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of¡¡Clementina£»¡¡reclining¡¡in¡¡light¡¡gauzy¡¡wraps¡¡against¡¡the¡¡back

seat£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡no¡¡fanciful¡¡resemblance£»¡¡the¡¡outcome¡¡of¡¡his¡¡reverie£»

there¡¡never¡¡was¡¡any¡¡one¡¡like¡¡her£¡it¡¡WAS¡¡she¡¡herself£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡what

was¡¡she¡¡doing¡¡here£¿



A¡¡vaquero¡¡cantered¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cross¡¡road¡¡where¡¡the¡¡dust¡¡of¡¡the

vehicle¡¡still¡¡hung¡£¡¡¡¡Grant¡¡hailed¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Ah£¡¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡carroza

de¡¡cuatro¡¡mulas¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡just¡¡passed£¡¡¡¡¡Si£»¡¡Senor£»¡¡truly£»¡¡it¡¡was

of¡¡Don¡¡Jose¡¡Ramirez£»¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡just¡¡under¡¡the¡¡hill¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was

bringing¡¡company¡¡to¡¡the¡¡casa¡£



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that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡Fletcher's¡¡friends£¿¡¡¡¡Might¡¡she¡¡not¡¡be¡¡exposed¡¡to

unpleasantness£»¡¡marked¡¡coolness£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡insult¡¡in¡¡that¡¡unexpected

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abruptly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cross¡¡road¡¡and¡¡spurred¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction

of¡¡the¡¡casa¡£



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Company¡¡office¡¡he¡¡had¡¡become¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡Fletcher's¡¡connection¡¡with

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and¡¡shorter¡¡communication¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡ranchos¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fact¡¡was

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patio£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡horseman¡¡rode¡¡briskly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡gateway£»¡¡and

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informed¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Dona¡¡was¡¡engaged¡¡with¡¡a¡¡visitor£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡they

were¡¡both¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gallery¡¡for¡¡chocolate¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¡The

stranger¡¡was¡¡the¡¡man¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡only¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡beforeDon¡¡Diego

Fletcher£¡



In¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡the¡¡idiotic¡¡fatuity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡position¡¡struck¡¡him¡¡fully¡£

His¡¡only¡¡excuse¡¡for¡¡following¡¡Clementina¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡warn¡¡her¡¡of

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new¡¡hostility¡¡that¡¡had¡¡sprung¡¡up¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart¡¡against¡¡him£»

compelled¡¡him¡¡to¡¡remain¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡both¡¡men¡¡met£»¡¡Fletcher's¡¡in

half¡­wondering¡¡annoyance£»¡¡Grant's¡¡in¡¡ill¡­concealed¡¡antagonism¡£

What¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡said¡¡is¡¡not¡¡known£»¡¡for¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡the

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and¡¡they¡¡both¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡gallery¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡men¡¡were¡¡standing

together£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡see¡¡one¡¡without¡¡the¡¡other¡£



And¡¡yet¡¡Grant£»¡¡whose¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡instantly¡¡directed¡¡to¡¡Clementina£»

thought¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡noted¡¡neither¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡remained¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant

standing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡self¡­possessed£»¡¡coldly¡¡graceful

pose¡¡he¡¡remembered¡¡she¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡on¡¡the¡¡platform¡¡at¡¡Tasajara¡£¡¡¡¡Her

eyelids¡¡were¡¡slightly¡¡downcast£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡arrested¡¡by¡¡some

sudden¡¡thought¡¡or¡¡some¡¡shy¡¡maiden¡¡sensitiveness£»¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hesitation

Mrs¡£¡¡Ramirez¡¡passed¡¡impatiently¡¡before¡¡her¡£



¡¨Mother¡¡of¡¡God£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡that¡¡lively¡¡lady£»¡¡regarding¡¡the¡¡two

speechless¡¡men£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡it¡¡an¡¡indiscretion¡¡we¡¡are¡¡making¡¡hereor¡¡are

you¡¡dumb£¿¡¡¡¡You£»¡¡Don¡¡Diego£»¡¡are¡¡loud¡¡enough¡¡when¡¡you¡¡and¡¡Don¡¡Jose

are¡¡together£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡introduce¡¡your¡¡friend¡£¡¨



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forward£»¡¡¡¨unless¡¡Miss¡¡Harcourt¡¡does£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡mere¡¡trespasser¡¡in

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ago£»¡¡and¡¡having¡¡a¡¡message¡¡for¡¡her¡¡I¡¡ventured¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡her¡¡here¡£¡¨



¡¨It¡¡is¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Grant£»¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡my¡¡father's£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Clementina£»

smiling¡¡with¡¡equanimity£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡just¡¡awakening¡¡from¡¡a¡¡momentary

abstraction£»¡¡yet¡¡apparently¡¡unconscious¡¡of¡¡Grant's¡¡imploring¡¡eyes£»

¡¨but¡¡the¡¡other¡¡gentleman¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡knowing¡£¡¨




¡¨Ah£¡¡¡¡¡Don¡¡Diego¡¡Fletcher£»¡¡a¡¡countryman¡¡of¡¡yours£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡think¡¡he

knows¡¡you¡¡not¡£¡¨



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father's¡¡foe£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡Grant¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡she¡¡must¡¡have¡¡recognized¡¡his

name£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡towards¡¡Fletcher¡¡with¡¡perfect¡¡self¡­possession¡£

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the¡¡quarrel£»¡¡should¡¡be¡¡confounding¡¡to¡¡him¡¡appeared¡¡only¡¡natural¡£

But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡unprepared¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡the¡¡feverish¡¡alacrity¡¡with

which¡¡he¡¡accepted¡¡Dona¡¡Maria's¡¡invitation¡¡to¡¡chocolate£»¡¡or¡¡the

equally¡¡animated¡¡way¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Clementina¡¡threw¡¡herself¡¡into¡¡her

hostess's¡¡Spanish¡¡levity¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡awkward¡¡situation£»

that¡¡must¡¡be¡¡surmounted¡¡without¡¡a¡¡scene£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡prepared¡¡in

the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡Clementina¡¡to¡¡be¡¡civil¡¡to¡¡Fletcher£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡odd

that¡¡in¡¡this¡¡feverish¡¡exchange¡¡of¡¡courtesies¡¡and¡¡compliments¡¡HE£»

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ease¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡and¡¡took¡¡his¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡conversation£»¡¡he¡¡let¡¡it

transpire¡¡for¡¡Clementina's¡¡benefit¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡Los¡¡Gatos

only¡¡on¡¡business£»¡¡yet¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡opportunity¡¡for¡¡even¡¡a

significant¡¡glance£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡added¡¡embarrassment¡¡of¡¡seeing

that¡¡she¡¡exhibited¡¡no¡¡surprise¡¡nor¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡attach¡¡the¡¡least

importance¡¡to¡¡his¡¡inopportune¡¡visit¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡miserable¡¡indecision¡¡he

allowed¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡away¡¡by¡¡the¡¡high¡­flown¡¡hospitality¡¡of

his¡¡Spanish¡¡hostess£»¡¡and¡¡consented¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡to¡¡an¡¡early¡¡dinner¡£¡¡¡¡It

was¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡infelicity¡¡of¡¡circumstance¡¡that¡¡the¡¡voluble¡¡Dona

Mariaelecting¡¡him¡¡as¡¡the¡¡distinguished¡¡stranger¡¡above¡¡the

resident¡¡Fletchermonopolized¡¡him¡¡and¡¡attached¡¡him¡¡to¡¡her¡¡side¡£

She¡¡would¡¡do¡¡the¡¡honors¡¡of¡¡her¡¡house£»¡¡she¡¡must¡¡show¡¡him¡¡the¡¡ruins

of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Mission¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡corral£»¡¡Don¡¡Diego¡¡and¡¡Clementina

would¡¡join¡¡them¡¡presently¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garden¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡despairing

glance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡placidly¡¡smiling¡¡Clementina£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡apparently

equally¡¡indifferent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡evident¡¡constraint¡¡and¡¡assumed¡¡ease¡¡of

the¡¡man¡¡beside¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡with¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Ramirez¡£



A¡¡silence¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡gallery¡¡so¡¡deep¡¡that¡¡the¡¡receding¡¡voices

and¡¡footsteps¡¡of¡¡Grant¡¡and¡¡his¡¡hostess¡¡in¡¡the¡¡long¡¡passage¡¡were

distinctly¡¡heard¡¡until¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Fletcher¡¡arose

with¡¡an¡¡inarticulate¡¡exclamation¡£¡¡¡¡Clementina¡¡instantly¡¡put¡¡her

finger¡¡to¡¡her¡¡lips£»¡¡glanced¡¡around¡¡the¡¡gallery£»¡¡extended¡¡her¡¡hand

to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡saying¡¡¡¨Come£»¡¨¡¡half¡­led£»¡¡half¡­dragged¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the

passage¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡the¡¡right¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡pushed¡¡open¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡a

small¡¡room¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡combination¡¡of¡¡boudoir¡¡and¡¡oratory£»¡¡lit¡¡by

a¡¡French¡¡window¡¡opening¡¡to¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡and¡¡flanked¡¡by¡¡a¡¡large¡¡black

and¡¡white¡¡crucifix¡¡with¡¡a¡¡prie¡¡Dieu¡¡beneath¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Closing¡¡the¡¡door

behind¡¡them¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡faced¡¡her¡¡companion¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no

longer¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gallery£»

it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡face¡¡that¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡at¡¡her¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mirror¡¡at

Tasajara¡¡the¡¡night¡¡that¡¡Grant¡¡had¡¡left¡¡hereager£»¡¡flushed£»

material¡¡with¡¡commonplace¡¡excitement£¡



¡¨'Lige¡¡Curtis£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£



¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered¡¡passionately£»¡¡¡¨Lige¡¡Curtis£»¡¡whom¡¡you¡¡thought

dead£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis£»¡¡whom¡¡you¡¡once¡¡pitied£»¡¡condoled¡¡with¡¡and

despised£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis£»¡¡whose¡¡lands¡¡and¡¡property¡¡have¡¡enriched

you£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis£»¡¡who¡¡would¡¡have¡¡shared¡¡it¡¡with¡¡you¡¡freely¡¡at¡¡the

time£»¡¡but¡¡whom¡¡your¡¡father¡¡juggled¡¡and¡¡defrauded¡¡of¡¡it£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige

Curtis£»¡¡branded¡¡by¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡drunken¡¡outcast¡¡and¡¡suicide£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige

Curtis¡¨



¡¨Hush£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡She¡¡clapped¡¡her¡¡little¡¡hand¡¡over¡¡his¡¡mouth¡¡with¡¡a¡¡quick

but¡¡awkward¡¡schoolgirl¡¡gesture£»¡¡inconceivable¡¡to¡¡any¡¡who¡¡had¡¡known

her¡¡usual¡¡languid¡¡elegance¡¡of¡¡motion£»¡¡and¡¡held¡¡it¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡He

struggled¡¡angrily£»¡¡impatiently£»¡¡reproachfully£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡with¡¡a

sudden¡¡characteristic¡¡weakness¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡much¡¡of¡¡a¡¡revelation

as¡¡her¡¡once¡¡hoydenish¡¡manner£»¡¡kissed¡¡it£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡let¡¡it¡¡drop¡£

Then¡¡placing¡¡both¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡still¡¡girlishly¡¡on¡¡her¡¡slim¡¡waist¡¡and

curtseying¡¡grotesquely¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡she¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨'Lige¡¡Curtis£¡¡¡¡¡Oh£»

yes£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis£»¡¡who¡¡swore¡¡to¡¡do¡¡everything¡¡for¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige

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Tasajara¡¡for¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡to¡¡reform£»¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡his

land¡¡as¡¡a¡¡nest¡­egg¡¡for¡¡us¡¡both¡¡in¡¡the¡¡future£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡who¡¡sold¡¡it

and¡¡himselfand¡¡meto¡¡dad¡¡for¡¡a¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡whiskey£¡¡¡¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis£»

who¡¡disappeared£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡let¡¡us¡¡think¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dead£»¡¡only¡¡that¡¡he

might¡¡attack¡¡us¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ambush¡¡of¡¡his¡¡grave£¡¡¨



¡¨Yes£»¡¡but¡¡think¡¡what¡¡I¡¡have¡¡suffered¡¡all¡¡these¡¡years£»¡¡not¡¡for¡¡the

cursed¡¡landyou¡¡know¡¡I¡¡never¡¡cared¡¡for¡¡thatbut¡¡for¡¡YOU£»you£»

Clementina£»YOU¡¡rich£»¡¡admired¡¡by¡¡every¡¡one£»¡¡idolized£»¡¡held¡¡far

above¡¡me£»ME£»¡¡the¡¡forgotten¡¡outcast£»¡¡the¡¡wretched¡¡suicideand¡¡yet

the¡¡man¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡you¡¡had¡¡once¡¡plighted¡¡your¡¡troth¡£¡¡¡¡Which¡¡of¡¡those

greedy¡¡fortune¡­hunters¡¡whom¡¡my¡¡moneymy¡¡life¡­blood¡¡as¡¡you¡¡might

have¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡wasattracted¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡did¡¡you¡¡care¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡that

you¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡slipped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡garden¡¡gate¡¡at¡¡Sidon¡¡to¡¡meet

that¡¡outcast£¡¡¡¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡wonder¡¡that¡¡as¡¡the¡¡years¡¡passed¡¡and¡¡YOU¡¡were

happy£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡choose¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡forgotten£¿¡¡¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡wonder¡¡that

when¡¡YOU¡¡shut¡¡the¡¡door¡¡on¡¡the¡¡past¡¡I¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡open¡¡it¡¡againif

only¡¡a¡¡little¡¡waythat¡¡its¡¡light¡¡might¡¡startle¡¡you£¿¡¨



Yet¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡startled¡¡or¡¡disturbed£»¡¡and¡¡remained¡¡only

looking¡¡at¡¡him¡¡critically¡£



¡¨You¡¡say¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡suffered£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied¡¡with¡¡a¡¡smile¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You

don't¡¡look¡¡it£¡¡¡¡¡Your¡¡hair¡¡is¡¡white£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡becoming¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡and

you¡¡are¡¡a¡¡handsomer¡¡man£»¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis£»¡¡than¡¡you¡¡were¡¡when¡¡I¡¡first

met¡¡you£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡finer£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡still¡¡regarding¡¡him£»

¡¨stronger¡¡and¡¡healthier¡¡than¡¡you¡¡were¡¡five¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡rich

and¡¡prosperous£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡everything¡¡to¡¡make¡¡you¡¡happy£»¡¡but¡¨here

she¡¡laughed¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡held¡¡out¡¡both¡¡her¡¡hands£»¡¡taking¡¡his¡¡and

holding¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡apart¡¡in¡¡a¡¡rustic£»¡¡homely¡¡fashion¡¨but¡¡you¡¡are

still¡¡the¡¡same¡¡old¡¡'Lige¡¡Curtis£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡like¡¡you¡¡to¡¡go¡¡off¡¡and

hide¡¡yourself¡¡in¡¡that¡¡idiotic¡¡way£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like¡¡you¡¡to¡¡let¡¡the

property¡¡slide¡¡in¡¡that¡¡stupid£»¡¡unselfish¡¡fashion£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like¡¡you

to¡¡get¡¡real¡¡mad£»¡¡and¡¡say¡¡all¡¡those¡¡mean£»¡¡silly¡¡things¡¡to¡¡dad£»¡¡that

didn't¡¡hurt¡¡himin¡¡your¡¡regular¡¡looney¡¡style£»¡¡for¡¡rich¡¡or¡¡poor£»

drunk¡¡or¡¡sober£»¡¡ragged¡¡or¡¡elegant£»¡¡plain

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