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morning。〃 Mainwaring was not displeased that his critical and
observant host was not present at their meeting。 Louise Macy was；
however； as demurely conscious of the different bearing of the two
compatriots。 Richardson's somewhat self…important patronage of
the two ladies； and that Californian familiarity he had acquired；
changed to a certain uneasy deference towards Mainwaring； while the
younger Englishman's slightly stiff and deliberate cordiality was；
nevertheless； mingled with a mysterious understanding that appeared
innate and unconscious。 Louise was quick to see that these two
men； more widely divergent in quality than any two of her own
countrymen； were yet more subtly connected by some unknown sympathy
than the most equal of Americans。 Minty's prophetic belief of the
effect of the two women upon Richardson was certainly true as
regarded Mrs。 Bradley。 The bankera large material naturewas
quickly fascinated by the demure； puritanic graces of that lady；
and was inclined to exhibit a somewhat broad and ostentatious
gallantry that annoyed Mainwaring。 When they were seated alone
on the veranda； which the ladies had discreetly left to them；
Richardson said；
〃Odd I didn't hear of Bradley's wife before。 She seems a spicy；
pretty； comfortable creature。 Regularly thrown away with him up
here。〃
Mainwaring replied coldly that she was 〃an admirable helpmeet of a
very admirable man；〃 not； however； without an uneasy recollection
of her previous confidences respecting her husband。 〃They have
been most thoroughly good and kind to me； my own brother and sister
could not have done more。 And certainly not with better taste or
delicacy；〃 he added； markedly。
〃Certainly； certainly；〃 said Richardson； hurriedly。 〃I wrote to
Lady Mainwaring that you were taken capital care of by some very
honest people； and that〃
〃Lady Mainwaring already knows what I think of them； and what she
owes to their kindness；〃 said Mainwaring； dryly。
〃True； true；〃 said Richardson； apologetically。 〃Of course you must
have seen a good deal of them。 I only know Bradley in a business
way。 He's been trying to get the Bank to help him to put up some
new mills here； but we didn't see it。 I dare say he is good
companyrather amusing； eh？〃
Mainwaring had the gift of his class of snubbing by the polite and
forgiving oblivion of silence。 Richardson shifted uneasily in his
chair； but continued with assumed carelessness：
〃No； I only knew of this cousin； Miss Macy。 I heard of her when
she was visiting some friends in Menlo Park last year。 Rather an
attractive girl。 They say Colonel Johnson； of Sacramento； took
quite a fancy to herit would have been a good match； I dare say；
for he is very richbut the thing fell through in some way。 Then；
they say； SHE wanted to marry that Spaniard； young Pico； of the
Amador Ranche； but his family wouldn't hear of it。 Somehow； she's
deuced unlucky。 I suppose she'll make a mess of it with Captain
Greyson she was out riding with this morning。〃
〃Didn't the Bank think Bradley's mills a good investment？〃 asked
Mainwaring quietly； when Richardson paused。
〃Not with him in it； he is not a business man； you know。〃
〃I thought he was。 He seems to me an energetic man； who knows his
work； and is not afraid to look after it himself。〃
〃That's just it。 He has got absurd ideas of co…operating with his
workmen； you know； and doing everything slowly and on a limited
scale。 The only thing to be done is to buy up all the land on this
ridge； run off the settlers； freeze out all the other mills； and
put it into a big San Francisco company on shares。 That's the only
way we would look at it。〃
〃But you don't consider the investment bad； even from HIS point of
view？〃
〃Perhaps not。〃
〃And you only decline it because it isn't big enough for the Bank？〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃Richardson；〃 said Mainwaring； slowly rising； putting his hands in
his trousers pockets； and suddenly looking down upon the banker
from the easy level of habitual superiority； 〃I wish you'd attend
to this thing for me。 I desire to make some return to Mr。 Bradley
for his kindness。 I wish to give him what help he wantsin his
own wayyou understand。 I wish it； and I believe my father wishes
it； too。 If you'd like him to write to you to that effect〃
〃By no means； it's not at all necessary；〃 said Richardson； dropping
with equal suddenness into his old…world obsequiousness。 〃I shall
certainly do as you wish。 It is not a bad investment； Mr。
Mainwaring； and as you suggest； a very proper return for their
kindness。 And； being here； it will come quite naturally for me to
take up the affair again。〃
〃AndI say； Richardson。〃
〃Yes； sir？〃
〃As these ladies are rather short…handed in their domestic service；
you know； perhaps you'd better not stay to luncheon or dinner； but
go on to the Summit Houseit's only a mile or two fartherand
come back here this evening。 I shan't want you until then。〃
〃Certainly！〃 stammered Richardson。 〃I'll just take leave of the
ladies！〃
〃It's not at all necessary；〃 said Mainwaring； quietly； 〃you would
only disturb them in their household duties。 I'll tell them what
I've done with you； if they ask。 You'll find your stick and hat in
the passage； and you can leave the veranda by these steps。 By the
way； you had better manage at the Summit to get some one to bring
my traps from here to be forwarded to Sacramento to…morrow。 I'll
want a conveyance； or a horse of some kind； myself； for I've given
up walking for a while； but we can settle about that to…night。
Come early。 Good morning？〃
He accompanied his thoroughly subjugated countrymanwho； however；
far from attempting to reassert himself； actually seemed easier and
more cheerful in his submissionto the end of the veranda； and
watched him depart。 As he turned back； he saw the pretty figure of
Louise Macy leaning against the doorway。 How graceful and refined
she looked in that simple morning dress！ What wonder that she was
admired by Greyson； by Johnson； and by that Spaniard！no； by Jove；
it was SHE that wanted to marry him！
〃What have you sent away Mr。 Richardson for？〃 asked the young girl；
with a half…reproachful； half…mischievous look in her bright eyes。
〃I packed him off because I thought it was a little too hard on you
and Mrs。 Bradley to entertain him without help。〃
〃But as he was OUR guest； you might have left that to us；〃 said
Miss Macy。
〃By Jove！ I never thought of that；〃 said Mainwaring； coloring in
consternation。 〃Pray forgive me； Miss Macybut you see I knew the
man； and could say it； and you couldn't。〃
〃Well； I forgive you； for you look really so cut up；〃 said Louise；
laughing。 〃But I don't know what Jenny will say of your disposing
of her conquest so summarily。〃 She stopped and regarded him more
attentively。 〃Has he brought you any bad news？ if so； it's a pity
you