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revelation of this slow education of the figure and training of
outlinewhether fair or false in artstruck her quick intelligence
with all its full and hopeless significance。 A bitter light sprang
to her eyes； she tore the wretched sham from her shoulders； and then
wrapping a shawl around her； threw herself heavily and sullenly on
the bed。 But inaction was not a characteristic of Minty's emotion；
she presently rose again； and； taking an old work…box from her
trunk； began to rummage in its recesses。 It was an old shell…
incrusted affair； and the apparent receptacle of such cheap odds and
ends of jewelry as she possessed； a hideous cameo ring； the property
of the late Mrs。 Sharpe； was missing。 She again rapidly explored
the contents of the box； and then an inspiration seized her； and she
darted into her brother's bedroom。
That precocious and gallant Lovelace of ten； despite all sentiment；
had basely succumbed to the gross materialism of youthful slumber。
On a cot in the corner； half hidden under the wreck of his own
careless and hurried disrobing； with one arm hanging out of the
coverlid； Richelieu lay supremely unconscious。 On the forefinger
of his small but dirty hand the missing cameo was still glittering
guiltily。 With a swift movement of indignation Minty rushed with
uplifted palm towards the tempting expanse of youthful cheek that
lay invitingly exposed upon the pillow。 Then she stopped suddenly。
She had seen him lying thus a hundred times before。 On the pillow
near him an indistinguishable mass of golden furthe helpless bulk
of a squirrel chained to the leg of his cot； at his feet a wall…
eyed cat； who had followed his tyrannous caprices with the long…
suffering devotion of her sex； on the shelf above him a loathsome
collection of flies and tarantulas in dull green bottles： a slab of
ginger…bread for light nocturnal refection； and her own pot of
bear's grease。 Perhaps it was the piteous defencelessness of
youthful sleep； perhaps it was some lingering memory of her
father's caress； but as she gazed at him with troubled eyes； the
juvenile reprobate slipped back into the baby…boy that she had
carried in her own childish arms such a short time ago； when the
maternal responsibility had descended with the dead mother's ill…
fitting dresses upon her lank girlish figure and scant virgin
breastand her hand fell listlessly at her side。
The sleeper stirred slightly and awoke。 At the same moment； by
some mysterious sympathy； a pair of beady bright eyes appeared in
the bulk of fur near his curls； the cat stretched herself； and even
a vague agitation was heard in the bottles on the shelf。 Richelieu's
blinking eyes wandered from the candle to his sister； and then
the guilty hand was suddenly withdrawn under the bedclothes。
〃No matter； dear；〃 said Minty； 〃it's mar's； and you kin wear it
when you like； if you'll only ask for it。〃
Richelieu wondered if he was dreaming！ This unexpected mildness
this inexplicable tremor in his sister's voice： it must be some
occult influence of the night season on the sisterly mind； possibly
akin to a fear of ghosts！ He made a mental note of it in view of
future favors； yet for the moment he felt embarrassedly gratified。
〃Ye ain't wantin' anything； Minty；〃 he said affectionately； 〃a pail
o' cold water from the far springno nothin'？〃 He made an
ostentatious movement as if to rise； yet sufficiently protracted to
prevent any hasty acceptance of his prodigal offer。
〃No； dear；〃 she said； still gazing at him with an absorbed look in
her dark eyes。
Richelieu felt a slight creepy sensation under that lonely far…off
gaze。 〃Your eyes look awful big at night； Minty；〃 he said。 He
would have added 〃and pretty；〃 but she was his sister； and he had
the lofty fraternal conviction of his duty in repressing the
inordinate vanity of the sex。 〃Ye're sure ye ain't wantin'
nothin'？〃
〃Not now； dear。〃 She paused a moment； and then said deliberately：
〃But you wouldn't mind turnin' out after sun…up and runnin' an
errand for me over to The Lookout？〃
Richelieu's eyes sparkled so suddenly that even in her absorption
Minty noticed the change。 〃But ye're not goin' to tarry over
there； ner gossipyou hear？ Yer to take this yer message。 Yer to
say 'that it will be onpossible for me to come back there； on
accounton account of'〃
〃Important business；〃 suggested Richelieu； 〃that's the perlite
style。〃
〃Ef you like。〃 She leaned over the bed and put her lips to his
forehead； still damp with the dews of sleep； and then to his long…
lashed lids。 〃Mind Nip！〃the squirrelhe practically suggested。
For an instant their blond curls mingled on the pillow。 〃Now go to
sleep；〃 she said curtly。
But Richelieu had taken her white neck in the short strangulatory
hug of the small boy； and held her fast。 〃Ye'll let me put on my
best pants？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And wear that ring？〃
〃Yes〃a little sadly。
〃Then yer kin count me in； Minty； and see here〃his voice sank to
a confidential whisper〃mebbee some day ye'll be beholden to ME
for a lot o' real jewelry。〃
She returned slowly to her room； and； opening the window； looked
out upon the night。 The same moon that had lent such supererogatory
grace to the natural beauty of The Lookout； here seemed to have
failed； as Minty had； in disguising the relentless limitations of
Nature or the cruel bonds of custom。 The black plain of granite；
under its rays； appeared only to extend its poverty to some remoter
barrier； the blackened stumps of the burnt forest stood bleaker
against the sky； like broken and twisted pillars of iron。 The
cavity of the broken ledge where Richelieu had prospected was a
hideous chasm of bluish blackness； over which a purple vapor seemed
to hover； the 〃brush dump〃 beside the house showed a cavern of
writhing and distorted objects stiffened into dark rigidity。 She
had often looked upon the prospect： it had never seemed so hard and
changeless； yet she accepted it； as she had accepted it before。
She turned away； undressed herself mechanically； and went to bed。
She had an idea that she had been very foolish； that her escape
from being still more foolish was something miraculous； and in some
measure connected with Providence； her father； her little brother；
and her dead mother； whose dress she had recklessly spoiled。 But
that she had even so slightly touched the bitterness and glory of
renunciationas written of heroines and fine ladies by novelists
and poetsnever entered the foolish head of Minty Sharpe； the
blacksmith's daughter。
CHAPTER IV。
It was a little after daybreak next morning that Mainwaring awoke
from the first unrefreshing night he had passed at The Lookout。 He
was so feverish and restless that he dressed himself at sunrise； and
cautiously stepped out upon the still silent veranda。 The chairs
which he and Louise Macy had occupied were still； it seemed to him；
c