone，withoutwaitingforareply，"ye'lljisttakeagoodgripofmyarmthar，"curvinghiswristandhandbehindhimlikeashepherd'scrook，"I'llgofirst，andbreakawaythebrushforye。"
　　Sheobeyedmechanically，andtheyfaredonthroughthethickfernsinthisfashionforsomemoments，helookingahead，occasionallydroppingawordofcautionorencouragement，butneverglancingatherface。Whentheyreachedthebuggyheliftedherintoitcarefully，——andperpendicularly，itstruckherafterwards，verymuchasifshehadbeenatransplantedsaplingwithbaredandsensitiveroots，——andthengravelytookhisplacebesideher。
　　"Bein'inthetimbertrademyself，ma'am，"hesaid，gatheringupthereins，"Ichancedtosightthesewoods，andtookalookaround。
　　MynameisBowers，ofMendocino；Ireckonthereain'tmuchthatgrowsinthewayo'standin'timberonthePacificSlopethatI
　　don'tknowandcan'tlocate，thoughIDOsayit。I'vegotezbigamill，andezbigaruninmydistrict，ezthereisanywhere。Efyou'reeverupmyway，youaskforBowers——JimBowers——andthat'sME。"
　　Thereisprobablynothingmoreconducivetoconversationbetweenstrangersthanawholesomeandearlyrecognitionofeachother'sfoibles。Mr。Bowers，believinghischanceacquaintanceasuperiorwoman，naivelyspokeofhimselfinawaythathehopedwouldreassureherthatshewasnotcompromisingherselfinacceptinghiscivility，andsosatisfywhatmustbeherinevitablepride。Ontheotherhand，thewomanregainedherself-possessionbythisexhibitionofMr。Bowers'svanity，and，revivedbytherefreshingbreezecausedbytherapidmotionofthebuggyalongtheroad，thankedhimgraciously。
　　"IsupposetherearemanystrangersattheGreenSpringsHotel，"
　　shesaid，afterapause。
　　"Ididn'tgettosee'em，asIonlyputupmyhossthere，"hereplied。"ButIknowthestagetooksomeawaythismornin':itseemedprettywellloadedupwhenIpassedit。"
　　Thewomandrewadeepsigh。TheactstruckMr。Bowersasapossiblereturnofherformernervousweakness。Herattentionmustatoncebedistractedatanycost——evenconversation。
　　"Perhaps，"hebegan，withsuddenandappallinglightness，"I'ma-talkin'toMrs。McFadden?"
　　"No，"saidthewoman，abstractedly。
　　"ThenitmustbeMrs。Delatour?Thereareonlytwotownshiplotsonthatcrossroad。"
　　"MynameISDelatour，"shesaid，somewhatwearily。
　　Mr。Bowerswasconversationallystranded。Hewasnotatallanxioustoknowhername，yet，knowingitnow，itseemedtosuggestthattherewasnothingmoretosay。Hewould，ofcourse，havepreferredtoaskherifshehadreadthepoetryabouttheUnderbrush，andifsheknewthepoetess，andwhatshethoughtofit；butthefactthatsheappearedtobean"eddicated"womanmadehimsensitiveofdisplayingtechnicalignoranceinhismanneroftalkingaboutit。Shemightaskhimifitwas"subjectiveor"objective"——twowordshehadheardusedattheDebatingSocietyatMendocinoonthequestion，"Ispoetrymorallybeneficial?"Forafewmomentshewassilent。Butpresentlyshetooktheinitiativeinconversation，atfirstslowlyandabstractedly，andthen，asifappreciatinghissympatheticreticence，ormayhapfindingsomereliefinmonotonousexpression，talkedmechanically，deliberately，butunostentatiouslyaboutherself。Socolorlesswasherintonationthatattimesitdidnotseemasifshewastalkingtohim，butrepeatingsomeconversationshehadheldwithanother。
　　ShehadlivedthereeversinceshehadbeeninCalifornia。HerhusbandhadboughttheSpanishtitletothepropertywhentheyfirstmarried。Thepropertyathisdeathwasfoundtobegreatlyinvolved；shehadbeenobligedtopartwithmuchofittosupportherchildren——fourgirlsandaboy。ShehadbeencompelledtowithdrawthegirlsfromtheconventatSantaClaratohelpaboutthehouse；theboywastooyoung——shefeared，tooshiftless——todoanything。Thefarmdidnotpay；thelandwaspoor；sheknewnothingaboutfarming；shehadbeenbroughtupinNewOrleans，whereherfatherhadbeenajudge，andshedidn'tunderstandcountrylife。Ofcourseshehadbeenmarriedtooyoung——asallgirlswere。LatelyshehadthoughtofsellingoffandmovingtoSanFrancisco，whereshewouldopenaboarding-houseoraschoolforyoungladies。Hecouldadviseher，perhaps，ofsomegoodopportunity。Herowngirlswerefarenoughadvancedtoassistherinteaching；oneparticularly，Cynthia，wasquiteclever，andspokeFrenchandSpanishfluently。
　　AsMr。BowerswasfamiliarwithmanyofthesecountsinthefeminineAmericanindictmentoflifegenerally，hewasnotperhapsgreatlymoved。Butinthelastsentencehethoughthesawanopeningtoreturntohismainobject，and，lookingupcautiously，said:——
　　"Andmebbewritepo'trynowandthen?"Tohisgreatdiscomfiture，theonlyeffectofthissuggestionwastocheckhiscompanion'sspeechforsomemomentsandapparentlythrowherbackintoherformerabstraction。Yet，afteralongpause，astheywereturningintothelane，shesaid，asifcontinuingthesubject:——
　　"Ionlyhopethat，whatevermydaughtersmaydo，theywon'tmarryyoung。"
　　TheyawningbreachesintheDelatourgatesandfencespresentlycameinview。Theyweresupposedtobereinforcedbyhalfadozendogs，who，however，didtheirdutywithwhatwouldseemtobetheprevailinginefficiency，retiringafterasingleperfunctoryyelptoshamelessstretching，scratching，andslumber。Theirplacesweretakenontheverandabytwonegroservants，twogirlsrespectivelyofeightandeleven，andaboyoffourteen，whoremainedsilentlystaring。AsMr。Bowershadacceptedthewidow'spoliteinvitationtoenter，shewascompelled，albeitinanequallydazedandhelplessway，toissuesomepreliminaryorders:——
　　"Now，Chloe——ImeanauntDinah——dotakeEunice——ImeanVictorineandUna——away，and——youknow——tidythem；andyou，Sarah——it'sSarah，isn'tit?——laysomerefreshmentintheparlorforthisgentleman。And，Bob，tellyoursisterCynthiatocomeherewithEunice。"AsBobstillremainedstaringatMr。Bowers，sheadded，inwearyexplanation，"Mr。BowersbroughtmeoverfromtheSummitwoodsinhisbuggy——itwassohot。There——shakehandsandthankhim，andrunaway——do!"
　　Theycrossedabroadbutscantily-furnishedhall。Everywherethesamelookofhopelessincompleteness，temporaryutility，andprematuredecay；mostofthefurniturewasmismatchedandmisplaced；manyoftheroomshadchangedtheiroriginalfunctionsordoubledthem；asmellofcookingcamefromthelibrary，onwhoseshelves，mingledwithbooks，weredressesandhouseholdlinen，andthroughthedoorofaroomintowhichMrs。DelatourretiredtoremoveherdusterMr。Bowerscaughtaglimpseofabed，andofatablecoveredwithbooksandpapers，atwhichatall，fairgirlwaswriting。InafewmomentsMrs。Delatourreturned，accompaniedbythisgirl，andEunice，hershort-lippedsister。Bob，whojoinedthepartyseatedaroundMr。Bowersandatablesetwithcake，adecanter，andglasses，completedthegroup。EmboldenedbythepresenceofthetallCynthiaandhisglimpseofherpreviousliteraryattitude，Mr。Bowersresolvedtomakeonemoreattempt。
　　"Isupposetheseyeryoungladiessometimesgotothewood，too?"
　　AshiseyerestedonCynthia，shereplied:——
　　"Oh，yes。"
　　"Ireckononaccountofthepurtyshadowsdowninthebrush，andthesoftlight，eh?andallthat?"hecontinued，withaplayfulmannerbutaseriousaccessionofcolor。
　　"Why，thewoodsbelongtous。It'smar'sproperty!"brokeinEunicewithaflashofteeth。
　　"Well，Lordy，Iwanterknow!"saidMr。Bowers，insomeastonishment。
　　"Why，that'srightinmyline，too!I'vebeensightin'timberallalonghere，andthat'showIdroppedinonyermar。"Then，seeingalookofeagernesslightupthefacesofBobandEunice，hewasencouragedtomakethemostofhisopportunity。"Why，ma'am，"hewenton，cheerfully，"Ireckonyou'reholdin'thatwoodataprettystifffigger，now。"
　　"Why?"askedMrs。Delatour，simply。
　　Mr。BowersdeliveredawinkatBobandEunice，whowerestillwatchinghimwithanxiety。"Well，notonaccountoftheactooltimber，forthebestofitain'tsound，"hesaid，"butonaccountofitsbein'famous!Everybodythatreadsthatpow'fulprettypoemaboutitinthe'ExcelsiorMagazine'wantstoseeit。Why，itwouldpaytheGreenSpringshotel-keepertobuyitupforhiscustomers。ButIs'poseyoureckontokeepit——alongwiththepoetess——inyourfamerly?"
　　AlthoughMr。Bowerslongconsideredthisspeechasthehappiestandmostbrillianteffortofhislife，itsimmediateeffectwasnot，perhaps，allthatcouldbedesired。Thewidowturneduponhimarestrainedanddarkeningface。Cynthiahalfrosewithanappealing"Oh，mar!"andBobandEunice，havingapparentlypinchedeachothertothelaststageofendurance，retiredprecipitatelyfromtheroominaprolongedgiggle。
　　"IhavenotyetthoughtofdisposingoftheSummitwoods，Mr。
　　Bowers，"saidMrs。Delatour，coldly，"butifIshoulddoso，Iwillconsultyou。Youmustexcusethechildren，whoseesolittlecompany，theyarequiteunmanageablewhenstrangersarepresent。
　　Cynthia，WILLyouseeiftheservantshavelookedafterMr。
　　Bowers'shorse?YouknowBobisnottobetrusted。"
　　TherewasclearlynothingelseforMr。Bowerstodobuttotakehisleave，whichhedidrespectfully，ifnotaltogetherhopefully。Butwhenhehadreachedthelane，hishorseshiedfromtheunwontedspectacleofBob，swinginghishat，andapparentlyawaitinghim，fromtheforkofawaysidesapling。
　　"Hol'up，mister。Lookhere!"
　　Mr。Bowerspulledup。Bobdroppedintotheroad，and，afterabackwardglanceoverhisshoulder，said:——
　　"Drive'longsidethefenceintheshadder。"AsMr。Bowersobeyed，Bobapproachedthewheelsofthebuggyinamannerhalfshy，halfmysterious。"YouwanterbuythemSummitwoods，mister?"
　　"Well，per'aps，sonny。Why?"smiledMr。Bowers。
　　"CozI'lltellyesuthin'。Don'tyoubefooledintoallowin'thatCynthiawrotethatpo'try。Shedidn't——nomore'nEunicenorme。
　　Markinderletyethinkit，'cosshedon'twantfolkstothinkSHE
　　didit。Butmarwrotethatpo'tryherself；wroteitouto'themtharwoods——allbyherself。Thar'saheapmorepo'trythar，youbet，andjistasgood。Andshe'stheonethatkinwriteit——youhearme?That'smymar，everytime!Youbuythattharwood，andgetmartorunitforpo'try，andyou'llmakeyourpile，sure!I
　　ain'tlyin'。You'dbetterlookspry:thar'sanotherfellersnoopin''roundyere——onlyhebarkedupthewrongtree，andthoughtitwasCynthia，jistasyoudid。"
　　"Anotherfeller?"repeatedtheastonishedBowers。
　　"Yes；arig'larsport。Hewasorfulkeenonthatpo'try，too，youbet。Soyou'dbetterhumpyourselfaforesomebodyelsecutsin。
　　Margotahundreddollarsforthatpome，fromthateditorfellerandhispardner。Ireckonthat'stherig'larprice，eh?"headded，withasuddensuspiciouscaution。
　　"Ireckonso，"repliedMr。Bowers，blankly。"But——lookhere，Bob!
　　Doyoumeantosayitwasyourmother——yourMOTHER，Bob，whowrotethatpoem?Areyousure?"
　　"D'yethinkI'mlyin'?"saidBob，scornfully。"Don'tIknow?
　　Don'tIcopy'emoutplainforher，soasfolkswon'tknowherhandwrite?Go'way!you'reloony!"Then，possiblydoubtingifthislatterexpressionwerestrictlydiplomaticwiththebusinessinhand，headded，inhalf-reproach，half-apology，"Don'tyeseeI
　　don'twantyetobefooledintolosin'yerchanceo'buyingupthatSummitwood?It'sthecoldtruthI'mtellin'ye。"
　　Mr。Bowersnolongerdoubtedit。Disappointedasheundoubtedlywasatfirst，——andevenself-deceived，——herecognizedinaflashthegrimfactthattheboyhadstated。Herecalledtheapparitionofthesad-facedwomaninthewood——herdistressedmanner，thattohisinexperiencedmindnowtookuponitselftheagitatedtremblingofdisturbedmysticinspiration。Asenseofsadnessandremorsesucceededhisfirstshockofdisappointment。
　　"Well，areyegoingtobuythewoods?"saidBob，eyinghimgrimly。
　　"Ye'dbettersay。"
　　Mr。Bowersstarted。"Ishouldn'twonder，Bob，"hesaid，withasmile，gatheringuphisreins。"Anyhow，I'mcomin'backtoseeyourmotherthisafternoon。Andmeantime，Bob，youkeepthefirstchanceforme。"
　　Hedroveaway，leavingtheyouthfuldiplomatiststandingwithhisbarefeetinthedust。Foraminuteortwotheyounggentlemanamusedhimselfbyafewlightsaltatorystepsintheroad。Thenasmileofscornfulsuperiority，mingledperhapswithasenseofpreviousslightsandunappreciation，drewbackhislittleupperlip，andbrightenedhismottledcheek。
　　"I'dliketerknow，"hesaid，darkly，"whatthisyerGod-forsakenfamerlywoulddowithoutME!"
　　CHAPTERV
　　ItistobepresumedthattheeditorandMr。Hamlinmutuallykepttotheirtacitagreementtorespecttheimpersonalityofthepoetess，forduringthenextthreemonthsthesubjectwasseldomalludedtobyeither。YetinthatperiodWhiteViolethadsenttwoothercontributions，andoneachoccasionMr。Hamlinhadinsisteduponincreasingthehonorariumtotheamountofhisformergift。
　　Invaintheeditorpointedoutthedangerofthisformofmunificence；Mr。Hamlinretortedbysayingthatifherefusedhewouldappealtotheproprietor，whocertainlywouldnotobjecttotakingthecreditofthisliberality。"Astotherisks，"concludedJack，sententiously，"I'lltakethem；andasfarasyou'reconcerned，youcertainlygettheworthofyourmoney。"
　　Indeed，ifpopularitywasanindiction，thishadbecomesuddenlytrue。Forthepoetess'sthirdcontribution，withoutchangingitsstronglocalcolorandindividuality，hadbeenanunexpectedoutburstofhumanpassion——alove-song，thattouchedthosetowhomthesubtlermeditativegracesofthepoetesshadbeenunknown。
　　Manypeoplehadlistenedtothisimpassionedbutdespairingcryfromsomeremoteandcharmedsolitude，whohadneverreadpoetrybefore，whotranslateditintotheirownlimitedvocabularyandmorelimitedexperience，andwereinexpressiblyaffectedtofindthatthey，too，understoodit；itwascaughtupandechoedbythefeverish，adventurous，andunsatisfiedlifethatfilledthatdayandtime。Eventheeditorwassurprisedandfrightened。Likemostcultivatedmen，hedistrustedpopularity:likeallmenwhobelieveintheirownindividualjudgment，hedoubtedcollectivewisdom。
　　Yetnowthathisprotegeehadbeenacceptedbyothers，hequestionedthatjudgmentandbecamehercritic。Itstruckhimthathersuddenoutburstwasstrained；itseemedtohimthatinthismerecontortionofpassionthesibyl'srobehadbecomerudelydisarranged。HespoketoHamlin，andevenapproachedthetabooedsubject。
　　"Didyouseeanythingthatsuggestedthissortofbusinessin——in——
　　thatwoman——Imeanin——yourpilgrimage，Jack?"
　　"No，"respondedJack，gravely。"Butit'seasytoseeshe'sgotholdofsomehay-footedfellowupthereinthemountainswithstrawsinhishair，andisplayinghimforallhe'sworth。Youwon'tgetmuchmorepoetryoutofher，Ireckon。"
　　Iswasnotlongafterthisconversationthatoneafternoon，whentheeditorwasalone，Mr。JamesBowersenteredtheeditorialroomwithmuchofthehesitationandirresolutionofhispreviousvisit。
　　Astheeditorhadnotonlyforgottenhim，buteven，dissociatedhimwiththepoetess，Mr。Bowerswasfaintomeethisunresponsiveeyeandmannerwithsomeexplanation。
　　"Yedisremembermycomin'here，Mr。Editor，toaskyouthenameo'
　　theladywhocalledherself'WhiteViolet，'andhowyouallowedyoucouldn'tgiveit，butwouldwriteandaskforit?"
　　Mr。Editor，leaningbackinhischair，nowrememberedtheoccurrence，butwasdistressedtoaddthatthesituationremainedunchanged，andthathehadreceivednosuchpermission。
　　"NevermindTHAT，mylad，"saidMr。Bowers，gravely，wavinghishand。"Iunderstandallthat；but，ezI'veknowntheladyeversince，andamnowvisitingheratherhouseontheSummit，Ireckonitdon'tmakemuchmatter。"
　　ItwasquitecharacteristicofMr。Bowers'ssmilelessearnestnessthathemadenoostentationofthisdramaticretort，noroftheundisguisedstupefactionoftheeditor。
　　"DoyoumeantosaythatyouhavemetWhiteViolet，theauthorofthesepoems?"repeatedtheeditor。
　　"WhichhernameisDelatour，——thewidderDelatour，——ezshehasherselfgivemepermissiontotellyou，"continuedMr。Bowers，withacertainabstractedandautomaticprecisionthatdissipatedanysuggestionofmaliceinthereversedsituation。
　　"Delatour!——awidow!"repeatedtheeditor。
　　"Withfivechildren，"continuedMr。Bowers。Then，withunalterablegravity，hebrieflygaveanoutlineofherconditionandthecircumstancesofhisacquaintancewithher。
　　"ButIreckonedYOUmighthaveknownsuthin'o'this；thoughsheneverletonyoudid，"heconcluded，eyingtheeditorwithtroubledcuriosity。
　　TheeditordidnotthinkitnecessarytoimplicateMr。Hamlin。Hesaid，briefly，"I?Oh，no!"
　　"Ofcourse，YOUmightnothaveseenher?"saidMr。Bowers，keepingthesamegrave，troubledgazeontheeditor。
　　"Ofcoursenot，"saidtheeditor，somewhatimpatientunderthesingularscrutinyofMr。Bowers；"andI'mveryanxioustoknowhowshelooks。Tellme，whatisshelike?"
　　"Sheisafine，pow'ful，eddicatedwoman，"saidMr。Bowers，withslowdeliberation。"Yes，sir，——apow'fulwoman，havin'grandideasofherown，andholdin'to'em。"Hehadwithdrawnhiseyesfromtheeditor，andapparentlyaddressedtheceilinginconfidence。
　　"Butwhatdoesshelooklike，Mr。Bowers?"saidtheeditor，smiling。
　　"Well，sir，shelooks——LIKE——IT!Yes，"——withdeliberatecaution，——
　　"Ishouldsay，justlikeit。"
　　Afterapause，apparentlytoallowtheeditortomaterializethisravishingdescription，hesaid，gently，"Areyoubusyjustnow?"
　　"Notvery。WhatcanIdoforyou?"
　　"Well，notmuchforME，Ireckon，"hereturned，withadeeperrespiration，thatwashisnearestapproachtoasigh，"butsuthin'
　　perhapsforyourselfand——another。Areyoumarried?"
　　"No，"saidtheeditor，promptly。
　　"Norengagedtoany——younglady?"——withgreatpoliteness。
　　"No。"
　　"Well，mebbeyouthinkitaqueerthingformetosay，——mebbeyoureckonyouKNOWitezwellezanybody，——butit'smyopinionthatWhiteVioletisinlovewithyou。"
　　"Withme?"ejaculatedtheeditor，inahopelessastonishmentthatatlastgavewaytoanincredulousandirresistiblelaugh。
　　AslighttouchofpainpassedoverMr。Bowers'sdejectedface，butleftthedeepoutlinessetwitharudedignity。"It'sSO，"hesaid，slowly，"though，asayoungmanandagayfeller，yemaythinkit'sfunny。"
　　"No，notfunny，butaterribleblunder，Mr。Bowers，forIgiveyoumywordIknownothingoftheladyandhaveneverseteyesuponher。"
　　"No，butshehasonYOU。Ican'tsay，"continuedMr。Bowers，withsublimenaivete，"thatI'deverrecognizeyoufromherdescription，butawomano'thatkinddon'tseewithhereyeslikeyouandme，butwithallhersensestoonct，andaheapmorethatain'tsensesasweknow'em。ThesameeyesthatseeddownthroughthebrushandfernsintheSummitwoods，thesameearsthatheerdthemusicofthewindtrailin'throughthepines，don'tseeyouwithmyeyesorhearyouwithmyears。Andwhenshepaintsyou，it'snat'rilforawomanwiththatpow'fulmindandgrandideestodipherbrushintoherheart'sbloodforwarmthandcolor。Yersmilin'，youngman。
　　Well，goonandsmileatme，mylad，butnotather。Foryoudon'tknowher。WhenyouknowherstoryasIdo，whenyouknowshewasmadeawifeaforesheeverknewwhatitwastobeayoungwoman，whenyouknowthatthemanshemarriedneverunderstoodthekindo'
　　critterhewastiedtonomorethanefhe'dbeenasteeryokedtoaMorgancolt，whenyeknowshehadchildrengrowin'uparoundheraforeshehadgivenoverbein'asortofchildherself，whenyeknowsheworkedandslavedforthatmanandthosechildrenaboutthehouse——herheart，hersoul，andallherpow'fulmindbein'allthetimeinthewoodsalongwiththeflickeringleavesandtheshadders，——whenyemindshecouldn'tgetthesmallwayso'theranchbecauseshehadthebigwayso'Natur'thatmadeit，——thenyou'llunderstandher。"
　　Impressedbythesincerityofhisvisitor'smanner，touchedbytheunexpectedpoetryofhisappeal，andyetkeenlyalivetotheabsurdityofanincomprehensibleblundersomewherecommitted，theeditorgaspedalmosthysterically，——
　　"ButwhyshouldallthismakeherinlovewithME?"
　　"Becauseyearebothgifted，"returnedMr。Bowers，withsadbutunconquerableconviction；"becauseye'reboth，sotospeak，inalineo'ideesandbusinessthatdrawsyetogether，——toleanoneachotherandtrusteachotherezpardners。NotthatYEareezaklyherekal，"hewenton，withareturntohispreviousexasperatingnaivete，"thoughI'veheerdpromisin'thingsofye，andye'restillyoung，butinmatterso'thiskindthereisallersoneezheztobelookeduptobytheother，——andgin'rallythewrongone。Shelooksuptoyou，Mr。Editor，——it'spartofherpo'try，——ezshelooksdowninterthebrushandseesmorethanisplaintoyouandme。Not，"
　　hecontinued，withacourteouslydeprecatingwaveofthehand，"ezyouhain'tbinkindtoher——mebbeTOOkind。Forthar'sthepurtyletteryouwrither，thar'stheperlite，easy，captivatin'wayyouhadwithhergalsandthatboy——holdon!"——astheeditormadeagestureofdespairingrenunciation，——"Iain'tsayin'youain'trightinkeepin'ittoyourself，——andthar'stheextrymoneyyousenthereverytime。Stop!sheknowsitwasEXTRY，forshemadeap'into'gettin'metofindoutthemarketpriceo'po'tryinpapersandmagazines，andshereckonsyou'vebinpayin'herfourhundredpercent。abovethemfiggers——holdon!Iain'tsayin'itain'tfreeandliberalinyou，andI'dhavedonethesamething；
　　yetSHEthinks"——
　　Buttheeditorhadrisenhastilytohisfeetwithflushingcheeks。
　　"Onemoment，Mr。Bowers，"hesaid，hurriedly。"Thisisthemostdreadfulblunderofall。Thegiftisnotmine。Itwasthespontaneousofferingofanotherwhoreallyadmiredourfriend'swork，——agentlemanwho"——Hestoppedsuddenly。
　　Thesoundofafamiliarvoice，lightlyhumming，wasbornealongthepassage；thelighttreadofafamiliarfootwasapproaching。Theeditorturnedquicklytowardstheopendoor，——soquicklythatMr。
　　Bowerswasfaintoturnalso。
　　ForacharminginstantthefigureofJackHamlin，handsome，careless，andconfident，wasframedinthedoorway。Hisdarkeyes，withtheirhabitualscornofhisaveragefellow-man，sweptsuperciliouslyoverMr。Bowers，andrestedforaninstantwithcaressingfamiliarityontheeditor。
　　"Well，sonny，anynewsfromtheoldgirlattheSummit?"
　　"No-o，"hastilystammeredtheeditor，withahalf-hystericallaugh。
　　"No，Jack。Excusemeamoment。"
　　"Allright；busy，Isee。Hastamanana。"
　　Thepicturevanished，theframewasempty。
　　"Yousee，"continuedtheeditor，turningtoMr。Bowers，"therehasbeenamistake。I"——buthestoppedsuddenlyattheashenfaceofMr。Bowers，stillfixedinthedirectionofthevanishedfigure。
　　"Areyouill?"
　　Mr。Bowersdidnotreply，butslowlywithdrewhiseyes，andturnedthemheavilyontheeditor。Then，drawingalonger，deeperbreath，hepickeduphissoftfelthat，and，mouldingitintoshapeinhishandsasifpreparingtoputiton，hemoistenedhisdry，grayishlips，andsaid，gently:——
　　"Friendo'yours?"
　　"Yes，"saidtheeditor——"JackHamlin。Ofcourse，youknowhim?"
　　"Yes。"
　　Mr。Bowershereputhishatonhishead，and，afterapause，turnedroundslowlyonceortwice，asifhehadforgottenit，andwasstillseekingit。Finallyhesucceededinfindingtheeditor'shand，andshookit，albeithisowntrembledslightly。Thenhesaid:——
　　"Ireckonyou'reright。There'sbinamistake。Iseeitnow。