ThesteamerSilveropoliswassharplyandsteadilycleavingthebroad，placidshallowsoftheSacramentoRiver。Alargewavelikeaneagre，divergingfromitsbow，wasextendingtoeitherbank，swampingthetulesandthreateningtosubmergethelowerlevees。
Thegreatboatitself——avastbutdelicatestructureofairystories，hanginggalleries，fragilecolonnades，gildedcornices，andresplendentfrescoes——wasthrobbingthroughoutitswholeperilouslengthwiththepulseofhighpressureandthestrongmonotonousbeatofapowerfulpiston。Floodsoffoampouringfromthehighpaddle-boxesoneithersideandreunitinginthewakeoftheboatleftbehindatrackofdazzlingwhiteness，overwhichtrailedtwodenseblackbannersflungfromitsloftysmokestacks。
Mr。JackHamlinhadquietlyemergedfromhisstateroomondeckandwaslookingovertheguards。Hishandswererestinglightlyonhishipsoverthedelicatecurvesofhiswhitewaistcoat，andhewaswhistlingsoftly，possiblysomeairtowhichhehadmadecertaincard-playingpassengersdancethenightbefore。Hewasincomfortablecase，andhissoftbrowneyesundertheirlonglasheswereveiledwithgentletoleranceofallthings。Heglancedlazilyalongtheemptyhurricanedeckforward；heglancedlazilydowntothesaloondeckbelowhim。Faroutagainsttheguardsbelowhimleanedayounggirl。Mr。Hamlinknittedhisbrowsslightly。
Herememberedheratonce。ShehadcomeonboardthatmorningwithoneNedStratton，abrothergambler，butneitherafavoritenorintimateofJack\'s。Fromcertainindicationsinthepair，Jackhadinferredthatshewassomefoolishorrecklesscreaturewhom\"Ed\"
had\"gotonastring，\"andwasspiritingawayfromherfriendsandfamily。WiththeabstractmoralityofthissituationJackwasnotintheleastconcerned。Forhimselfhedidnotindulgeinthatsortofgame；theinexperienceandvacillationsofinnocencewereapttobebothersome，andbesides，acertainmodestdoubtofhisowncompetencytomakeanoriginalselectionhadalwaysmadehimprefertoconfinehisgallantriestothewivesofmenofgreaterjudgmentthanhimselfwhohad。ButitsuddenlyoccurredtohimthathehadseenStrattonquicklyslipofftheboatatthelastlandingstage。Ah!thatwasit；hehadcastawayanddesertedher。
Itwasanoldstory。Jacksmiled。ButhewasnotgreatlyamusedwithStratton。
Shewasverypale，andseemedtobeclingingtothenetworkrailing，asiftosupportherself，althoughshewasgazingfixedlyattheyellowglancingcurrentbelow，whichseemedtobesuckeddownandswallowedinthepaddle-boxastheboatswepton。Itcertainlywasafascinatingsight——thisslopingrapid，hurryingontoburyitselfunderthecrushingwheels。ForabriefmomentJacksawhowtheywouldseizeanythingfloatingonthatghastlyincline，whirlitroundinoneawfulrevolutionofthebeatingpaddles，andthenburyit，brokenandshatteredoutofallrecognition，deepinthemuddyundercurrentofthestreambehindthem。
Shemovedawaypresentlywithanodd，stiffstep，chafingherglovedhandstogetherasiftheyhadbecomestiffenedtooinherrigidgraspoftherailing。Jackleisurelywatchedherasshemovedalongthenarrowstripofdeck。Shewasnotatalltohistaste，——aratherplumpgirlwitharusticmannerandagreatdealofbrownhairunderherstrawhat。Shemighthavelookedbetterhadshenotbeensohaggard。Whenshereachedthedoorofthesaloonshepaused，andthen，turningsuddenly，begantowalkquicklybackagain。Asshenearedthespotwhereshehadbeenstandingherpaceslackened，andwhenshereachedtherailingsheseemedtorelapseagainstitinherformerhelplessfashion。Jackbecamelazilyinterested。Suddenlysheliftedherheadandcastaquickglancearoundandaboveher。InthatmomentaryliftingofherfaceJacksawherexpression。Whateveritwas，hisownchangedinstantly；thenextmomenttherewasacrashonthelowerdeck。ItwasJackwhohadswunghimselfovertherailanddroppedtenfeet，toherside。Butnotbeforeshehadplacedonefootinthemeshesofthenettingandhadgrippedtherailingforaspring。
ThenoiseofJack\'sfallmighthaveseemedtoherbewilderedfancyasapartofherfranticact，forshefellforwardvacantlyontherailing。ButbythistimeJackhadgraspedherarmasiftohelphimselftohisfeet。
\"Imighthavekilledmyselfbythatfoolin\'，mightn\'tI？\"hesaidcheerfully。
Thesoundofavoicesonearherseemedtorecalltoherdazedsensetheuncompletedactionhisfallhadarrested。Shemadeaconvulsiveboundtowardstherailing，butJackheldherfast。
\"Don\'t，\"hesaidinalowvoice，\"don\'t，itwon\'tpay。It\'sthesickestgamethateverwasplayedbymanorwoman。Comehere!\"
Hedrewhertowardsanemptystateroomwhosedoorwasswingingonitshingesafewfeetfromthem。Shewastremblingviolently；hehalfled，halfpushedherintotheroom，closedthedoorandstoodwithhisbackagainstitasshedroppedintoachair。Shelookedathimvacantly；theagitationshewasundergoinginwardlyhadlefthernosenseofoutwardperception。
\"YouknowStrattonwouldbeawfullyriled，\"continuedJackeasily。
\"He\'sjuststeppedouttoseeafriendandgotleftbythefoolboat。He\'llbealongbythenextsteamer，andyou\'reboundtomeethiminSacramento。”
Herstaringeyesseemedsuddenlytograsphismeaning。Buttohissurprisesheburstoutwithacertainhystericaldesperation，\"No!
no!Never!NEVERagain!Letmepass!Imustgo，\"andstruggledtoregainthedoor。Jack，albeitsingularlyrelievedtoknowthatshesharedhisprivatesentimentsregardingStratton，neverthelessresistedher。Whereatshesuddenlyturnedwhite，reeledback，andsankinadeadfaintinthechair。
Thegamblerturned，drewthekeyfromtheinsideofthedoor，passedout，lockingitbehindhim，andwalkedleisurelyintothemainsaloon。\"Mrs。Johnson，\"hesaidgravely，addressingthestewardess，atallmulatto，withhisusualwinsomesupremacyoverdependentsandchildren，\"you\'llobligemeifyou\'llcorralafewsmellingsalts，vinaigrettes，hairpins，andvioletpowder，andunloadthemindeckstateroomNo。257。There\'salady\"——
\"Alady，MarseHamlin？\"interruptedthemulatto，withanarchlysignificantflashofherwhiteteeth。
\"Alady，\"continuedJackwithunabashedgravity，\"inasortofconniptionfit。Arelativeofmine；infactaniece，myonlysister\'schild。Hadn\'tseeneachotherfortenyears，anditwastoomuchforher。”
Thewomanglancedathimwithaminglingofincredulousbelief，butdelightedobedience，hurriedlygatheredafewarticlesfromhercabin，andfollowedhimtoNo。257。Theyounggirlwasstillunconscious。Thestewardessappliedafewrestorativeswiththeskilloflongexperience，andtheyounggirlopenedhereyes。TheyturnedvacantlyfromthestewardesstoJackwithalookofhalfrecognitionandhalffrightenedinquiry。\"Yes，\"saidJack，addressingtheeyes，althoughostentatiouslyspeakingtoMrs。
Johnson，\"she\'donlyjustcomebysteamerto\'Friscoandwasn\'texpectingtoseeme，andwedroppedrightintoeachotherhereontheboat。AndIhaven\'tseenhersinceshewassohigh。SisterMaryoughttohavewarnedmebyletter；butshewasalwaysaslouchatletterwriting。There，that\'lldo，Mrs。Johnson。She\'scominground；IreckonIcanmanagetherest。ButyougonowandtellthepurserIwantoneofthoseinsidestateroomsformyniece，——MY
NIECE，youhear，——sothatyoucanbenearherandlookafterher。”
Asthestewardessturnedobedientlyawaytheyounggirlattemptedtorise，butJackcheckedher。\"No，\"hesaid，almostbrusquely；
\"youandIhavesometalkingtodobeforeshegetsback，andwe\'venotimeforfoolin\'。YouheardwhatItoldherjustnow!Well，it\'sgottobeasIsaid，yousabe。Aslongasyou\'reonthisboatyou\'remyniece，andmysisterMary\'schild。AsIhaven\'tgotanysisterMary，youdon\'trunanyriskoffallingfoulofher，andyouain\'ttakinganyone\'splace。Thatsettlesthat。Now，doyouordoyounotwanttoseethatmanagain？Sayyes，andifhe\'sanywhereabovegroundI\'llyankhimovertoyouassoonaswetouchshore。”Hehadnoideaofinterferingwithhiscolleague\'samours，buthehaddeterminedtomakeStrattonpayforthebothertheirslovenlysequencehadcausedhim。Yethewasrelievedandastonishedbyherfranticgestureofindignationandabhorrence。
\"No？\"herepeatedgrimly。\"Well，thatsettlesthat。Now，lookhere；quick，beforeshecomes——doyouwanttogobackhometoyourfriends？\"
Buthereoccurredwhathehaddreadedmostandprobablythoughthehadescaped。Shehadstaredathim，atthestewardess，atthewalls，withabstracted，vacant，andbewildered，butalwaysundimmedandunmoistenedeyes。Asuddenconvulsionshookherwholeframe，herblankexpressionbrokelikeashatteredmirror，shethrewherhandsoverhereyesandfellforwardwithherfacetothebackofherchairinanoutburstoftears。
AlasforJack!withthebreakingupofthosesealedfountainscameherspeechalso，atfirstdisconnectedandincoherent，andthendespairingandpassionate。No!shehadnolongerfriendsorhome!
Shehadlostanddisgracedthem!ShehaddisgracedHERSELF!Therewasnohomeforherbutthegrave。WhyhadJacksnatchedherfromit？Then，bitbybit，sheyieldedupherstory，——astorydecidedlycommonplacetoJack，uninteresting，andevenirritatingtohisfastidiousness。Shewasaschoolgirl(notevenaconventgirl，buttheinmateofaPresbyterianfemaleacademyatNapa。Jackshudderedasherememberedtohaveonceseencertainofthepupilswalkingwithateacher)，andshelivedwithhermarriedsister。
ShehadseenStrattonwhilegoingtoandfroontheSanFranciscoboat；shehadexchangednoteswithhim，hadmethimsecretly，andfinallyconsentedtoelopewithhimtoSacramento，onlytodiscoverwhentheboathadleftthewharftherealnatureofhisintentions。
Jacklistenedwithinfinitewearinessandinwardchafing。Hehadreadallthisbeforeincheapnovelettes，inthepolicereports，intheSundaypapers；hehadheardastreetpreacherdeclaimagainstit，andwarnyoungwomenoftheserpent-likewilesoftemptersoftheStrattonvariety。ButevennowJackfailedtorecognizeStrattonasaserpent，orindeedanythingbutablunderingcheatandclown，whohadlefthisdirty\'prenticeworkonhis(Jack\'s)
hands。Butthegirlwashelplessand，itseemed，homeless，allthroughacertaindesperationoffeelingwhich，inspiteofhertears，hecouldnotbutrespect。Thatmomentaryshadowofdeathhadexaltedher。Hestrokedhismustache，pulleddownhiswhitewaistcoatandhercry，withoutsayinganything。Hedidnotknowthatthismostobjectionablephaseofhermiserywashersalvationandhisown。
Butthestewardesswouldreturninamoment。\"You\'dbettertellmewhattocallyou，\"hesaidquietly。\"Ioughttoknowmyniece\'sfirstname。”
Thegirlcaughtherbreath，and，betweentwosobs，said，\"Sophonisba。”
Jackwinced。Itseemedonlytoneedthislastsentimentaltouchtocompletetheidioticsituation。\"I\'llcallyouSophy，\"hesaidhurriedlyandwithaneffort。
\"Andnowlookhere!YouaregoinginthatcabinwithMrs。Johnsonwhereshecanlookafteryou，butIcan\'t。SoI\'llhavetotakeyourword，forI\'mnotgoingtogiveyouawaybeforeMrs。Johnson，thatyouwon\'ttrythatfoolishness——youknowwhatImean——beforeI
seeyouagain。CanItrustyou？\"
Withherheadstillbowedoverthechairback，shemurmuredslowlysomewherefromunderherdisheveledhair:——
\"Yes。”
\"HonestInjin？\"adjuredJackgravely。
\"Yes。”
Theshufflingstepofthestewardesswasheardslowlyapproaching。
\"Yes，\"continuedJackabruptly，lightlyliftinghisvoiceasMrs。
Johnsonopenedthedoor，——\"yes，ifyou\'donlyhadsomeofthosespearmintdropsofyourauntRachel\'sthatshealwaysgaveyouwhenthesefitscameonyou\'dhavebeenallrightinsideoffiveminutes。Auntywasnoslouchofadoctor，wasshe？Dearme，itonlyseemsyesterdaysinceIsawher。Youwerejustplayingroundherkneelikeakittenonthebackporch。Howtimedoesfly!Buthere\'sMrs。Johnsoncomingtotakeyouin。Nowrouseup，Sophy，andjusthookyourselfontoMrs。Johnsononthatside，andwe\'lltoddlealong。”
Theyounggirlputbackherheavyhair，andwithherfacestillavertedsubmittedtobehelpedtoherfeetbythekindlystewardess。
Perhapssomethinghomelysympatheticandnurse-likeinthetouchofthemulattogaveherassuranceandconfidence，forherheadlapsedquitenaturallyagainstthewoman\'sshoulder，andherfacewaspartlyhiddenasshemovedslowlyalongthedeck。Jackaccompaniedthemtothesaloonandtheinnerstateroomdoor。Afewpassengersgatheredcuriouslynear，asmuchattractedbytheunusualpresenceofJackHamlininsuchaprocessionasbythegirlherself。\"You\'lllookafterherspecially，Mrs。Johnson，\"saidJack，inunusuallydeliberateterms。\"She\'sbeenagooddealpettedathome，andmysisterperhapshasratherspoilther。She\'sprettymuchofachildstill，andyou\'llhavetohumorher。Sophy，\"hecontinued，withostentatiousplayfulness，directinghisvoiceintothedimrecessesofthestateroom，\"you\'lljustthinkMrs。Johnson\'syouroldnurse，won\'tyou？Thinkit\'soldKaty，hey？\"
Tohisgreatconsternationthegirlapproachedtremblinglyfromtheinnershadow。Thefaintestandsaddestofsmilesforamomentplayedaroundthecornersofherdrawnmouthandtear-dimmedeyesassheheldoutherhandandsaid:——
\"Godblessyouforbeingsokind。”
Jackshudderedandglancedquicklyround。Butluckilynooneheardthiscrushingsentimentalism，andthenextmomentthedoorcloseduponherandMrs。Johnson。
Itwaspastmidnight，andthemoonwasridinghighoverthenarrowingyellowriver，whenJackagainsteppedoutondeck。Hehadjustleftthecaptain\'scabin，andasmallsocialgamewiththeofficers，whichhadservedtosomeextenttovaguelyrelievehisirritationandtheirpockets。Hehadpresumablyquiteforgottentheincidentoftheafternoon，ashelookedabouthim，andcomplacentlytookinthequietbeautyofthenight。
Thelowbanksoneithersideofferednobreaktotheuninterruptedlevelofthelandscape，throughwhichtheriverseemedtowindonlyasaracetrackfortherushingboat。Everyfibreofhervastbutfragilebulkquiveredunderthegoadofherpowerfulengines。
Therewasnoothermovementbuthers，noothersoundbutthismonstrousbeatandpanting；thewholetranquillandscapeseemedtobreatheandpulsatewithher；dwellersinthetules，milesaway，heardandfeltherasshepassed，anditseemedtoJack，leaningovertherailing，asifthewholeriversweptlikeasluicethroughherpaddle-boxes。
Jackhadquiteunconsciouslyloungedbeforethatpartoftherailingwheretheyounggirlhadleanedafewhoursago。Ashelookeddownuponthestreamingyellowmill-racebelowhim，henoticed——whatneitherhenorthegirlhadprobablynoticedbefore——
thataspaceofthetopbaroftherailingwashinged，andcouldbeliftedbywithdrawingasmallbolt，thusgivingeasyaccesstotheguards。Hewasstilllookingatit，whistlingsoftly，whenfootstepsapproached。
\"Jack，\"saidalazyvoice，\"how\'ssisterMary？\"
\"It\'salongtimesinceyou\'veseenheronlychild，Jack，ain\'tit？\"saidasecondvoice；\"andyetitsorto\'seemstomesomehowthatI\'veseenherbefore。”
Jackrecognizedthevoiceoftwoofhislatecompanionsatthecard-table。Hiswhistlingceased；soalsodroppedeverytraceofcolorandexpressionfromhishandsomeface。Buthedidnotturn，andremainedquietlygazingatthewater。
\"AuntRachel，too，mustbegettingoninyears，Jack，\"continuedthefirstspeaker，haltingbehindJack。
\"AndMrs。JohnsondoesnotlooksomuchlikeSophy\'soldnurseassheusedto，\"remarkedthesecond，followinghisexample。StillJackremainedunmoved。
\"Youdon\'tseemtobeinterested，Jack，\"continuedthefirstspeaker。\"Whatareyoulookingat？\"
Withoutturninghisheadthegamblerreplied，\"Lookingattheboat；
she\'sboomingalong，justchawingupandspittingouttheriver，ain\'tshe？Lookatthatsweepofwatergoingunderherpaddle-
wheels，\"hecontinued，unboltingtherailandliftingittoallowthetwomentopeercuriouslyovertheguardsashepointedtothemurderousinclinebeneaththem；\"amanwouldn\'tstandmuchshowwhogotdroppedintoit。Howthesepaddleswouldjustsnatchhimbald-
headed，pickhimupandsloshhimroundandround，andthenslinghimoutdownthereinsuchashapethathisownfatherwouldn\'tknowhim。”
\"Yes，\"saidthefirstspeaker，withanostentatiouslittlelaugh，\"butallthatain\'ttellingushowsisterMaryis。”
\"No，\"saidthegamblerslippingintotheopeningwithawhiteandrigidfaceinwhichnothingseemedlivingbuttheeyes，\"no，butit\'stellingyouhowtwod——dfoolswhodidn\'tknowwhentoshuttheirmouthsmightgetthemshutonceandforever。It\'stellingyouwhatmighthappentotwomenwhotriedto\'play\'amanwhodidn\'tcaretobe\'played，\'——amanwhodidn\'tcaremuchwhathedid，whenhedidit，orhowhedidit，butwoulddowhathe\'dsetouttodo——evenifindoingithewenttohellwiththemenhesentthere。”
Hehadsteppedoutontheguards，besidethetwomen，closingtherailbehindhim。Hehadplacedhishandsontheirshoulders；theyhadbothgrippedhisarms；yet，viewedfromthedeckabove，theyseemedatthatmomentanamicable，evenfraternalgroup，albeitthefacesofthethreeweredeadwhiteinthemoonlight。
\"Idon\'tthinkI\'msoverymuchinterestedinsisterMary，\"saidthefirstspeakerquietly，afterapause。
\"AndIdon\'tseemtothinksomuchofauntRachelasIdid，\"saidhiscompanion。
\"Ithoughtyouwouldn\'t，\"saidJack，coollyreopeningtherailandsteppingbackagain。\"Italldependsuponthewayyoulookatthosethings。Good-night。”
\"Good-night。”
Thethreemenpaused，shookeachother\'shandssilently，andseparated，Jacksaunteringslowlybacktohisstateroom。
II。
TheeducationalestablishmentofMrs。MixandMadameBance，situatedinthebestquarterofSacramentoandpatronizedbythehigheststateofficialsandmembersoftheclergy，wasaprettyifnotanimposingedifice。Althoughsurroundedbyahighwhitepicketfenceandenteredthroughaheavilyboardedgate，itsbalconiesfestoonedwithjasmineandroses，anditsspotlesslydrapedwindowsasoftengracedwithfresh，flower-likefaces，werestillplainlyandprovokinglyvisibleabovetheostentatiousspikesofthepickets。Nevertheless，Mr。JackHamlin，whohadsixmonthsbeforeplacedhisniece，MissSophonisbaBrown，underitsprotectingcare，feltadegreeofuneasiness，evenborderingontimidity，whichwasnewtothatusuallyself-confidentman。
Rememberinghowhisfirstappearancehadflutteredthisdovecoteandawakenedaseveresuspicioninthemindsofthetwoprincipals，hehaddiscardedhisusualfashionableattireandelegantlyfittinggarmentsforarough，homespunsuit，supposedtorepresentahomelyagriculturist，butwhichhadtheeffectoftransforminghimintoanadorableStrephon，infinitelymoredangerousinhisrusticshepherd-likesimplicity。Hehadalsoshavedoffhissilkenmustacheforthesameprudentialreasons，buthadonlysucceededinuncoveringthedelicatelinesofhishandsomemouth，andsoabsurdlyreducinghisapparentyearsthathisavuncularpretensionsseemedmorepreposterousthanever；andwhenhehadrungthebellandwasadmittedbyasevereIrishwaiting-maid，hismomentaryhesitationandhalfhumorousdiffidencehadsuchanunexpectedeffectuponher，thatitseemeddoubtfulifhewouldbeallowedtopassbeyondthevestibule。\"Shure，miss，\"shesaidinawhispertoanunderteacher，\"there\'swanatthedhurewhocallshimself，\'Mister\'Hamlin，butavitisnotayoungladymaskeradin\'inherbrother\'sclothesOimverymuchmistaken；andavit\'saboy，oneofthepupil\'sbrothers，shureyemightputadhressonhimwhenyoutaketheothersoutforawalk，andhe\'dpassforthebeautyofthewholeschool。”
Meantime，theunconscioussubjectofthiscriticismwaspacingsomewhatuneasilyupanddowntheformalreceptionroomintowhichhehadbeenfinallyushered。Itsfartherendwasfilledbyanenormousparlororgan，anumberofmusicbooks，andacheerfullyvariegatedglobe。AlargepresentationBible，anequallymassiveillustratedvolumeontheHolyLand，afewlandscapesincold，bluishmilkandwatercolors，andrigidheadsincrayons——theworkofpupils——werepresumablyornamental。Animposingmahoganysofaandwhatseemedtobeadisproportionateexcessofchairssomewhatcoldlyfurnishedtheroom。Jackhadreluctantlymadeuphismindthat，ifSophywasaccompaniedbyanyone，hewouldbeobligedtokisshertokeepuphisassumedrelationship。AssheenteredtheroomwithMissMix，Jackadvancedandsoberlysalutedheronthecheek。Butsopositiveandapparentwasthegallantryofhispresence，andperhapssosuggestiveofsomepastoralflirtation，thatMissMix，toJack\'ssurprise，wincedperceptiblyandbecamestony。Buthewasstillmoresurprisedthattheyoungladyherselfshrankhalfuneasilyfromhislips，andutteredaslightexclamation。ItwasanewexperiencetoMr。Hamlin。
ButthissomewhatmollifiedMissMix，andsheslightlyrelaxedherausterity。ShewasgladtobeabletogivethebestaccountsofMissBrown，notonlyasregardedherstudies，butastoherconductanddeportment。Really，withthepresentfreedomofmannersandlaxityofhomedisciplineinCalifornia，itwasgratifyingtomeetayoungladywhoseemedtovaluetheimportanceofaproperdecorumandbehavior，especiallytowardstheoppositesex。Mr。Hamlin，althoughherguardian，wasperhapstooyoungtounderstandandappreciatethis。Tothisinexperienceshemustalsoattributetheindiscretionofhiscallingduringschoolhoursandwithoutpreliminarywarning。Shetrusted，however，thatthisinformalitycouldbeoverlookedafterconsultationwithMadameBance，butinthemeantime，perhapsforhalfanhour，shemustwithdrawMissBrownandreturnwithhertotheclass。Mr。Hamlincouldwaitinthispublicroom，reservedespeciallyforvisitors，untiltheyreturned。Or，ifhecaredtoaccompanyoneoftheteachersinaformalinspectionoftheschool，sheadded，doubtfully，withaglanceatJack\'sdistractingattractions，shewouldsubmitthisalsotoMadameBance。
\"Thankyou，thankyou，\"returnedJackhurriedly，asadepressingvisionofthefiftyorsixtyscholarsrosebeforehiseyes，\"butI\'drathernot。Imean，youknow，I\'djustasliefstayhereALONE。Iwouldn\'thavecalledanyway，don\'tyousee，onlyIhadadayoff，——and——and——Iwantedtotalkwithmynieceonfamilymatters。”Hedidnotsaythathehadreceivedasomewhatdistressfulletterfromheraskinghimtocome；anewinstinctmadehimcautious。
ConsiderablyrelievedbyJack\'sunexpectedabstention，whichseemedtospareherpupilsthedistractionofhisgraces，MissMixsmiledmoreamicablyandretiredwithhercharge。InthesingleglancehehadexchangedwithSophyhesawthat，althoughresignedandapparentlyself-controlled，shestillappearedthoughtfulandmelancholy。Shehadimprovedinappearanceandseemedmorerefinedandlessrusticinherschooldress，buthewasconsciousofthesamedistinctseparationofherpersonality(whichwasuninterestingtohim)fromthesentimentthathadimpelledhimtovisither。ShewaspossiblystillhankeringafterthatfellowStratton，inspiteofherprotestationstothecontrary；perhapsshewantedtogobacktohersister，althoughshehaddeclaredshewoulddiefirst，andhadalwaysrefusedtodiscloseherrealnameorgiveanycluebywhichhecouldhavetracedherrelations。Shewouldcry，ofcourse；healmosthopedthatshewouldnotreturnalone；hehalfregrettedhehadcome。Shestillheldhimonlybyasinglequalityofhernature，——thedesperationshehadshownontheboat；thatwassomethingheunderstoodandrespected。
Hewalkeddiscontentedlytothewindowandlookedout；hewalkeddiscontentedlytotheendoftheroomandstoppedbeforetheorgan。
Itwasafineinstrument；hecouldseethatwithanadmiringandexperiencedeye。Hewasaloneintheroom；infact，quitealoneinthatpartofthehousewhichwasseparatedfromtheclass-rooms。
Hewoulddisturbnoonebytryingit。Andifhedid，whatthen？
Hesmiledalittlerecklessly，slowlypulledoffhisgloves，andsatdownbeforeit。
Heplayedcautiouslyatfirst，withthesoftpedaldown。Theinstrumenthadneverknownastrongmasculinehandbefore，havingbeenfumbledandfriveledoverbysoftlyincompetent，femininefingers。Butpresentlyitbegantothrillunderthepassionatehandofitslover，andcarriedawaybyhisoneinnocentweakness，Jackwaslauncheduponaseaofmusicalreminiscences。Scrapsofchurchmusic，Puritanpsalmsofhisboyhood；dyingstrainsfromsad，forgottenoperas，fragmentsoforatoriosandsymphonies，butchieflyphasesfromoldmassesheardatthemissionsofSanPedroandSantaIsabel，swelledupfromhislovingandmasterfulfingers。
HehadfinishedanAgnusDei；theformalroomwaspulsatingwithdivineaspiration；therascal\'shandswererestinglistlesslyonthekeys，hisbrownlasheslifted，inaneffortofmemory，tenderlytowardstheceiling。
Suddenly，asubduedmurmurofapplauseandaslightrustlebehindhimrecalledhimtohimselfagain。Hewheeledhischairquicklyround。Thetwoprincipalsoftheschoolandhalfadozenteacherswerestandinggravelybehindhim，andattheopendooradozencurledandfrizzledyouthfulheadspeeredineagerly，buthalfrestrainedbytheirteachers。TherelaxedfeaturesandapologeticattitudeofMadameBanceandMissMixshowedthatMr。Hamlinhadunconsciouslyachievedatriumph。
Hemightnothavebeenaspleasedtoknowthathisextraordinaryperformancehadsolvedadifficulty，effacedhisothergraces，andenabledthemtoplacehimonthemoralpedestalofameremusician，towhomtheseeccentricitieswereallowableandprivileged。Hesharedtheadmirationextendedbytheyoungladiestotheirmusicteacher，whichwasalwaysunderstoodtobeasexlessenthusiasmandacontagiousjuveniledisorder。Itwasalsoafineadvertisementfortheorgan。MadameBancesmiledblandly，improvedtheoccasionbythankingMr。Hamlinforhavinggiventhescholarsagratuitouslessononthecapabilitiesoftheinstrument，andwasgladtobeabletogiveMissBrownahalf-holidaytospendwithheraccomplishedrelative。MissBrownwasevennowupstairs，puttingonherhatandmantle。Jackwasrelieved。Sophywouldnotattempttocryonthestreet。
Nevertheless，whentheyreacheditandthegateclosedbehindthem，heagainbecameuneasy。Thegirl\'scloudedfaceandmelancholymannerwerenotpromising。Italsooccurredtohimthathemightmeetsomeonewhoknewhimandthuscompromiseher。Thiswastobeavoidedatallhazards。Hebeganwithforcedgayety:——
\"Well，now，whereshallwego？\"
Sheslightlyraisedhertear-dimmedeyes。\"Whereyouplease——
Idon\'tcare。”
\"Thereisn\'tanyshowgoingonhere，isthere？\"Hehadavagueideaofacircusormenagerie——himselfbehindherintheshadowofthebox。
\"Idon\'tknowofany。”
\"Oranyrestaurant——orcakeshop？\"
\"There\'saplacewherethegirlsgotogetcandyonMainStreet。
Someofthemaretherenow。”
Jackshuddered；thiswasnottobethoughtof。\"Butwheredoyouwalk？\"
\"UpanddownMainStreet。”
\"Whereeverybodycanseeyou？\"saidJack，scandalized。
Thegirlnodded。
Theywalkedoninsilenceforafewmoments。ThenabrightideastruckMr。Hamlin。Hesuddenlyrememberedthatinoneofhismanyfitsofimpulsivegenerosityandlargessehehadgiventoanoldnegroretainer——whosewifehadnursedhimthroughadangerousillness——ahouseandlotontheriverbank。Hehadbeentoldthattheyhadopenedasmalllaundryorwash-house。Itoccurredtohimthatastrollthereandacallupon\"UncleHannibalandAuntChloe\"
combinedtheproprietyandrespectabilityduetotheyoungpersonhewaswith，andtherequisitesecrecyandabsenceofpublicityduetohimself。Heatoncesuggestedit。
\"Youseeshewasamightygoodwomanandyououghttoknowher，forshewasmyoldnurse\"——
Thegirlglancedathimwithasuddenimpatience。
\"HonestInjin，\"saidJacksolemnly；\"shedidnursemethroughmylastcough。Iain\'tplayingoldfamilygagsonyounow。”
\"Oh，dear，\"burstoutthegirlimpulsively，\"Idowishyouwouldn\'teverplaythemagain。Iwishyouwouldn\'tpretendtobemyuncle；
Iwishyouwouldn\'tmakemepassforyourniece。Itisn\'tright。
It\'sallwrong。Oh，don\'tyouknowit\'sallwrong，andcan\'tcomerightanyway？It\'sjustkillingme。Ican\'tstandit。I\'dratheryou\'dsaywhatIamandhowIcametoyouandhowyoupitiedme。”
Theyhadluckilyenteredanarrowsidestreet，andthesobswhichshooktheyounggirl\'sframewereunnoticed。ForafewmomentsJackfeltahorribleconvictionstealingoverhim，thatinhispresentattitudetowardsherhewasnotunlikethathoundStratton，andthat，howeverinnocenthisownintent，therewasasickeningresemblancetothesituationontheboatinthebaseadvantagehehadtakenofherfriendlessness。HehadnevertoldherthathewasagamblerlikeStratton，andthathispeculiarlyinfelixreputationamongwomenmadeitimpossibleforhimtoassisther，exceptbyastealthorthedeceptionhehadpracticed，withoutcompromisingher。Hewhohadforyearsfacedthesneersandhalf-frightenedoppositionoftheworlddarednottellthetruthtothisgirl，fromwhomheexpectednothingandwhodidnotinteresthim。Hefelthewasalmostslinkingatherside。Atlasthesaiddesperately:——
\"ButIsnatchedthembald-headedattheorgan，Sophy，didn\'tI？\"
\"Ohyes，\"saidthegirl，\"youplayedbeautifullyandgrandly。Itwassogoodofyou，too。ForIthink，somehow，MadameBancehadbeenalittlesuspiciousofyou，butthatsettledit。Everybodythoughtitwasfine，andsomethoughtitwasyourprofession。
Perhaps，\"sheaddedtimidly，\"itis？\"
\"Iplayagooddeal，Ireckon，\"saidJack，withagrimhumorwhichdidnot，however，amusehim。
\"IwishIcould，andmakemoneybyit，\"saidthegirleagerly。
Jackwinced，butshedidnotnoticeitasshewentonhurriedly:
\"That\'swhatIwantedtotalktoyouabout。Iwanttoleavetheschoolandmakemyownliving。Anywherewherepeoplewon\'tknowmeandwhereIcanbealoneandwork。Ishalldiehereamongthesegirls——withalltheirtalkoftheirfriendsandtheir——sisters，——
andtheirquestionsaboutyou。”
\"Tell\'emtodryup，\"saidJackindignantly。\"Take\'emtothecakeshopandload\'emupwithcandyandicecream。That\'llstoptheirmouths。You\'vegotmoney，yougotmylastremittance，didn\'tyou？\"
herepeatedquickly。\"Ifyoudidn\'t，here\'s\"——hishandwasalreadyinhispocketwhenshestoppedhimwithadespairinggesture。
\"Yes，yes，Igotitall。Ihaven\'ttouchedit。Idon\'twantit。
ForIcan\'tliveonyou。Don\'tyouunderstand，——Iwanttowork。
Listen，——Icandrawandpaint。MadameBancesaysIdoitwell；mydrawing-mastersaysImightintimetakeportraitsandgetpaidforit。AndevennowIcanretouchphotographsandmakecoloredminiaturesfromthem。And，\"shestoppedandglancedatJackhalf-
timidly，\"I\'ve——donesomealready。”
Aglowofsurprisedreliefsuffusedthegambler。Notsomuchatthisastonishingrevelationasatthechangeitseemedtoeffectinher。Herpaleblueeyes，madepalerbytears，clearedandbrightenedundertheirswollenlidslikewipedsteel；thelinesofherdepressedmouthstraightenedandbecamefirm。Hervoicehadlostitshopelessmonotone。
\"There\'sashopinthenextstreet，——aphotographer\'s，——wheretheyhaveoneofmineintheirwindows，\"shewenton，reassuredbyJack\'sunaffectedinterest。\"It\'sonlyroundthecorner，ifyoucaretosee。”
Jackassented；afewpacesfartherbroughtthemtothecornerofanarrowstreet，wheretheypresentlyturnedintoabroaderthoroughfareandstoppedbeforethewindowofaphotographer。
Sophypointedtoanovalframe，containingaportraitpaintedonporcelain。Mr。Hamlinwasstartled。Inexperiencedashewas，acertainartisticinclinationtoldhimitwasgood，althoughitistobefearedhewouldhavebeenastonishedevenifithadbeenworse。Themerefactthatthisheadstrongcountrygirl，whohadrunawaywithacurlikeStratton，shouldbeabletodoanythingelsetookhimbysurprise。
\"Igottendollarsforthat，\"shesaidhesitatingly，\"andIcouldhavegotmoreforalargerone，butIhadtodothatinmyroom，duringrecreationhours。IfIhadmoretimeandaplacewhereI
couldwork\"——shestoppedtimidlyandlookedtentativelyatJack。
ButhewasalreadyindulginginacharacteristicallyrecklessideaofcomingbackafterhehadleftSophy，buyingtheminiatureatanextravagantprice，andorderinghalfadozenmoreatextraordinaryfigures。Here，however，twopassers-by，stoppingostensiblytolookinthewindow，butreallyattractedbythepicturesquespectacleofthehandsomeyoungrusticandhisschoolgirlcompanion，gaveJacksuchafrightthathehurriedSophyawayagainintothesidestreet。\"There\'snothingmeanaboutthatpicturebusiness，\"hesaidcheerfully；\"itlookslikeasquarekindofgame，\"andrelapsedintothoughtfulsilence。
Atwhich，Sophy，theiceofrestraintbroken，againburstintopassionateappeal。Ifshecouldonlygoawaysomewhere——whereshesawnoonebutthepeoplewhowouldbuyherwork，whoknewnothingofherpastnorcaredtoknowwhowereherrelations!Shewouldworkhard；sheknewshecouldsupportherselfintime。Shewouldkeepthenamehehadgivenher，——itwasnotdistinctiveenoughtochallengeanyinquiry，——butnothingmore。Sheneednotassumetobehisniece；hewouldalwaysbeherkindfriend，towhomsheowedeverything，evenhermiserablelife。Shetrustedstilltohishonornevertoseektoknowherrealname，norevertospeaktoherofthatmanifheevermethim。Itwoulddonogoodtoherortothem；itmightdriveher，forshewasnotyetquitesureofherself，todothatwhichshehadpromisedhimnevertodoagain。
Therewasnothreat，impatience，oractinginhervoice，butherecognizedthesamedulldesperationhehadonceheardinit，andhereyes，whichamomentbeforewerequickandmobile，hadbecomefixedandset。Hehadnoideaoftryingtopenetratethefoolishsecretofhernameandrelations；hehadneverhadtheslightestcuriosity，butitstruckhimnowthatStrattonmightatanytimeforceituponhim。Theonlywaythathecouldpreventitwastoletitbeknownthat，forunexpressedreasons，hewouldshootStratton\"onsight。”Thiswouldnaturallyrestrictanyverbalcommunicationbetweenthem。Jack\'sideasofmoralitywerevague，buthisconvictionsonpointsofhonorweresingularlydirectandpositive。
III。
MeantimeHamlinandSophywerepassingtheoutskirtsofthetown；
theopenlotsandclearedspacesweregivingwaytograssystretches，willowcopses，andgroupsofcottonwoodandsycamore；
