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might be deeper but not so broad in the rock outcrop over there
than in the adobe here。 I found it so and jumped it。〃
He looked as if he mightalert； intelligent； and self…contained。
He lingered a moment； and then continued：
〃I'm afraid you must have been badly shaken and a little frightened
up there before the chimneys came down？〃
〃No；〃 she was glad to say briefly； and she believed truthfully； I
wasn't frightened。 I didn't even know it was an earthquake。〃
〃Ah！〃 he reflected； 〃that was because you were a stranger。 It's
oddthey're all like that。 I suppose it's because nobody really
expects or believes in the unlooked…for thing； and yet that's the
thing that always happens。 And then； of course； that other affair；
which really is serious； startled you the more。〃
She felt herself ridiculously and angrily blushing。 〃I don't know
what you mean；〃 she said icily。 〃What other affair？〃
〃Why； the well。〃
〃The well？〃 she repeated vacantly。
〃Yes； the artesian well has stopped。 Didn't the major tell you？〃
〃No；〃 said the girl。 〃He was away； I haven't seen him yet。〃
〃Well； the flow of water has ceased completely。 That's what I'm
here for。 The major sent for me； and I've been to examine it。〃
〃And is that stoppage so very important？〃 she said dubiously。
It was his turn to look at her wonderingly。
〃If it's LOST entirely； it means ruin for the ranch；〃 he said
sharply。 He wheeled his horse； nodded gravely； and trotted off。
Major Randolph's figure of the 〃life…blood of the ranch〃 flashed
across her suddenly。 She knew nothing of irrigation or the costly
appliances by which the Californian agriculturist opposed the long
summer droughts。 She only vaguely guessed that the dreadful
earthquake had struck at the prosperity of those people whom only
a few hours ago she had been proud to call her friends。 The
underlying goodness of her nature was touched。 Should she let
a momentary faultif it were not really； after all； only a
misunderstandingrise between her and them at such a moment？
She turned and hurried quickly towards the house。
Hastening onward； she found time； however； to wonder also why these
common menshe now included even the young inventor in that
categorywere all so rude and uncivil to HER！ She had never
before been treated in this way； she had always been rather
embarrassed by the admiring attentions of young men （clerks and
collegians） in her Atlantic home； and； of professional men
（merchants and stockbrokers） in San Francisco。 It was true that
they were not as continually devoted to her and to the nice art and
etiquette of pleasing as Emile；they had other things to think
about； being in business and not being GENTLEMEN；but then they
were greatly superior to these clowns； who took no notice of her；
and rode off without lingering or formal leave…taking when their
selfish affairs were concluded。 It must be the contact of the
vulgar earththis wretched； cracking； material； and yet
ungovernable and lawless earththat so depraved them。 She felt
she would like to say this to some onenot her father； for he
wouldn't listen to her； nor to the major； who would laughingly
argue with her； but to Mrs。 Randolph； who would understand her； and
perhaps say it some day in her own sharp； sneering way to these
very clowns。 With those gentle sentiments irradiating her blue
eyes； and putting a pink flush upon her fair cheeks； Rose reached
the garden with the intention of rushing sympathetically into Mrs。
Randolph's arms。 But it suddenly occurred to her that she would be
obliged to state how she became aware of this misfortune； and with
it came an instinctive aversion to speak of her meeting with the
inventor。 She would wait until Mrs。 Randolph told her。 But
although that lady was engaged in a low…voiced discussion in French
with Emile and Adele； which instantly ceased at her approach； there
was no allusion made to the new calamity。 〃You need not telegraph
to your father；〃 she said as Rose approached； 〃he has already
telegraphed to you for news； as you were out； and the messenger was
waiting an answer； we opened the dispatch； and sent one； telling
him that you were all right； and that he need not hurry here on
your account。 So you are satisfied； I hope。〃 A few hours ago this
would have been true； and Rose would have probably seen in the
action of her hostess only a flattering motherly supervision； there
was； in fact； still a lingering trace of trust in her mind yet she
was conscious that she would have preferred to answer the dispatch
herself； and to have let her father come。 To a girl brought up
with a belief in the right of individual independence of thought
and action； there was something in Mrs。 Randolph's practical
ignoring of that right which startled her in spite of her new
conservatism； while； as the daughter of a business man； her
instincts revolted against Mrs。 Randolph's unbusiness…like action
with the telegram； however vulgar and unrefined she may have begun
to consider a life of business。 The result was a certain
constraint and embarrassment in her manner； which； however； had the
laudable effect of limiting Emile's attention to significant
glances； and was no doubt variously interpreted by the others。 But
she satisfied her conscience by determining to make a confidence of
her sympathy to the major on the first opportunity。
This she presently found when the others were preoccupied； the
major greeting her with a somewhat careworn face； but a voice whose
habitual kindness was unchanged。 When he had condoled with her on
the terrifying phenomenon that had marred her visit to the ranch；
and she could not help impatiently noticing that he too seemed to
have accepted his wife's theory that she had been half deliriously
frightened；he regretted that her father had not concluded to come
down to the ranch； as his practical advice would have been
invaluable in this emergency。 She was about to eagerly explain
why； when it occurred to her that Mrs。 Randolph had only given him
a suppressed version of the telegram； and that she would be
betraying her； or again taking sides in this partisan divided home。
With some hesitation she at last alluded to the accident to the
artesian well。 The major did not ask her how she had heard of it；
it was a bad business； he thought； but it might not be a total
loss。 The water may have been only diverted by the shock and might
be found again at the lower level； or in some lateral fissure。 He
had sent hurriedly for Tom Bentthat clever young engineer at the
wheat ranch； who was always studying up these things with his
inventionsand that was his opinion。 No； Tom was not a well…
digger； but it was generally known that he had 〃located〃 one or
two； and had long ago advised the tapping of that flow by a second
boring； in case of just such an emergency。 He was coming again to…
morrow。 By the way； he had asked how the young lady visitor was；
and hoped she had not been alarmed by the earthquake！
Rose felt herself again blushing； and； what was more singular； with
an unexpected and it seemed to her ridiculous pleasure； although
outwardly she appeared to ignore the civility completely。 And she
had no intention of being so easily placated。 If this young man
thought by mere perfunctory civilities to her HOST to make up for
his clownishness to HER； he was mistaken。 She would let him see it
when he called to…morrow。 She quickly turned the subject by
assuring the major of her sympathy and her intention of sending for
her father。 For the rest of the afternoon and during their al
fresco dinner she solved the difficulty of her strained relations
with Mrs。 Randolph and Emile by conversing chiefly with the major；
tacitly avoiding； however； any allusion to this Mr。 Bent。 But Mrs。
Randolph was less careful。
〃You don't really mean to say； major；〃 she began in her dryest；
grittiest manner； 〃t