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〃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 any
objection to you； I am inclined to think that we owe her consent to
come to her desire of making your acquaintance。〃
〃She will find my conduct most exemplary；〃 said Mainwaring；
earnestly。
〃Let us hope so；〃 concluded Bradley； with unabated gravity。 〃And；
now that you have consented； let me add from my own experience that
Miss Minty's lemon…pies alone are worthy of any concession。
The dinner…hour came。 Mainwaring； a little pale and interesting；
leaning on the arm of Bradley； crossed the hall； and for the first
time entered the dining…room of the house where he had lodged for
three weeks。 It was a bright； cheerful apartment； giving upon the
laurels of the rocky hillside； and permeated； like the rest of the
house； with the wholesome spice of the valleyan odor that； in its
pure desiccating property； seemed to obliterate all flavor of alien
human habitation； and even to dominate and etherealize the
appetizing smell of the viands before them。 The bare； shining；
planed； boarded walls appeared to resent any decoration that might
have savored of dust； decay； or moisture。 The four large windows
and long； open door； set in scanty strips of the plainest spotless
muslin； framed in themselves pictures of woods and rock and sky of
limitless depth； color； and distance； that made all other adornment
impertinent。 Nature； invading the room at every opening； had
banished Art from those neutral walls。
〃It's like a picnic； with comfort；〃 said Mainwaring； glancing round
him with boyish appreciation。 Miss Minty was not yet there； the
Chinaman was alone in attendance。 Mainwaring could not help
whispering； half mischievously； to Louise； 〃You draw the line at
Chinamen； I suppose？〃
〃WE don't； but HE does；〃 answered the young girl。 〃He considers us
his social inferiors。 Buthush！〃
Minty Sharpe had just entered the room； and was advancing with
smiling confidence towards the table。 Mainwaring was a little
startled； he had seen Minty in a holland sun…bonnet and turned up
skirt crossing the veranda； only a moment before； in the brief
instant between the dishing…up of dinner and its actual announcement
she had managed to change her dress； put on a clean collar； cuffs；
and a large jet brooch； and apply some odorous unguent to her
rebellious hair。 Her face； guiltless of powder or cold cream； was
still shining with the healthy perspiration of her last labors as
she promptly took the vacant chair beside Mainwaring。
〃Don't mind me； folks；〃 she said cheerfully； resting her plump
elbow on the table； and addressing the company generally； but
gazing with frank curiosity into the face of the young man at her
side。 〃It was a keen jump； I tell yer； to get out of my old duds
inter these； and look decent inside o' five minutes。 But I reckon
I ain't kept yer waitin' longleast of all this yer sick stranger。
But you're looking pearter than you did。 You're wonderin' like ez
not where I ever saw ye before？〃 she continued； laughing。 〃Well；
I'll tell you。 Last week！ I'd kem over yer on a chance of seein'
Jenny Bradley； and while I was meanderin' down the veranda I saw
you lyin' back in your chair by the window drowned in sleep； like a
baby。 Lordy！ I mout hev won a pair o' gloves； but I reckoned you
were Loo's game； and not mine。〃
The slightly constrained laugh which went round the table after
Miss Minty's speech was due quite as much to the faint flush that
had accented Mainwaring's own smile as to the embarrassing remark
itself。 Mrs。 Bradley and Miss Macy exchanged rapid glances。
Bradley； who alone retained his composure； with a slight flicker of
amusement in the corner of his eye and nostril； said quickly： 〃You
see； Mainwaring； how nature stands ready to help your convalescence
at every turn。 If Miss Minty had only followed up her healing
opportunity； your cure would have been complete。〃
〃Ye mout hev left some o' that pretty talk for HIM to say；〃 said
Minty； taking up her knife and fork with a slight shrug； 〃and you
needn't call me MISS Minty either； jest because there's kempeny
present。〃
〃I hope you won't look upon me as company； Minty； or I shall be
obliged to call you 'Miss' too；〃 said Mainwaring； unexpectedly
regaining his usual frankness。
Bradley's face brightened； Miss Minty raised her black eyes from
her plate with still broader appreciation。
〃There's nothin' mean about that；〃 she said； showing her white
teeth。 〃Well； what's YOUR first name？〃
〃Not as pretty as yours； I'm afraid。 It's Frank。〃
〃No it ain't； it's Francis！ You reckon to be Sir Francis some
day；〃 she said gravely。 〃You can't play any Frank off on me。 You
wouldn't do it on HER；〃 she added； indicating Louise with her
elbow。
A momentous silence followed。 The particular form that Minty's
vulgarity had taken had not been anticipated by the two other
women。 They had； not unreasonably； expected some original audacity
or gaucherie from the blacksmith's daughter； which might astonish
yet amuse their guest； and condone for the situation forced upon
them。 But they were not prepared for a playfulness that involved
themselves in a ridiculous indiscretion。 Mrs。 Bradley's eyes
sought her husband's meaningly； Louise's pretty mouth hardened。
Luckily the cheerful cause of it suddenly jumped up from the table；
and saying that the stranger was starving； insisted upon bringing a
dish from the other side and helping him herself plentifully。
Mainwaring rose gallantly to take the dish from her hand； a slight
scuffle ensued which ended in the young man being forced down in
his chair by the pressure of Minty's strong plump hand on his
shoulder。 〃There；〃 she said； 〃ye kin mind your dinner now； and I
reckon we'll give the others a chance to chip into the conversation；〃
and at once applied herself to the plate before her。
The conversation presently became general； with the exception that
Minty； more or less engrossed by professional anxiety in the
quality of the dinner and occasional hurried visits to the kitchen；
briefly answered the few polite remarks which Mainwaring felt
called upon to address to her。 Nevertheless； he was conscious；
malgre her rallying allusions to Miss Macy； that he felt none of
the vague yet half pleasant anxiety with which Louise was beginning
to inspire him。 He felt at ease in Minty's presence； and believed；
rightly or wrongly； that she understood him as well as he
understood her。 And there were certainly points in common between
his two hostesses and their humbler though proud dependent。 The
social evolution of Mrs。 Bradley and Louise Macy from some previous
Minty was neither remote nor complete； the self…sufficient
independence； ease； and quiet self…assertion were alike in each。
The superior position was still too recent and accidental for
either to resent o