\"Well,\"shesaidplayfully,turningtohimagain.\"Whatdoyouthinkofit?\"
\"Thinkofit?\"hesaidwitharisingcolor.\"Ithinkit\'sinfamous!Whodidit?\"
Shestaredathim,thenglancedquicklyattheslip.\"Whatareyoureading?\"shesaid.
\"This,ofcourse,\"hesaidimpatiently.\"Whatyougaveme.\"ButhewaspointingtoTHEOTHERSIDEofthenewspaperslip.
Shetookitfromhimimpatientlyandreadforthefirsttimetheprintingonthereversesideofthearticleshehadtreasuredsolong.Itwastheconcludingparagraphofanapparentlylargereditorial.\"Onethingiscertain,thatamaninDanielHarcourt\'spositioncannotaffordtopassoverinsilenceaccusationsliketheabove,thataffectnotonlyhisprivatecharacter,buttheintegrityofhistitletothelandthatwasthefoundationofhisfortune.Whentrickery,sharppractice,andevencriminalityinthepastaremorethanhintedat,theycannotbemetbymerepompoussilenceorallusionstoprivateposition,socialprestige,ordistinguishedfriendsinthepresent.\"
Mrs.Ashwoodturnedtheslipoverwithscornfulimpatience,aprettyupliftingofhereyebrowsandaslightcurlofherlip.\"I
supposenoneofthosepeople\'sbeginningscanbearlookinginto——
andtheycertainlyshouldbethelastonestofindfaultwithanybody.But,goodgracious,Jack!whathasthistodowithyou?\"
\"Withme?\"saidShipleyangrily.\"Why,IproposedtoClementinalastnight!\"
CHAPTERIX.
ThewayfarersontheTasajaraturnpike,whomMr.DanielHarcourtpassedwithhisfasttrottingmareandsulky,sawthattheirgreatfellow-townsmanwasmorethanusuallypreoccupiedandcurtinhisacknowledgmentoftheirsalutations.Neverthelessashedrewnearthecreek,hepartlycheckedhishorse,andwhenhereachedaslightacclivityoftheinterminableplain——whichhadreallybeenthebankofthecreekinbygonedays——hepulledup,alighted,tiedhishorsetoarailfence,andclamberingovertheinclosuremadehiswayalongtheridge.Itwascoveredwithnettles,thistles,andafewwirydwarflarchesofnativegrowth;dustfromtheadjacenthighwayhadinvadedit,withafewscatteredandtornhandbills,wastepaper,rags,emptyprovisioncans,andothersuburbandebris.Yetitwasthesiteof\'LigeCurtis\'scabin,longsinceerasedandforgotten.Thebedoftheoldcreekhadreceded;
thelasttuleshadbeenclearedaway;thechannelandembarcaderowerehalfamilefromthebankandlogwhereonthepioneerofTasajarahadidlysunnedhimself.
Mr.Harcourtwalkedon,occasionallyturningoverthescatteredobjectswithhisfoot,andstoppingattimestoexaminethegroundmoreclosely.Ithadnotapparentlybeendisturbedsincehehimself,sixyearsago,hadrazedthewretchedshantyandcarriedoffitstimberstoaidintheerectionofalargercabinfurtherinland.Heraisedhiseyestotheprospectbeforehim,——tothetownwithitssteamboatslyingatthewharves,tothegrainelevator,thewarehouses,therailroadstationwithitspuffingengines,theflagstaffofHarcourtHouseandtheclusteringroofsofthetown,andbeyond,thepainteddomeofhislastcreation,theFreeLibrary.ThiswasallHISwork,HISplanning,HISforesight,whatevertheymightsayofthewanderingdrunkardfromwhosetremulousfingershehadsnatchedtheopportunity.TheycouldnottakeTHATfromhim,howevertheymightfollowhimwithenvyandreviling,anymorethantheycouldwrestfromhimthefiveyearsofpeacefulpossession.ItwaswithsomethingoftheprosperousconsciousnesswithwhichhehadmountedtheplatformontheopeningoftheFreeLibrary,thathenowclimbedintohisbuggyanddroveaway.
NeverthelesshestoppedathisLandOfficeashedroveintotown,andgaveafeworders.\"Iwantastrongpicketfenceputaroundthefifty-varalotinblockfifty-seven,andthegroundclearedupatonce.Letmeknowwhenthemengettowork,andI\'lloverlookthem.\"
Re-enteringhisownhouseinthesquare,whereMrs.HarcourtandClementina——whooftenaccompaniedhiminthosebusinessvisits——
werewaitingforhimwithluncheon,hesmiledsomewhatsuperciliouslyastheservantinformedhimthat\"ProfessorGranthadjustarrived.\"
ReallythatmanwastryingtomakethemostofhistimewithClementina!PerhapstherivalattractionsofthatBostonswellShipleyhadsomethingtodowithit!HemustpositivelytalktoClementinaaboutthis.InpointoffacthehimselfwasalittledisappointedinGrant,who,sincehisoffertotakethetaskofhuntingdownhiscalumniators,hadreallydonenothing.Heturnedintohisstudy,butwasslightlyastonishedtofindthatGrant,insteadofpayingcourttoClementinaintheadjoiningdrawing-room,wassittingratherthoughtfullyinhisownarmchair.
HeroseasHarcourtentered.\"Ididn\'tletthemannouncemetotheladies,\"hesaid,\"asIhavesomeimportantbusinesswithyoufirst,andwemayfinditnecessarythatIshouldtakethenexttrainbacktotown.YourememberthatafewweeksagoIofferedtolookintothematterofthoseslandersagainstyou.Iapprehendeditwouldbeatriflingmatterofenvyorjealousyonthepartofyouroldassociatesorneighborswhichcouldbeputstraightwithalittlegoodfeeling;butImustbefrankwithyou,Harcourt,andsayatthebeginningthatitturnsouttobeaninfernallyuglybusiness.Callitconspiracyifyoulike,ororganizedhostility,I\'mafraiditwillrequirealawyerratherthananarbitratortomanageit,andthesoonerthebetter.Forthemostunpleasantthingaboutitis,thatIcan\'tfindoutexactlyHOWBADitis!\"
UnfortunatelytheweakerinstinctofHarcourt\'snaturewasfirstroused;thevulgarragewhichconfoundsthebearerofillnewswiththenewsitselffilledhisbreast.\"Andthisisallthatyourconfoundedintermeddlingcameto?\"hesaidbrutally.
\"No,\"saidGrantquietly,withapreoccupiedignoringoftheinsultthatwasmorehopelessforHarcourt.\"Ifoundoutthatitisclaimedthatthis\'LigeCurtiswasnotdrownednorlostthatnight;
butthatheescaped,andforthreeyearshasconvincedanothermanthatyouarewrongfullyinpossessionofthisland;thatthesetwonaturallyholdyouintheirpower,andthattheyareonlywaitingforyoutobeforcedintolegalproceedingsforslandertoprovealltheircharges.Untilthen,forsomereasonbestknowntothemselves,Curtisremainsinthebackground.\"
\"DoeshedenythedeedunderwhichIholdtheproperty?\"saidHarcourtsavagely.
\"Hesaysitwasonlyasecurityforatriflingloan,andnotanactualtransfer.\"
\"Anddon\'tthosefoolsknowthathissecuritycouldbeforfeited?\"
\"Yes,butnotinthewayitisrecordedinthecountyclerk\'soffice.Theysaythattherecordshowsthattherewasaninterpolationinthepaperheleftwithyou——whichwasaforgery.
Briefly,Harcourt,youareaccusedofthat.More,——itisintimatedthatwhenhefellintothecreekthatnight,andescapedonaraftthatwasfloatingpast,thathehadbeenfirststunnedbyablowfromsomeoneinterestedingettingridofhim.\"
Hepausedandglancedoutofthewindow.
\"Isthatall?\"askedHarcourtinaperfectlyquiet,steady,voice.
\"All!\"repliedGrant,struckwiththechangeinhiscompanion\'smanner,andturninghiseyesuponhimquickly.
Thechangeindeedwasmarkedandsignificant.Whetherfromreliefatknowingtheworst,orwhetherhewasexperiencingthesamereactionfromtheutterfalsityofthislastaccusationthathehadfeltwhenGranthadunintentionallywrongedhiminhispreviousrecollection,certainitisthatsomeunknownreserveofstrengthinhisownnature,ofwhichheknewnothingbefore,suddenlycametohisaidinthisextremity.ItinvestedhimwithanuncouthdignitythatforthefirsttimeexcitedGrant\'srespect.
\"Ibegyourpardon,Grant,forthehastywayIspoketoyouamomentago,forIthankyou,andappreciatethoroughlyandsincerelywhatyouhavedone.Youareright;itisamatterforfightingandnotfussingover.ButImusthaveaheadtohit.
Whoseisit?\"
\"ThemanwhoholdshimselflegallyresponsibleisFletcher,——theproprietorofthe\'Clarion,\'andamanofproperty.\"
\"The\'Clarion\'?Thatisthepaperwhichbegantheattack?\"saidHarcourt.
\"Yes,anditisonlyfairtotellyouherethatyoursonthrewuphisplaceonitinconsequenceofitsattackuponyou.\"
TherewasperhapstheslightestpossibleshrinkinginHarcourt\'seyelids——theonecongenitallikenesstohisdiscardedson——buthisotherwisecalmdemeanordidnotchange.Grantwentonmorecheerfully:\"I\'vetoldyouallIknow.WhenIspokeofanunknownWORST,Ididnotrefertoanyfurtheraccusation,buttowhateverevidencetheymighthavefabricatedorsubornedtoproveanyoneofthem.Itisonlythestrengthandfairnessofthehandstheyholdthatisuncertain.Againstthatyouhaveyourcertainuncontestedpossession,thepeculiarcharacterandantecedentsofthis\'LigeCurtis,whichwouldmakehisevidenceuntrustworthyandevenmakeitdifficultforthemtoestablishhisidentity.Iamtoldthathisfailuretocontestyourappropriationofhispropertyisexplainedbythefactofhisbeingabsentfromthecountrymostofthetime;butagain,thiswouldnotaccountfortheirsilenceuntilwithinthelastsixmonths,unlesstheyhavebeenwaitingforfurtherevidencetoestablishit.Buteventhentheymusthaveknownthatthetimeofrecoveryhadpassed.Youareapracticalman,Harcourt;Ineedn\'ttellyouthereforewhatyourlawyerwillprobablytellyou,thatpractically,sofarasyourrightsareconcerned,youremainasbeforethesecalumnies;thatacauseofactionunprosecutedorinabeyanceispracticallynocause,andthatitisnotforyoutoanticipateone.BUT\"——
HepausedandlookedsteadilyatHarcourt.Harcourtmethislookwithadull,ox-likestolidity.\"Ishallbeginthesuitatonce,\"
hesaid.
\"AndI,\"saidGrant,holdingouthishand,\"willstandbyyou.ButtellmenowwhatyouknewofthismanCurtis,——hischaracteranddisposition;itmaybesomeclueastowhatarehismethodsandhisintentions.\"
Harcourtbrieflysketched\'LigeCurtisasheknewhimandunderstoodhim.Itwasanotherindicationofhisreservedpowerthatthedescriptionwassosingularlyclear,practical,unprejudiced,andimpartialthatitimpressedGrantwithitstruthfulness.
\"Ican\'tmakehimout,\"hesaid;\"youhavedrawnaweak,butneitheradishonestnormalignantman.Theremusthavebeensomebodybehindhim.Canyouthinkofanypersonalenemy?\"
\"Ihavebeensubjectedtotheusualjealousyandenvyofmyoldneighbors,Isuppose,butnothingmore.Ihaveharmednooneknowingly.\"
Grantwassilent;ithadflashedacrosshimthatRicemighthaveharboredrevengeforhisfather-in-law\'sinterferenceinhisbriefmatrimonialexperience.HehadalsosuddenlyrecalledhisconversationwithBillingsonthedaythathefirstarrivedatTasajara.Itwouldnotbestrangeifthismanhadsomeintimationofthesecret.Hewouldtrytofindhimthatevening.Herose.
\"Youwillstaytodinner?MywifeandClementinawillexpectyou.\"
\"Notto-night;Iamdiningatthehotel,\"saidGrant,smilingly;
\"butIwillcomeinlaterintheeveningifImay.\"Hepausedhesitatinglyforamoment.\"Haveyourwifeanddaughtereverexpressedanyopiniononthismatter?\"
\"No,\"saidHarcourt.\"Mrs.HarcourtknowsnothingofanythingthatdoesnothappenINthehouse;Euphemiaknowsonlythethingsthathappenoutofitwheresheisvisiting——andIsupposethatyoungmenprefertotalktoheraboutotherthingsthantheslandersofherfather.AndClementina——well,youknowhowcalmandsuperiortothesethingsSHEis.\"
\"ForthatveryreasonIthoughtthatperhapsshemightbeabletoseethemmoreclearly,——butnomatter!Idaresayyouarequiterightinnotdiscussingthemathome.\"Thiswasthefact,althoughGranthadnotforgottenthatHarcourthadputforwardhisdaughtersasareasonforstoppingthescandalsomeweeksbefore,——areasonwhich,however,seemednevertohavebeenborneoutbyanyapparentsensitivenessofthegirlsthemselves.
WhenGranthadleft,HarcourtremainedforsomemomentssteadfastlygazingfromthewindowovertheTasajaraplain.Hehadnotlosthislookofconcentratedpower,norhisdeterminationtofight.A
strugglebetweenhimselfandthephantomsofthepasthadbecomenowanecessarystimulusforitsownsake,——forthesakeofhismentalandphysicalequipoise.Hesawbeforehimthepale,agitated,irresolutefeaturesof\'LigeCurtis,——notthemanHEhadinjured,butthemanwhohadinjuredHIM,whosespiritwasaimlesslyandwantonly——forhehadneverattemptedtogetbackhispossessionsinhislifetime,norevertriedtocommunicatewiththepossessor——strikingathimintheshadow.AnditwasTHATman,thatpale,writhing,frightenedwretchwhomhehadoncemercifullyhelped!Yes,whoseLIFEhehadevensavedthatnightfromexposureanddeliriumtremenswhenhehadgivenhimthewhiskey.Andthislifehehadsaved,onlytohaveitsetinmotionaconspiracytoruinhim!Whoknowsthat\'Ligehadnotpurposelyconceivedwhattheyhadbelievedtobeanattemptatsuicide,onlytocastsuspicionofmurderonHIM!FromwhichitwillbeperceivedthatHarcourt\'spowersofmoralreasoninghadnotimprovedinfiveyears,andthateventheimpartialityhehadjustshowninhisdescriptionof\'LigetoGranthadbeenswallowedupinthisnewsenseofinjury.ThefounderofTasajara,whosecoolbusinesslogic,unfailingforesight,andpracticaldeductionswereneveratfault,wasoncemorechildishlyadriftinhismoralethics.
AndtherewasClementina,ofwhosejudgmentGranthadspokensopersistently,——couldsheassisthim?Itwastrue,ashehadsaid,hehadnevertalkedtoherofhisaffairs.Inhissometimesuneasyconsciousnessofhersuperiorityhehadshrunkfromevenrevealinghisanxieties,muchlesshisactualsecret,andfromanythingthatmightprejudicetheloftypaternalattitudehehadtakentowardshisdaughtersfromthebeginningofhisgoodfortune.Hewasneverquitesureifheracceptanceofitwasreal;hewasneverentirelyfreefromacertainjealousythatalwaysmingledwithhisprideinhersuperiorrectitude;andyethisfeelingwasdistinctfromthegood-naturedcontempthehadforhiswife\'sloyalty,theangerandsuspicionthathisson\'soppositionhadprovoked,andthehalf-
affectionatetolerationhehadfeltforEuphemia\'swaywardness.
HoweverhewouldsoundClementinawithoutbetrayinghimself.
Hewasanticipatedbyaslightstepinthepassageandthepushingopenofhisstudydoor.Thetall,gracefulfigureofthegirlherselfstoodintheopening.
\"TheytellmeMr.Granthasbeenhere.Doeshestaytodinner?\"
\"No,hehasanengagementatthehotel,buthewillprobablydropinlater.Comein,Clemmy,Iwanttotalktoyou.Shutthedoorandsitdown.\"
Sheslippedinquietly,shutthedoor,tookaseatonthesofa,softlysmootheddownhergown,andturnedhergracefulheadandserenelycomposedfacetowardshim.Sittingthusshelookedlikesomefinelyfinishedpaintingthatdecoratedratherthanbelongedtotheroom,——notonlydistinctlyalientothefleshandbloodrelativebeforeher,buttothehouse,andeventhelocal,monotonouslandscapebeyondthewindowwiththeshiningnewshinglesandchimneysthatcutthenewbluesky.ThesesingularperfectionsseemedtoincreaseinHarcourt\'smindtheexasperatingsenseofinjuryinflicteduponhimby\'Lige\'sexposures.Withadaughtersoincomparablygifted,——amatchlesscreationthatwasenoughinherselftoennoblethatfortunewhichhisownskillandgeniushadliftedfromthemuddytulesofTasajarawherethis\'Ligehadleftit,——thatSHEshouldbesubjectedtothisannoyanceseemedaninfamythatProvidencecouldnotallow!Whatwashismerevenialtransgressiontothisexaggeratedretribution?
\"Clemmy,girl,I\'mgoingtoaskyouaquestion.Listen,pet.\"Hehadbegunwithareminiscenttendernessoftheepochofherchildhood,butmeetingtheunrespondingmaturityofhercleareyesheabandonedit.\"Youknow,Clementina,Ihaveneverinterferedinyouraffairs,nortriedtoinfluenceyourfriendshipsforanybody.
Whateverpeoplemayhavetosayofmetheycan\'tsaythat!I\'vealwaystrustedyou,asIwouldmyself,tochooseyourownassociates;Ihaveneverregrettedit,andIdon\'tregretitnow.
ButI\'dliketoknow——Ihavereasonsto-dayforasking——howmattersstandbetweenyouandGrant.\"
TheParianheadofMinervaonthebookcaseaboveherdidnotofferthespectatorafacelessfreefrommaidenlyconfusionthanClementina\'satthatmoment.Herfatherhadcertainlyexpectednone,buthewasnotpreparedfortheperfectcoolnessofherreply.
\"Doyoumean,haveIACCEPTEDhim?\"
\"No,——well——yes.\"
\"No,then!Isthatwhathewishedtoseeyouabout?Itwasunderstoodthathewasnottoalludeagaintothesubjecttoanyone.\"
\"HehasnottoME.Itwasonlymyownidea.Hehadsomethingverydifferenttotellme.Youmaynotknow,Clementina,\"hebeguncautiously,\"thatIhavebeenlatelythesubjectofsomeanonymousslanders,andGranthastakenthetroubletotrackthemdownforme.ItisacalumnythatgoesbackasfarasSidon,andImaywantyourlevelheadandgoodmemorytohelpmetorefuteit.\"Hethenrepeatedcalmlyandclearly,withnotraceofthefurythathadragedwithinhimamomentbefore,thesubstanceofGrant\'srevelation.
Theyounggirllistenedwithoutapparentemotion.Whenhehadfinishedshesaidquickly:\"Andwhatdoyouwantmetorecollect?\"
ThehardestpartofHarcourt\'staskwascoming.\"Well,don\'tyourememberthatItoldyouthedaythesurveyorswentaway——that——I
hadboughtthislandof\'LigeCurtissometimebefore?\"
\"Yes,Irememberyoursayingso,but\"——
\"Butwhat?\"
\"Ithoughtyouonlymeantthattosatisfymother.\"
DanielHarcourtfeltthebloodsettlingroundhisheart,buthewasconstrainedbyanirresistibleimpulsetoknowtheworst.\"Well,whatdidYOUthinkitreallywas?\"
\"Ionlythoughtthat\'LigeCurtishadsimplyletyouhaveit,that\'sall.\"
Harcourtbreathedagain.\"Butwhatfor?Whyshouldhe?\"
\"Well——ONMYACCOUNT.\"
\"OnYOURaccount!WhatinHeaven\'snamehadYOUtodowithit?\"
\"Helovedme.\"Therewasnottheslightesttraceofvanity,self-
consciousnessorcoquetryinherquiet,fatefulface,andforthisveryreasonHarcourtknewthatshewasspeakingthetruth.
\"LovedYOU!——you,Clementina!——mydaughter!DidheeverTELLyouso?\"
\"Notinwords.HeusedtowalkupanddownontheroadwhenIwasatthebackwindoworinthegarden,andoftenhungaboutthebankofthecreekforhours,likesomeanimal.Idon\'tthinktheotherssawhim,andwhentheydidtheythoughtitwasParmleeforEuphemia.EvenEuphemiathoughtsotoo,andthatwaswhyshewassoconceitedandhardtoParmleetowardstheend.ShethoughtitwasParmleethatnightwhenGrantandRicecame;butitwas\'LigeCurtiswhohadbeenwatchingthewindowlightsintherain,andwhomusthavegoneoffatlasttospeaktoyouinthestore.IalwaysletPhemiebelievethatitwasParmlee,——itseemedtopleaseher.\"
Therewasnottheleasttoneofmischieforsuperiority,orevenofpatronageinhermanner.Itwasasquietandcruelasthefatethatmighthaveled\'Ligetohisdestruction.Evenherfatherfeltaslightthrillofaweasshepaused.\"Thenheneverreallyspoketoyou?\"heaskedhurriedly.
\"Onlyonce.Iwasgatheringswampliliesallalone,amilebelowthebendofthecreek,andhecameuponmesuddenly.PerhapsitwasthatIdidn\'tjumporstart——Ididn\'tseeanythingtojumporstartat——thathesaid,\'You\'renotfrightenedatme,MissHarcourt,liketheothergirls?Youdon\'tthinkI\'mdrunkorhalfmad——astheydo?\'Idon\'trememberexactlywhatIsaid,butitmeantthatwhetherhewasdrunkorhalfmadorsoberIdidn\'tseeanyreasontobeafraidofhim.AndthenhetoldmethatifIwasfondofswampliliesImighthaveallIwantedathisplace,andforthematterofthattheplacetoo,ashewasgoingaway,forhecouldn\'tstandthelonelinessanylonger.Hesaidthathehadnothingincommonwiththeplaceandthepeople——nomorethanI
had——andthatwaswhathehadalwaysfanciedinme.Itoldhimthatifhefeltinthatwayabouthisplaceheoughttoleaveit,orsellittosomeonewhocaredforit,andgoaway.Thatmusthavebeeninhismindwhenheofferedittoyou,——atleastthat\'swhatIthoughtwhenyoutoldusyouhadboughtit.Ididn\'tknowbutwhathemighthavetoldyou,butyoudidn\'tcaretosayitbeforemother.\"
Mr.Harcourtsatgazingatherwithbreathlessamazement.\"Andyou——thinkthat——\'LigeCurtis——lov——likedyou?\"
\"Yes,Ithinkhedid——andthathedoesnow!\"
\"NOW!Whatdoyoumean?Themanisdead!\"saidHarcourtstarting.
\"That\'sjustwhatIdon\'tbelieve.\"
\"Impossible!Thinkofwhatyouaresaying.\"
\"Inevercouldquiteunderstandorfeelthathewasdeadwheneverybodysaidso,andnowthatI\'veheardthisstoryIKNOWthatheisliving.\"
\"Butwhydidhenotmakehimselfknownintimetoclaimtheproperty?\"
