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