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willow…fringed rivers； and cloverless meadows。 The white sun shining
everywhere；on dazzling arbors； summer…houses； and trellises； on
light green vines and delicate pea…rows； on the white trousers；
jackets； and shoes of smart shopkeepers or holiday makers； on the
white headdresses of nurses and the white…winged caps of the
Sisters of St。 Vincent；all this grew monotonous to this native of
still more monotonous wastes。 The long； black shadows of short；
blue…skirted； sabotted women and short； blue…bloused； sabotted men
slowly working in the fields； with slow oxen； or still slower heavy
Norman horses； the same horses gayly bedecked； dragging slowly not
only heavy wagons； but their own apparently more monstrous weight
over the white road； fretted his nervous Western energy； and made
him impatient to get on。
At the close of the second day he found some relief on entering a
trackless wood；not the usual formal avenue of equidistant trees；
leading to nowhere； and stopping upon the open field；but
apparently a genuine forest as wild as one of his own 〃oak
bottoms。〃 Gnarled roots and twisted branches flung themselves
across his path； his mustang's hoofs sank in deep pits of moss and
last year's withered leaves； trailing vines caught his heavy…
stirruped feet； or brushed his broad sombrero； the vista before him
seemed only to endlessly repeat the same sylvan glade； he was in
fancy once more in the primeval Western forest； and encompassed by
its vast； dim silences。 He did not know that he had in fact only
penetrated an ancient park which in former days resounded to the
winding fanfare of the chase； and was still； on stated occasions；
swept over by accurately green…coated Parisians and green…plumed
Dianes； who had come down by train！ To him it meant only unfettered
and unlimited freedom。
He rose in his stirrups； and sent a characteristic yell ringing
down the dim aisles before him。 But； alas！ at the same moment； his
mustang； accustomed to the firmer grip of the prairie； in lashing
out； stepped upon a slimy root； and fell heavily； rolling over his
clinging and still unlodged rider。 For a few moments both lay
still。 Then Dick extricated himself with an oath； rose giddily；
dragged up his horse；who； after the fashion of his race； was
meekly succumbing to his reclining position；and then became aware
that the unfortunate beast was badly sprained in the shoulder； and
temporarily lame。 The sudden recollection that he was some miles
from the road； and that the sun was sinking； concentrated his
scattered faculties。 The prospect of sleeping out in that summer
woodland was nothing to the pioneer…bred Dick； he could make his
horse and himself comfortable anywherebut he was delaying his
arrival at Havre。 He must regain the high road；or some wayside
inn。 He glanced around him； the westering sun was a guide for his
general direction； the road must follow it north or south； he would
find a 〃clearing〃 somewhere。 But here Dick was mistaken； there
seemed no interruption of； no encroachment upon this sylvan tract；
as in his western woods。 There was no track or trail to be found；
he missed even the ordinary woodland signs that denoted the path of
animals to water。 For the park； from the time a Northern Duke had
first alienated it from the virgin forest； had been rigidly
preserved。
Suddenly； rising apparently from the ground before him； he saw the
high roof…ridges and tourelles of a long； irregular； gloomy
building。 A few steps further showed him that it lay in a cup…like
depression of the forest； and that it was still a long descent from
where he had wandered to where it stood in the gathering darkness。
His mustang was moving with great difficulty； he uncoiled his
lariat from the saddle…horn； and； selecting the most open space；
tied one end to the trunk of a large tree；the forty feet of
horsehair rope giving the animal a sufficient degree of grazing
freedom。
Then he strode more quickly down the forest side towards the
building； which now revealed its austere proportions； though Dick
could see that they were mitigated by a strange； formal flower…
garden； with quaint statues and fountains。 There were grim black
allees of clipped trees； a curiously wrought iron gate； and twisted
iron espaliers。 On one side the edifice was supported by a great
stone terrace； which seemed to him as broad as a Parisian
boulevard。 Yet everywhere it appeared sleeping in the desertion
and silence of the summer twilight。 The evening breeze swayed the
lace curtains at the tall windows； but nothing else moved。 To the
unsophisticated Western man it looked like a scene on the stage。
His progress was； however； presently checked by the first sight of
preservation he had met in the forest；a thick hedge； which
interfered between him and a sloping lawn beyond。 It was up to his
waist； yet he began to break his way through it； when suddenly he
was arrested by the sound of voices。 Before him； on the lawn； a
man and woman； evidently servants； were slowly advancing； peering
into the shadows of the wood which he had just left。 He could not
understand what they were saying； but he was about to speak and
indicate by signs his desire to find the road when the woman；
turning towards her companion； caught sight of his face and
shoulders above the hedge。 To his surprise and consternation； he
saw the color drop out of her fresh cheeks； her round eyes fix in
their sockets； and with a despairing shriek she turned and fled
towards the house。 The man turned at his companion's cry； gave the
same horrified glance at Dick's face； uttered a hoarse 〃Sacre！〃
crossed himself violently； and fled also。
Amazed； indignant； and for the first time in his life humiliated；
Dick gazed speechlessly after them。 The man； of course； was a
sneaking coward； but the woman was rather pretty。 It had not been
Dick's experience to have women run from him！ Should he follow
them； knock the silly fellow's head against a tree； and demand an
explanation？ Alas； he knew not the language！ They had already
reached the house and disappeared in one of the offices。 Well！ let
them gofor a mean 〃lowdown〃 pair of country bumpkins：HE wanted
no favors from them！
He turned back angrily into the forest to seek his unlucky beast。
The gurgle of water fell on his ear； hard by was a spring； where at
least he could water the mustang。 He stooped to examine it； there
was yet light enough in the sunset sky to throw back from that
little mirror the reflection of his thin； oval face； his long；
curling hair； and his pointed beard and mustache。 Yes！ this was
his face；the face that many women in Paris had agreed was
romantic and picturesque。 Had those wretched greenhorns never seen
a real man before？ Were they idiots； or insane？ A sudden
recollection of the silence and seclusion of the building suggested
certainly an asylum；but where were the keepers？
It was getting darker in the wood；