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return。 I wonder that your party didn't prefer it； and if they are
looking for you；as they surely must be；〃 he said； as if with a
sudden conception of her importance； 〃they'll come there when they
find you're not at San Mateo。〃
This seemed reasonable； although the process of being 〃fetched〃 and
taking the five miles ride； which she had enjoyed so much alone； in
company was not attractive。 〃Couldn't I go on at once？〃 she said
impulsively。
〃You would meet them sooner；〃 he said thoughtfully。
This was quite enough for Mrs。 Ashwood。 〃I think I'll rest this
poor horse； who is really tired；〃 she； said with charming hypocrisy；
〃and stop at the hotel。〃
She saw his face brighten。 Perhaps he was the son of the hotel
proprietor； or a youthful partner himself。 〃I suppose you live
here？〃 she suggested gently。 〃You seem to know the place so well。〃
〃No；〃 he returned quickly； 〃I only run down here from San Francisco
when I can get a day off。〃
A day off！ He was in some regular employment。 But he continued：
〃And I used to go to boarding…school near here； and know all these
woods well。〃
He must be a native！ How odd！ She had not conceived that there
might be any other population here than the immigrants； perhaps
that was what made him so interesting and different from the
others。 〃Then your father and mother live here？〃 she said。
His frank face； incapable of disguise； changed suddenly。 〃No；〃 he
said simply； but without any trace of awkwardness。 Then after a
slight pause he laid his handshe noticed it was white and well
kepton her mustang's neck； and said； 〃Ifif you care to trust
yourself to me； I could lead you and your horse down a trail into
the valley that is at least a third of the distance shorter。 It
would save you going back to the regular road； and there are one or
two lovely views that I could show you。 I should be so pleased； if
it would not trouble you。 There's a steep place or twobut I
think there's no danger。〃
〃I shall not be afraid。〃
She smiled so graciously； and； as she fully believed； maternally；
that he looked at her the second time。 To his first hurried
impression of her as an elegant and delicately nurtured womanone
of the class of distinguished tourists that fashion was beginning
to send thitherhe had now to add that she had a quantity of fine
silken…spun light hair gathered in a heavy braid beneath her gray
hat； that her mouth was very delicately lipped and beautifully
sensitive； that her soft skin； although just then touched with
excitement； was a pale faded velvet； and seemed to be worn with
ennui rather than experience； that her eyes were hidden behind a
strip of gray veil whence only a faint glow was discernible。 To
this must still be added a poetic fancy all his own that； as she
sat there； with the skirt of her gray habit falling from her long
bodiced waist over the mustang's fawn…colored flanks； and with her
slim gauntleted hands lightly swaying the reins； she looked like
Queen Guinevere in the forest。 Not that he particularly fancied
Queen Guinevere； or that he at all imagined himself Launcelot； but
it was quite in keeping with the suggestion…haunted brain of John
Milton Harcourt； whom the astute reader has of course long since
recognized。
Preceding her through the soft carpeted vault with a woodman's
instinct；for there was apparently no trail to be seen；the soft
inner twilight began to give way to the outer stronger day； and
presently she was startled to see the clear blue of the sky before
her on apparently the same level as the brown pine…tessellated
floor she was treading。 Not only did this show her that she was
crossing a ridge of the upland； but a few moments later she had
passed beyond the woods to a golden hillside that sloped towards a
leafy； sheltered； and exquisitely…proportioned valley。 A tiny but
picturesque tower； and a few straggling roofs and gables； the
flashing of a crystal stream through the leaves； and a narrow white
ribbon of road winding behind it indicated the hostelry they were
seeking。 So peaceful and unfrequented it looked； nestling between
the hills； that it seemed as if they had discovered it。
With his hand at times upon the bridle； at others merely caressing
her mustang's neck； he led the way； there were a few breathless
places where the crown of his straw hat appeared between her
horse's reins； and again when she seemed almost slipping over on
his shoulder； but they were passed with such frank fearlessness and
invincible youthful confidence on the part of her escort that she
felt no timidity。 There were moments when a bit of the charmed
landscape unfolding before them overpowered them both； and they
halted to gaze；sometimes without a word； or only a significant
gesture of sympathy and attention。 At one of those artistic
manifestations Mrs。 Ashwood laid her slim gloved fingers lightly
but unwittingly on John Milton's arm； and withdrew them； however；
with a quick girlish apology and a foolish color which annoyed her
more than the appearance of familiarity。 But they were now getting
well down into the valley； the court of the little hotel was
already opening before them； their unconventional relations in the
idyllic world above had changed； the new one required some delicacy
of handling； and she had an idea that even the simplicity of the
young stranger might be confusing。
〃I must ask you to continue to act as my escort；〃 she said；
laughingly。 〃I am Mrs。 Ashwood of Philadelphia； visiting San
Francisco with my sister and brother； who are； I am afraid； even
now hopelessly waiting luncheon for me at San Mateo。 But as there
seems to be no prospect of my joining them in time； I hope you will
be able to give me the pleasure of your company； with whatever they
may give us here in the way of refreshment。〃
〃I shall be very happy；〃 returned John Milton with unmistakable
candor； 〃but perhaps some of your friends will be arriving in quest
of you； if they are not already here。〃
〃Then they will join us or wait；〃 said Mrs。 Ashwood incisively；
with her first exhibition of the imperiousness of a rich and pretty
woman。 Perhaps she was a little annoyed that her elaborate
introduction of herself had produced no reciprocal disclosure by
her companion。 〃Will you please send the landlord to me？〃 she
added。
John Milton disappeared in the hotel as she cantered to the porch。
In another moment she was giving the landlord her orders with the
easy confidence of one who knew herself only as an always welcome
and highly privileged guest； which was not without its effect。
〃And；〃 she added carelessly； 〃when everything is ready you will
please tellMr。〃
〃Harcourt；〃 suggested the landlord promptly。
Mrs。 Ashwood's perfectly trained face gave not the slightest sign
of the surprise that had overtaken her。 〃Of course；Mr。 Harcourt。〃
〃You know he's the son of the millionaire；〃 continued the landlord；
not at all unwilling to display the importance of the habitues of
Crystal Spring； 〃though they've quarreled and don't get on
together。〃
〃I know；〃 said the lady languidly； 〃and； if any one comes here for
ME； ask them to wait in the parlor until I come。〃
Then； submitting herself and her dusty habit to the awkward
ministration of the Irish chambermaid； she was quite thrilled with
a delightful curiosity。 She vaguely remembered that she had heard
something of the Harcourt family discord；but that was the
divorced daughter surely！ And this young man was Harcourt's son；
and they had quarreled！ A quarrel with a frank； open； ingenuous
fellow like thata mere boycould only be the father's fault。
Luckily she had never mentioned the name of Harcourt！ She would
not now； he need not know that it was his father who had originated
the party； why should she make him uncomfortable for the few
moments they were together？
There was nothing of this in her face as she descended and joined
him。 He thought that face handsome； well…bred； and refined。 But
this breeding and refinement seemed to himin his ignorance of the
world； possiblyas only a graceful concealment of a self of which
he knew nothing； and he was not surprised to find that her pretty
gray eyes； now no longer hidden by her veil； really told him no
more than her lips。 He was a little afraid of her； and now that
she had lost her naive enthusiasm he was conscious of a vague
remorsefulness for his interrupted work in the forest。 What was he
doing here？ He who had avoided the cruel； selfish world of wealth
and pleasure；a world that this woman represented；the world that
had stood apart from him in the one dream of his lifeand had let
Loo die！ His quickly responsive face darkened。
〃I am afraid I really interrupted you up there；〃 she said gently；
looking in his face with an expression of unfeigned concern； 〃you
were at work of some kind； I know； and I have very se