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while you were sitting there。〃
Meanwhile the subject of this discussion； quite unconscious of the
sensation he had created； or perhaps like most heroes philosophically
careless of it； was sauntering indifferently towards Harcourt's
house。 But he had no business with his former host； his only object
was to pass an idle hour before his train left。 He was； of course；
not unaware that he himself was largely responsible for Harcourt's
success； that it was HIS hint which had induced the petty trader of
Sidon to venture his all in Tasajara； HIS knowledge of the
topography and geology of the plain that had stimulated Harcourt's
agricultural speculations； HIS hydrographic survey of the creek that
had made Harcourt's plan of widening the channel to commerce
practicable and profitable。 This he could not help but know。 But
that it was chiefly owing to his own clear； cool； far…seeing； but
never visionary； scientific observation；his own accurate analysis；
unprejudiced by even a savant's enthusiasm； and uninfluenced by any
personal desire or greed of gain；that Tasajara City had risen from
the stagnant tules； was a speculation that had never occurred to
him。 There was a much more uneasy consciousness of what he had done
in Mr。 Harcourt's face a few moments later； when his visitor's name
was announced； and it is to be feared that if that name had been
less widely honored and respected than it was； no merely grateful
recollection of it would have procured Grant an audience。 As it
was； it was with a frown and a touch of his old impatient asperity
that he stepped to the threshold of an adjoining room and called；
〃Clemmy！〃
Clementina appeared at the door。
〃There's that man Grant in the parlor。 What brings HIM here； I
wonder？ Who does he come to see？〃
〃Who did he ask for？〃
〃Me；but that don't mean anything。〃
〃Perhaps he wants to see you on some business。〃
〃No。 That isn't his high…toned style。 He makes other people go to
him for that；〃 he said bitterly。 〃Anyhowdon't you think it's
mighty queer his coming here after his friendfor it was he who
introduced Rice to ushad behaved so to your sister； and caused
all this divorce and scandal？〃
〃Perhaps he may know nothing about it； he and Rice separated long
ago； even before Grant became so famous。 We never saw much of him；
you know； after we came here。 Suppose you leave him to ME。 I'll
see him。〃
Mr。 Harcourt reflected。 〃Didn't he used to be rather attentive to
Phemie？〃
Clementina shrugged her shoulders carelessly。 〃I dare saybut I
don't think that NOW〃
〃Who said anything about NOW？〃 retorted her father； with a return
of his old abruptness。 After a pause he said： 〃I'll go down and
see him first； and then send for you。 You can keep him for the
opening and dinner； if you like。〃
Meantime Lawrence Grant； serenely unsuspicious of these domestic
confidences； had been shown into the parlora large room furnished
in the same style as the drawing…room of the hotel he had just
quitted。 He had ample time to note that it was that wonderful
Second Empire furniture which he remembered that the early San
Francisco pioneers in the first flush of their wealth had imported
directly from France； and which for years after gave an unexpected
foreign flavor to the western domesticity and a tawdry gilt
equality to saloons and drawing…rooms； public and private。 But he
was observant of a corresponding change in Harcourt； when a moment
later he entered the room。 That individuality which had kept the
former shopkeeper of Sidon distinct from； although perhaps not
superior to； his customerswas strongly marked。 He was perhaps
now more nervously alert than then； he was certainly more impatient
than before；but that was pardonable in a man of large affairs and
action。 Grant could not deny that he seemed improved；rather
perhaps that the setting of fine clothes； cleanliness； and the
absence of petty worries； made his characteristics respectable。
That which is ill breeding in homespun； is apt to become mere
eccentricity in purple and fine linen； Grant felt that Harcourt
jarred on him less than he did before； and was grateful without
superciliousness。 Harcourt； relieved to find that Grant was
neither critical nor aggressively reminiscent； and above all not
inclined to claim the credit of creating him and Tasajara； became
more confident； more at his ease； and； I fear； in proportion more
unpleasant。 It is the repose and not the struggle of the parvenu
that confounds us。
〃And YOU； Grant；you have made yourself famous； and； I hear； have
got pretty much your own prices for your opinions ever since it was
known that youyouerwere connected with the growth of Tasajara。〃
Grant smiled； he was not quite prepared for this； but it was
amusing and would pass the time。 He murmured a sentence of half
ironical deprecation； and Mr。 Harcourt continued：
〃I haven't got my San Francisco house here to receive you in； but I
hope some day； sir； to see you there。 We are only here for the day
and night； but if you care to attend the opening ceremonies at the
new hall； we can manage to give you dinner afterwards。 You can
escort my daughter Clementina；she's here with me。〃
The smile of apologetic declination which had begun to form on
Grant's lips was suddenly arrested。 〃Then your daughter is here？〃
he asked； with unaffected interest。
〃Yes；she is in fact a patroness of the library and sewing…circle；
and takes the greatest interest in it。 The Reverend Doctor
Pilsbury relies upon her for everything。 She runs the society；
even to the training of the young ladies； sir。 You shall see their
exercises。〃
This was certainly a new phase of Clementina's character。 Yet why
should she not assume the role of Lady Bountiful with the other
functions of her new condition。 〃I should have thought Miss
Harcourt would have found this rather difficult with her other
social duties；〃 he said； 〃and would have left it to her married
sister。〃 He thought it better not to appear as if avoiding
reference to Euphemia； although quietly ignoring her late
experiences。 Mr。 Harcourt was less easy in his response。
〃Now that Euphemia is again with her own family；〃 he said
ponderously； with an affectation of social discrimination that was
in weak contrast to his usual direct business astuteness； 〃I
suppose she may take her part in these things； but just now she
requires rest。 You may have heard some rumor that she is going
abroad for a time？ The fact is she hasn't the least intention of
doing so； nor do we consider there is the slightest reason for her
going。〃 He paused as if to give great emphasis to a statement that
seemed otherwise unimportant。 〃But here's Clementina coming； and I
must get you to excuse ME。 I've to meet the trustees of the church
in ten minutes； but I hope she'll persuade you to stay； and I'll
see you later at the hall。〃
As Clementina entered the room her father vanished and； I fear； as
completely dropped out of Mr。 Grant's mind。 For the daughter's
improvement was greater than her father's； yet so much more refined
as to be at first only delicately perceptible。 Grant had been
prepared for the vulgar enhancement of fine clothes and personal
adornment； for the specious setting of luxurious circumstances and
surroundings； for the aplomb that came from flattery and conscious
power。 But he found none of these； her calm individuality was
intensified rather than subdued； she was dressed simply； with an
economy of ornament； rich material； and jewelry； but an accuracy of
taste that was always dominant。 Her plain gray merino dress；
beautifully fitting her figure； suggested； with its pale blue
facings； some uniform； as of the charitable society she patronized。
She came towards him with a graceful movement of greeting； yet her
face showed no consciousness of the interval that had elapsed since
they met； he almost fancied himself transported back to the
sitting…room at Sidon with the monotonous patter of the leaves
outside； and the cool moist breath of the bay and alder coming in
at the window。
〃Father says that you are only passing through Tasajara to…day； as
you did through Sidon five years ago；〃 she said with a smiling
earnestness that he fancied however was the one new phase of her
character。 〃But I won't believe it！ At least we will not accept
another visit quite as accidental as that； even though you brought
us twice the good fortune you did then。 You see； we have not
forgotten it if you have； Mr。 Grant。 And unless you want us to
believe that your fairy gifts will turn some day to leaves and
ashes； you will promise to stay with us tonight； and let me show
you some of the good we have done with them。 Perhaps you don't
know； or don't want to know； that it was I who got up this 'Library
and Home Circle of the Sisters of Tasajara' which we are to open
to…