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action of the catastrophe until the affairs of the Sierran Land and
Timber Company could be examined and some plan of reconstruction
arranged。
During this interval of five months； in which the credit of Sir
Robert Mainwaring was preserved with the secret of his disaster；
Bradley was a frequent and welcome visitor to Oldenhurst。 Apart
from his strange and chivalrous friendship for the Mainwarings
which was as incomprehensible to Sir Robert as Sir Robert's equally
eccentric and Quixotic speculations had been to Bradleyhe began
to feel a singular and weird fascination for the place。 A patient
martyr in the vast London house he had taken for his wife and
cousin's amusement； he loved to escape the loneliness of its autumn
solitude or the occasional greater loneliness of his wife's social
triumphs。 The handsome； thoughtful man who sometimes appeared at
the foot of his wife's table or melted away like a well…bred ghost
in the hollow emptiness of her brilliant receptions； piqued the
languid curiosity of a few。 A distinguished personage； known for
his tactful observance of convenances that others forgot； had made
a point of challenging this gentlemanly apparition； and had
followed it up with courteous civilities； which led to exchange of
much respect but no increase of acquaintance。 He had even spent a
week at Buckenthorpe； with Canterbridge in the coverts and Lady
Canterbridge in the music…room and library。 He had returned more
thoughtful； and for some time after was more frequent in his
appearances at home； and more earnest in his renewed efforts to
induce his wife to return to America with him。
〃You'll never be happy anywhere but in California； among those
common people；〃 she replied； 〃and while I was willing to share your
poverty THERE；〃 she added dryly； 〃I prefer to share your wealth
among civilized ladies and gentlemen。 Besides；〃 she continued； 〃we
must consider Louise。 She is as good as engaged to Lord Dunshunner；
and I do not intend that you shall make a mess of her affairs here
as you did in California。〃
It was the first time he had heard of Lord Dunshunner's proposals；
it was the first allusion she had ever made to Louise and
Mainwaring。
Meantime； the autumn leaves had fallen silently over the broad
terraces of Oldenhurst with little changes to the fortunes of the
great house itself。 The Christmas house…party included Lady
Canterbridge； whose husband was still detained at Homburg in
company with Dunshunner； and Bradley； whose wife and cousin
lingered on the continent。 He was slightly embarrassed when Lady
Canterbridge turned to him one afternoon as they were returning
from the lake and congratulated him abruptly upon Louise's
engagement。
〃Perhaps you don't care to be congratulated；〃 she said； as he did
not immediately respond； 〃and you had as little to do with it as
with that other？ It is a woman's function。〃
〃What other？〃 echoed Bradley。
Lady Canterbridge slightly turned her handsome head towards him as
she walked unbendingly at his side。 〃Tell me how you manage to
keep your absolute simplicity so fresh。 Do you suppose it wasn't
known at Oldenhurst that Frank had quite compromised himself with
Miss Macy over there？〃
〃It certainly was not known 'over there；'〃 said Bradley； curtly。
〃Don't be angry with me。〃
Such an appeal from the tall； indifferent woman at his side； so
confidently superior to criticism； and uttered in a low tone； made
him smile； albeit uneasily。
〃I only meant to congratulate you；〃 she continued carelessly。
〃Dunshunner is not a bad sort of fellow； and will come into a good
property some day。 And then； society is so made up of caprice；
just now； that it is well for your wife's cousin to make the most
of her opportunities while they last。 She is very popular now； but
next season〃 Seeing that Bradley remained silent； she did not
finish the sentence； but said with her usual abruptness； 〃Do you
know a Miss Araminta Eulalie Sharpe？〃
Bradley started。 Could any one recognize honest Minty in the
hopeless vulgarity which this fine lady had managed to carelessly
import into her name？ His eye kindled。
〃She is an old friend of mine； Lady Canterbridge。〃
〃How fortunate！ Then I can please you by giving you good news of
her。 She is the coming sensation。 They say she is very rich； but
quite one of the people； you know： in fact； she makes no scruples
of telling you her father was a blacksmith； I think； and takes the
dear old man with her everywhere。 FitzHarry raves about her； and
says her naivete is something too delicious。 She is regularly in
with some of the best people already。 Lady Dungeness has taken her
up； and Northforeland is only waiting for your cousin's engagement
to be able to go over decently。 Shall I ask her to Buckenthorpe？
come； now； as an apology for my rudeness to your cousin？〃 She was
very womanly now in spite of her high collar； her straight back；
and her tightly…fitting jacket； as she stood there smiling。
Suddenly； her smile faded； she drew her breath in quickly。
She had caught a glimpse of his usually thoughtful face and eyes；
now illuminated with some pleasant memory。
〃Thank you；〃 he said smilingly； yet with a certain hesitation； as
he thought of The Lookout and Araminta Eulalie Sharpe； and tried to
reconcile them with the lady before him。 〃I should like it very
much。〃
〃Then you have known Miss Sharpe a long time？〃 continued Lady
Canterbridge as they walked on。
〃While we were at The Lookout she was our nearest neighbor。〃
〃And I suppose your wife will consider it quite proper for you to
see her again at my house？〃 said Lady Canterbridge； with a return
of conventional levity。
〃Oh！ quite；〃 said Bradley。
They had reached the low Norman…arched side…entrance to the
quadrangle。 As Bradley swung open the bolt…studded oaken door to
let her pass； she said carelessly；
〃Then you are not coming in now？〃
〃No； I shall walk a little longer。〃
〃And I am quite forgiven？〃
〃I am thanking you very much；〃 he said； smiling directly into her
blue eyes。 She lowered them； and vanished into the darkness of the
passage。
The news of Minty's success was further corroborated by Sir Robert；
who later that evening called Bradley into the study。 〃Frank has
been writing from Nice that he has renewed his acquaintance with
some old Californian friends of yoursa Mr。 and Miss Sharpe。 Lady
Canterbridge says that they are well known in London to some of our
friends； but I would like to ask you something about them。 Lady
Mainwaring was on the point of inviting them here when I received a
letter from Mr。 Sharpe asking for a BUSINESS interview。 Pray who
is this Sharpe？〃
〃You say he writes for a BUSINESS interview？〃 asked Bradley。
〃Yes。〃
Bradley hesitated for a moment and then said quietly； 〃Perhaps；
then； I am justified in a breach of confidence to him； in or