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and Home Circle of the Sisters of Tasajara' which we are to open
to…day。 And can you imagine why？ You rememberor have you
forgottenthat you once affected to be concerned at the social
condition of the young ladies on the plains of Sidon？ Well； Mr。
Grant； this is gotten up in order that the future Mr。 Grants who
wander may find future Miss Billingses who are worthy to converse
with them and entertain them； and who no longer wear men's hats and
live on the public road。〃
It was such a long speech for one so taciturn as he remembered
Clementina to have been； so unexpected in tone considering her
father's attitude towards him； and so unlooked for in its reference
to a slight incident of the past； that Grant's critical contemplation
of her gave way to a quiet and grateful glance of admiration。 How
could he have been so mistaken in her character？ He had always
preferred the outspoken Euphemia； and yet why should he not have
been equally mistaken in her？ Without having any personal knowledge
of Rice's matrimonial troublesfor their intimate companionship had
not continued after the surveyhe had been inclined to blame him；
now he seemed to find excuses for him。 He wondered if she really had
liked him as Peters had hinted； he wondered if she knew that he；
Grant； was no longer intimate with him and knew nothing of her
affairs。 All this while he was accepting her proffered hospitality
and sending to the hotel for his luggage。 Then he drifted into a
conversation； which he had expected would be brief； pointless； and
confined to a stupid resume of their mutual and social progress
since they had left Sidon。 But here he was again mistaken； she was
talking familiarly of present social topics； of things that she knew
clearly and well； without effort or attitude。 She had been to New
York and Boston for two winters； she had spent the previous summer
at Newport； it might have been her whole youth for the fluency；
accuracy； and familiarity of her detail； and the absence of
provincial enthusiasm。 She was going abroad； probably in the
spring。 She had thought of going to winter in Italy； but she would
wait now until her sister was ready to go with her。 Mr。 Grant of
course knew that Euphemia was separated from Mr。 Ricenonot until
her father told him？ Wellthe marriage had been a wild and foolish
thing for both。 But Euphemia was back again with them in the San
Francisco house； she had talked of coming to Tasajara to…day；
perhaps she might be there tonight。 And； good heavens！ it was
actually three o'clock already； and they must start at once for the
Hall。 She would go and get her hat and return instantly。
It was true； he had been talking with her an hourpleasantly；
intelligently； and yet with a consciousness of an indefinite
satisfaction beyond all this。 It must have been surprise at her
transformation； or his previous misconception of her character。
He had been watching her features and wondering why he had ever
thought them expressionless。 There was also the pleasant
suggestioncommon to humanity in such instancesthat he himself
was in some way responsible for the change； that it was some
awakened sympathy to his own nature that had breathed into this
cold and faultless statue the warmth of life。 In an odd flash of
recollection he remembered how； five years ago； when Rice had
suggested to her that she was 〃hard to please；〃 she had replied
that she 〃didn't know； but that she was waiting to see。〃 It did
not occur to him to wonder why she had not awakened then； or if
this awakening had anything to do with her own volition。 It was
not probable that they would meet again after to…day； or if they
did； that she would not relapse into her former self and fail to
impress him as she had now。 Buthere she wasa paragon of
feminine promptitudealready standing in the doorway； accurately
gloved and booted； and wearing a demure gray hat that modestly
crowned her decorously elegant figure。
They crossed the plaza side by side； in the still garish sunlight
that seemed to mock the scant shade of the youthful eucalyptus
trees； and presently fell in with the stream of people going in
their direction。 The former daughters of Sidon； the Billingses；
the Peterses； and Wingates； were there bourgeoning and expanding in
the glare of their new prosperity； with silk and gold； there were
newer faces still； and pretty ones；for Tasajara as a 〃Cow County〃
had attracted settlers with large families；and there were already
the contrasting types of East and West。 Many turned to look after
the tall figure of the daughter of the Founder of Tasajara；a
spectacle lately rare to the town； a few glanced at her companion；
equally noticeable as a stranger。 Thanks； however； to some
judicious preliminary advertising from the hotel clerk； Peters； and
Daniel Harcourt himself； by the time Grant and Miss Harcourt had
reached the Hall his name and fame were already known； and
speculation had already begun whether this new stroke of Harcourt's
shrewdness might not unite Clementina to a renowned and profitable
partner。
The Hall was in one of the further and newly opened suburbs； and
its side and rear windows gave immediately upon the outlying and
illimitable plain of Tasajara。 It was a tasteful and fair…seeming
structure of wood； surprisingly and surpassingly new。 In fact that
was its one dominant feature； nowhere else had youth and freshness
ever shown itself as unconquerable and all…conquering。 The spice
of virgin woods and trackless forests still rose from its pine
floors； and breathed from its outer shell of cedar that still oozed
its sap； and redwood that still dropped its life…blood。 Nowhere
else were the plastered walls and ceilings as white and dazzling in
their unstained purity； or as redolent of the outlying quarry in
their clear cool breath of lime and stone。 Even the turpentine of
fresh and spotless paint added to this sense of wholesome
germination； and as the clear and brilliant Californian sunshine
swept through the open windows west and east； suffusing the whole
palpitating structure with its searching and resistless radiance；
the very air seemed filled with the aroma of creation。
The fresh colors of the young Republic； the bright blazonry of the
newest State； the coat…of…arms of the infant County of Tasajara（a
vignette of sunset…tules cloven by the steam of an advancing
train）hanging from the walls； were all a part of this invincible
juvenescence。 Even the newest silks； ribbons and prints of the
latest holiday fashions made their first virgin appearance in the
new building as if to consecrate it； until it was stirred by the
rustle of youth； as with the sound and movement of budding spring。
A strain from the new organwhose heart； however； had prematurely
learned its own bitternessand a thin； clear； but somewhat shrill
chanting from a choir of young ladies were followed by a prayer
from the Reverend Mr。 Pilsbury。 Then there was a pause of
expectancy； and Grant's fair companion； who up to that moment had
been quietly acting as guide and cicerone to her father's guest；
excused herself with a little grimace of mock concern and was led
away by one of the committee。 Grant's usually keen eyes were
wandering somewhat abstractedly over the agitated and rustling
field of ribbons； flowers and feathers before him； past the
blazonry of banner on the walls； and through the open windows to
the long sunlit levels beyond； when he noticed a stir upon the
raised dais or platform at the end of the room； where the notables
of Tasajara were formally assembled。 The mass of black coats
suddenly parted and drew back against the wall to allow the coming
forward of a single graceful figure。 A thrill of nervousness as
unexpected as unaccountable passed over him as he recognized
Clementina。 In the midst of a sudden silence she read the report
of the committee from a paper in her hand； in a clear； untroubled
voicethe old voice of Sidonand formally declared the building
opened。 The sunlight； nearly level； streamed through the western
window across the front of the platform where she stood and
transfigured her slight but noble figure。 The hush that had fallen
upon the Hall was as much the effect of that tranquil； ideal
presence as of the message with which it was charged。 And yet that
apparition was as inconsistent with the clear； searching light
which helped to set it off； as it was with the broad new blazonry
of decoration； the yet unsullied record of the white walls； or even
the frank； animated and pretty faces that looked upon it。 Perhaps
it was some such instinct that caused the applause which hesitatingly
and tardily followed her from the platform to appear polite and half
restrained rather than spontaneous。
Nevertheless Grant was honestly and sincerely profuse in his
congratulations。 〃You were far cooler and far more self…contained
than I should have be