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hearty and honest admiration of Bradley。 〃You know it's awfully
kind of him to talk to a fellow like me who just pulled through；
and never got any prizes at Oxford； and don't understand the half
of these things；〃 he remarked confidentially to Mrs。 Bradley。 〃He
knows more about the things we used to go in for at Oxford than
lots of our men； and he's never been there。 He's uncommonly
clever。〃
〃Jim was always very brilliant；〃 returned Mrs。 Bradley；
indifferently； and with more than even conventionally polite wifely
deprecation； 〃I wish he were more practical。〃
〃Practical！ Oh； I say； Mrs。 Bradley！ Why； a fellow that can go in
among a lot of workmen and tell them just what to doan all…round
chap that can be independent of his valet； his doctor； and his
banker！ By JoveTHAT'S practical！〃
〃I mean；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； coldly； 〃that there are some things
that a gentleman ought not to be practical about nor independent
of。 Mr。 Bradley would have done better to have used his talents in
some more legitimate and established way。〃
Mainwaring looked at her in genuine surprise。 To his inexperienced
observation Bradley's intelligent energy and； above all； his
originality； ought to have been priceless in the eyes of his wife
the American female of his species。 He felt that slight shock
which most loyal or logical men feel when first brought face to
face with the easy disloyalty and incomprehensible logic of the
feminine affections。 Here was a fellow； by Jove； that any woman
ought to be proud of； andandhe stopped blankly。 He wondered if
Miss Macy sympathized with her cousin。
Howbeit； this did not affect the charm of their idyllic life at The
Lookout。 The precipice over which they hung was as charming as
ever in its poetic illusions of space and depth and color； the
isolation of their comfortable existence in the tasteful yet
audacious habitation； the pleasant routine of daily tasks and
amusements； all tended to make the enforced quiet and inaction of
his convalescence a lazy recreation。 He was really improving； more
than that； he was conscious of a certain satisfaction in this
passive observation of novelty that was healthier and perhaps TRUER
than his previous passion for adventure and that febrile desire for
change and excitement which he now felt was a part of his disease。
Nor were incident and variety entirely absent from this tranquil
experience。 He was one day astonished at being presented by
Bradley with copies of the latest English newspapers； procured from
Sacramento； and he equally astonished his host； after profusely
thanking him； by only listlessly glancing at their columns。 He
estopped a proposed visit from one of his influential countrymen；
in the absence of his fair entertainers at their domestic duties；
he extracted infinite satisfaction from Foo…Yup； the Chinese
servant； who was particularly detached for his service。 From his
invalid coign of vantage at the window he was observant of all that
passed upon the veranda； that al…fresco audience…room of The
Lookout； and he was good…humoredly conscious that a great many
eccentric and peculiar visitors were invariably dragged thither by
Miss Macy； and goaded into characteristic exhibition within sight
and hearing of her guest； with a too evident view； under the
ostentatious excuse of extending his knowledge of national
character or mischievously shocking him。
〃When you are strong enough to stand Captain Gashweiler's opinions
of the Established Church and Chinamen；〃 said Miss Macy； after one
of these revelations； 〃I'll get Jim to bring him here； for really he
swears so outrageously that even in the broadest interests of
international understanding and good…will neither Mrs。 Bradley nor
myself could be present。〃
On another occasion she provokingly lingered before his window for
a moment with a rifle slung jauntily over her shoulder。 〃If you
hear a shot or two don't excite yourself； and believe we're having
a lynching case in the woods。 It will be only me。 There's some
creatureconfess； you expected me to say 'critter'hanging round
the barn。 It may be a bear。 Good…by。〃 She missed the creature；
which happened to be really a bear；much to Mainwaring's illogical
satisfaction。 〃I wonder why；〃 he reflected； with vague uneasiness；
〃she doesn't leave all that sort of thing to girls like that tow…
headed girl at the blacksmith's。〃
It chanced； however； that this blacksmith's tow…headed daughter；
who； it may be incidentally remarked； had the additional
eccentricities of large black eyes and large white teeth； came to
the fore in quite another fashion。 Shortly after this； Mainwaring
being able to leave his room and join the family board； Mrs。
Bradley found it necessary to enlarge her domestic service； and
arranged with her nearest neighbor； the blacksmith； to allow his
daughter to come to The Lookout for a few days to 〃do the chores〃
and assist in the housekeeping； as she had on previous occasions。
The day of her advent Bradley entered Mainwaring's room； and；
closing the door mysteriously； fixed his blue eyes； kindling with
mischief； on the young Englishman。
〃You are aware； my dear boy；〃 he began with affected gravity； 〃that
you are now living in a land of liberty； where mere artificial
distinctions are not known； and where Freedom from her mountain
heights generally levels all social positions。 I think you have
graciously admitted that fact。〃
〃I know I've been taking a tremendous lot of freedom with you and
yours； old man； and it's a deuced shame；〃 interrupted Mainwaring；
with a faint smile。
〃And that nowhere；〃 continued Bradley； with immovable features；
〃does equality exist as perfectly as above yonder unfathomable
abyss； where you have also； doubtless； observed the American eagle
proudly soars and screams defiance。〃
〃Then that was the fellow that kept me awake this morning； and made
me wonder if I was strong enough to hold a gun again。〃
〃That wouldn't have settled the matter；〃 continued Bradley；
imperturbably。 〃The case is simply this： Miss Minty Sharpe； that
blacksmith's daughter； has once or twice consented； for a slight
emolument； to assist in our domestic service for a day or two； and
she comes back again to…day。 Now； under the aegis of that noble
bird whom your national instincts tempt you to destroy； she has on
all previous occasions taken her meals with us； at the same table；
on terms of perfect equality。 She will naturally expect to do the
same now。 Mrs。 Bradley thought it proper； therefore； to warn you；
that； in case your health was not quite equal to this democratic
simplicity； you could still dine in your room。〃
〃It would be great funif Miss Sharpe won't object to my
presence。〃
〃But it must not be 'great fun；'〃 returned Bradley； more seriously；
〃for Miss Minty's perception of humor is probably as keen as yours；
and she would be quick to notice it。 And； so far from having a