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cautiously stepped out upon the still silent veranda。 The chairs
which he and Louise Macy had occupied were still； it seemed to him；
conspicuously confidential with each other； and he separated them；
but as he looked down into the Great Canyon at his feet he was
conscious of some undefinable change in the prospect。 A slight mist
was rising from the valley； as if it were the last of last night's
illusions； the first level sunbeams were obtrusively searching； and
the keen morning air had a dryly practical insistence which
irritated him； until a light footstep on the farther end of the
veranda caused him to turn sharply。
It was the singular apparition of a small boy； bearing a surprising
resemblance to Minty Sharpe； and dressed in an unique fashion。 On
a tumbled sea of blond curls a 〃chip〃 sailor hat； with a broad red
ribbon； rode jauntily。 But here the nautical suggestion changed；
as had the desire of becoming a pirate which induced it。 A red
shirt； with a white collar； and a yellow plaid ribbon tie； that
also recalled Minty Sharpe； lightly turned the suggestion of his
costume to mining。 Short black velvet trousers； coming to his
knee； and ostentatiously new short…legged boots； with visible
straps like curling ears； completed the entirely original character
of his lower limbs。
Mainwaring； always easily gentle and familiar with children and his
inferiors； looked at him with an encouraging smile。 Richelieufor
it was headvanced gravely and held out his hand； with the cameo
ring apparent。 Mainwaring； with equal gravity； shook it warmly；
and removed his hat。 Richelieu； keenly observant； did the same。
〃Is Jim Bradley out yet？〃 asked Richelieu； carelessly。
〃No； I think not。 But I'm Frank Mainwaring。 Will I do？〃
Richelieu smiled。 The dimples； the white teeth； the dark； laughing
eyes； were surely Minty's？
〃I'm Richelieu；〃 he rejoined with equal candor。
〃Richelieu？〃
〃Yes。 That Frenchmanthe Lord Cardinalyou know。 Mar saw
Forrest do him out in St。 Louis。〃
〃Do him？〃
〃Yes； in the theayter。〃
With a confused misconception of his meaning； Mainwaring tried to
recall the historical dress of the great Cardinal and fit it to the
masqueraderif such he werebefore him。 But Richelieu relieved
him by adding；
〃Richelieu Sharpe。〃
〃Oh； that's your NAME！〃 said Mainwaring； cheerfully。 〃Then you're
Miss Minty's brother。 I know her。 How jolly lucky！〃
They both shook hands again。 Richelieu； eager to get rid of the
burden of his sister's message； which he felt was in the way of
free…and…easy intercourse with this charming stranger； looked
uneasily towards the house。
〃I say；〃 said Mainwaring； 〃if you're in a hurry； you'd better go in
there and knock。 I hear some one stirring in the kitchen。〃
Richelieu nodded； but first went back to the steps of the veranda；
picked up a small blue knotted handkerchief； apparently containing
some heavy objects； and repassed Mainwaring。
〃What！ have you cut it； Richelieu； with your valuables？ What have
you got there？〃
〃Specimins；〃 said Richelieu； shortly； and vanished。
He returned presently。 〃Well； Cardinal； did you see anybody？〃
asked Mainwaring。
〃Mrs。 Bradley； but Jim's over to the mill。 I'm goin' there。〃
〃Did you see Miss Macy？〃 continued Mainwaring； carelessly。
〃Loo？〃
〃Loo！well； yes。〃
〃No。 She's philanderin' with Captain Greyson。〃
〃Philandering with Greyson？〃 echoed Mainwaring； in wonder。
〃Yes； on horseback on the ridge。〃
〃You mean she's riding out with Mr。with Captain Greyson？〃
〃Yes； ridin' AND philanderin'；〃 persisted Richelieu。
〃And what do you call philandering？〃
〃Well； I reckon you and she oughter know；〃 returned Richelieu； with
a precocious air。
〃Certainly；〃 said Mainwaring； with a faint smile。 Richelieu really
was like Minty。
There was a long silence。 This young Englishman was becoming
exceedingly uninteresting。 Richelieu felt that he was gaining
neither profit nor amusement； and losing time。 〃I'm going；〃 he
said。
〃Good morning；〃 said Mainwaring； without looking up。
Richelieu picked up his specimens； thoroughly convinced of the
stranger's glittering deceitfulness； and vanished。
It was nearly eight o'clock when Mrs。 Bradley came from the house。
She apologized； with a slightly distrait smile； for the tardiness
of the household。 〃Mr。 Bradley stayed at the mill all night； and
will not be here until breakfast； when he brings your friend Mr。
Richardson with him〃Mainwaring scarcely repressed a movement of
impatience〃who arrives early。 It's unfortunate that Miss Sharpe
can't come to…day。〃
In his abstraction Mainwaring did not notice that Mrs。 Bradley
slightly accented Minty's formal appellation； and said carelessly；
〃Oh； that's why her brother came over here so early！〃
〃Did YOU see him？〃 asked Mrs。 Bradley； almost abruptly。
〃Yes。 He is an amusing little beggar； but I think he shares his
sister's preference for Mr。 Bradley。 He deserted me here in the
veranda for him at the mill。〃
〃Louise will keep you company as soon as she has changed her
dress；〃 continued Mrs。 Bradley。 〃She was out riding early this
morning with a friend。 She's very fond of early morning rides。〃
〃AND philandering；〃 repeated Mainwaring to himself。 It was quite
natural for Miss Macy to ride out in the morning； after the fashion
of the country； with an escort； but why had the cub insisted on the
〃philandering〃？ He had said； 〃AND philandering；〃 distinctly。 It
was a nasty thing for him to say。 Any other fellow but he；
Mainwaring； might misunderstand the whole thing。 Perhaps he ought
to warn herbut no！ he could not repeat the gossip of a child； and
that child the brother of one of her inferiors。 But was Minty an
inferior？ Did she and Minty talk together about this fellow
Greyson？ At all events； it would only revive the awkwardness of
the preceding day； and he resolved to say nothing。
He was rewarded by a half…inquiring； half…confiding look in
Louise's bright eyes； when she presently greeted him on the
veranda。 〃She had quite forgotten；〃 she said； 〃to tell him last
night of her morning's engagement； indeed； she had half forgotten
IT。 It used to be a favorite practice of hers； with Captain
Greyson； but she had lately given it up。 She believed she had not
ridden sincesince〃
〃Since when？〃 asked Mainwaring。
〃Well； since you were ill；〃 she said frankly。
A quick pleasure shone in Mainwaring's cheek and eye； but Louise's
pretty lids did not drop； nor her faint； quiet bloom deepen。
Breakfast was already waiting when Mr。 Richardson arrived alone。
He explained that Mr。 Bradley had some important and unexpected
business which had delayed him； but which； he added； 〃Mr。 Bradley
says may prove interesting enough to you to excuse his absence this
morning。〃 Mainwaring was not displeased that his critical an