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The sitting…room door opened and closed behind her as she slipped up…
stairs； and her father； without the formality of leave…taking； quietly let
himself out by the front door。
When he drove into the high road again； however； an overlooked
possibility threatened for a moment to indefinitely postpone his amiable
intentions regarding Low。 The hotel was at the further end of the
settlement towards the Carquinez Woods； and as Wynn had nearly reached
it he was recalled to himself by the sounds of hoofs and wheels rapidly
approaching from the direction of the Excelsior turnpike。 Wynn made no
doubt it was the sheriff and Brace。 To avoid recognition at that moment；
he whipped up his horse； intending to keep the lead until he could turn into
the first cross…road。 But the coming travelers had the fleetest horse； and
finding it impossible to distance them he drove close to the ditch； pulling
up suddenly as the strange vehicle was abreast of him； and forcing them to
pass him at full speed； with the result already chronicled。 When they had
vanished in the darkness； Mr。 Wynn； with a heart overflowing with
Christian thankfulness and universal benevolence； wheeled round； and
drove back to the hotel he had already passed。 To pull up at the veranda
with a stentorian shout； to thump loudly at the deserted bar； to hilariously
beat the panels of the landlord's door； and commit a jocose assault and
battery upon that half…dresssed and half…awakened man； was eminently
characteristic of Wynn； and part of his amiable plans that morning。
〃Something to wash this wood smoke from my throat； Brother Carter；
and about as much again to prop open your eyes；〃 he said； dragging Carter
before the bar； 〃and glasses round for as many of the boys as are up and
stirring after a hard…working Christian's rest。 How goes the honest
publican's trade； and who have we here？〃
〃Thar's Judge Robinson and two lawyers from Sacramento； Dick
Curson over from Yolo；〃 said Carter； 〃and that ar young Injin yarb doctor
from the Carquinez Woods。 I reckon he's jist upI noticed a light under
his door as I passed。〃
〃He's my man for a friendly chat before breakfast；〃 said Wynn。 〃You
needn't come up。 I'll find the way。 I don't want a light； I reckon my
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eyes ain't as bright nor as young as his； but they'll see almost as far in the
darkhe！ he！〃 And； nodding to Brother Carter； he strode along the
passage； and with no other introduction than a playful and preliminary
〃Boo！〃 burst into one of the rooms。 Low； who by the light of a single
candle was bending over the plates of a large quarto； merely raised his
eyes and looked at the intruder。 The young man's natural imperturbability；
always exasperating to Wynn； seemed accented that morning by contrast
with his own over…acted animation。
〃Ah ha！wasting the midnight oil instead of imbibing the morning
dews；〃 said Father Wynn archly； illustrating his metaphor with a
movement of his hand to his lips。 〃What have we here？〃
〃An anonymous gift；〃 replied Low simply； recognizing the father of
Nellie by rising from his chair。 〃It's a volume I've longed to possess； but
never could afford to buy。 I cannot imagine who sent it to me。〃
Wynn was for a moment startled by the thought that this recipient of
valuable gifts might have influential friends。 But a glance at the bare
room； which looked like a camp； and the strange； unconventional garb of
its occupant； restored his former convictions。 There might be a promise
of intelligence； but scarcely of prosperity； in the figure before him。
〃Ah！ We must not forget that we are watched over in the night
season；〃 he said； laying his hand on Low's shoulder； with an illustration of
celestial guardianship that would have been impious but for its palpable
grotesqueness。 〃No； sir； we know not what a day may bring forth。〃
Unfortunately； Low's practical mind did not go beyond a mere human
interpretation。 It was enough； however； to put a new light in his eye and
a faint color in his cheek。
〃Could it have been Miss Nellie？〃 he asked； with half…boyish
hesitation。
Mr。 Wynn was too much of a Christian not to bow before what
appeared to him the purely providential interposition of this suggestion。
Seizing it and Low at the same moment； he playfully forced him down
again in his chair。
〃Ah； you rascal！〃 he said； with infinite archness； 〃that's your game； is
it？ You want to trap poor Father Wynn。 You want to make him say
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'No。' You want to tempt him to commit himself。 No； sir！never； sir！
no； no！〃
Firmly convinced that the present was Nellie's； and that her father only
good…humoredly guessed it； the young man's simple； truthful nature was
embarrassed。 He longed to express his gratitude； but feared to betray the
young girl's trust。 The Reverend Mr。 Wynn speedily relieved his mind。
〃No〃 he continued； bestriding a chair； and familiarly confronting Low
over its back。 〃No； sirno！ And you want me to say 'No；' don't you；
regarding the little walks of Nellie and a certain young man in the
Carquinez Woods？ha； ha！ You'd like me to say that I knew nothing of
the botanizings； and the herb collectings； and the picknickings therehe；
he！you sly dog！ Perhaps you'd like to tempt Father Wynn further； and
make him swear he knows nothing of his daughter disguising herself in a
duster and meeting another young manisn't it another young man？all
alone； eh？ Perhaps you want poor old Father Wynn to say No。 No； sir；
nothing of the kind ever occurred。 Ah； you young rascal！〃
Slightly troubled； in spite of Wynn's hearty manner； Low； with his
usual directness； however； said； 〃I do not want anyone to deny that I have
seen Miss Nellie。〃
〃Certainly； certainly；〃 said Wynn； abandoning his method；
considerably disconcerted by Low's simplicity； and a certain natural
reserve that shook off his familiarity。 〃Certainly it's a noble thing to be
able to put your hand on your heart and say to the world； 'Come on； all of
you！ Observe me； I have nothing to conceal。 I walk with Miss Wynn in
the woods as her instructorher teacher； in fact。 We cull a flower here
and there； we pluck an herb fresh from the hands of the Creator。 We look；
so to speak； from Nature to Nature's God。' Yes； my young friend； we
should be the first to repel the foul calumny that could misinterpret our
most innocent actions。〃
〃Calumny？〃 repeated Low； starting to his feet。 〃What calumny？〃
〃My friend； my noble young friend； I recognize your indignation。 I
know your worth。 When I said to Nellie； my only child； my perhaps too
simple offspringa mere wildflower like yourself when I said to her； 'Go；
my child； walk in the woods with this young man； hand in hand。 Let him
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instruct you from the humblest roots； for he has trodden in the ways of the
Almighty。 Gather wisdom from his lips； and knowledge from his simple
woodman's craft。 Make； in fact； a collection not only of herbs； but of
moral axioms and experience'I knew I could trust you； and； trusting you；
my young friend； I felt I could trust the world。 Perhaps I was weak； foolish。
But I thought only of her welfare。 I even recall how that to preserve the
purity of her garments； I bade her don a simple duster； that； to secure her
from the trifling companionship of others； I bade her keep