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Randolph was less careful。
〃You don't really mean to say； major；〃 she began in her dryest；
grittiest manner； 〃that instead of sending to San Francisco for
some skilled master…mechanic； you are going to listen to the
vagaries of a conceited； half…educated farm…laborer； and employ
him？ You might as well call in some of those wizards or water…
witches at once。〃 But the major； like many other well…managed
husbands who are good…humoredly content to suffer in the sunshine
of prosperity； had no idea of doing so in adversity； and the
prospect of being obliged to go back to youthful struggles had
recalled some of the independence of that period。 He looked up
quietly； and said：
〃If his conclusions are as clear and satisfactory to…morrow as they
were to…day； I shall certainly try to secure his services。〃
〃Then I can only say I would prefer the water…witch。 He at least
would not represent a class of neighbors who have made themselves
systematically uncivil and disagreeable to us。〃
〃I am afraid； Josephine； we have not tried to make ourselves
particularly agreeable to THEM；〃 said the major。
〃If that can only be done by admitting their equality； I prefer
they should remain uncivil。 Only let it be understood； major； that
if you choose to take this Tom…the…ploughboy to mend your well； you
will at least keep him there while he is on the property。〃
With what retort the major would have kept up this conjugal
discussion； already beginning to be awkward to the discreet
visitor； is not known； as it was suddenly stopped by a bullet from
the rosebud lips of the ingenuous Adele。
〃Why； he's very handsome when his face is clean； and his hands are
small and not at all hard。 And he doesn't talk the least bit queer
or common。〃
There was a dead silence。 〃And pray where did YOU see him； and
what do you know about his hands？〃 asked Mrs。 Randolph； in her most
desiccated voice。 〃Or has the major already presented you to him？
I shouldn't be surprised。〃
〃No； but〃hesitated the young girl； with a certain mouse…like
audacity；〃when you sent me to look after Miss Mallory； I came up
to him just after he had spoken to her； and he stopped to ask me
how we all were； and if Miss Mallory was really frightened by the
earthquake； and he shook hands for good afternoonthat's all。〃
〃And who taught you to converse with common strangers and shake
hands with them？〃 continued Mrs。 Randolph； with narrowing lips。
〃Nobody； mamma； but I thought if Miss Mallory； who is a young lady；
could speak to him； so could I； who am not out yet。〃
〃We won't discuss this any further at present；〃 said Mrs。 Randolph；
stiffly； as the major smiled grimly at Rose。 〃The earthquake seems
to have shaken down in this house more than the chimneys。〃
It certainly had shaken all power of sleep from the eyes of Rose
when the household at last dispersed to lie down in their clothes
on the mattresses which had been arranged under the awnings。 She
was continually starting up from confused dreams of the ground
shaking under her； or she seemed to be standing on the brink of
some dreadful abyss like the great chasm on the grain…field； when
it began to tremble and crumble beneath her feet。 It was near
morning when； unable to endure it any longer； she managed without
disturbing the sleeping Adele； who occupied the same curtained
recess with her； to slip out from the awning。 Wrapped in a thick
shawl； she made her way through the encompassing trees and bushes
of the garden that had seemed to imprison and suffocate her； to the
edge of the grain…field； where she could breathe the fresh air
beneath an open； starlit sky。 There was no moon and the darkness
favored her； she had no fears that weighed against the horror of
seclusion with her own fancies。 Besides； they were camping OUT of
the house； and if she chose to sit up or walk about； no one could
think it strange。 She wished her father were here that she might
have some one of her own kin to talk to； yet she knew not what to
say to him if he had come。 She wanted somebody to sympathize with
her feelings；or rather； perhaps； some one to combat and even
ridicule the uneasiness that had lately come over her。 She knew
what her father would say；〃Do you want to go； or do you want to
stay here？ Do you like these people； or do you not？〃 She
remembered the one or two glowing and enthusiastic accounts she had
written him of her visit here； and felt herself blushing again。
What would he think of Mrs。 Randolph's opening and answering the
telegram？ Wouldn't he find out from the major if she had garbled
the sense of his dispatch？
Away to the right； in the midst of the distant and invisible wheat…
field； there was the same intermittent star； which like a living；
breathing thing seemed to dilate in glowing respiration； as she had
seen it the first night of her visit。 Mr。 Bent's forge！ It must
be nearly daylight now； the poor fellow had been up all night； or
else was stealing this early march on the day。 She recalled
Adele's sudden eulogium of him。 The first natural smile that had
come to her lips since the earthquake broke up her nervous
restraint； and sent her back more like her old self to her couch。
But she had not proceeded far towards the tent； when she heard the
sound of low voices approaching her。 It was the major and his
wife； who； like herself； had evidently been unable to sleep； and
were up betimes。 A new instinct of secretiveness； which she felt
was partly the effect of her artificial surrounding； checked her
first natural instinct to call to them； and she drew back deeper in
the shadow to let them pass。 But to her great discomfiture the
major in a conversational emphasis stopped directly in front of
her。
〃You are wrong； I tell you； a thousand times wrong。 The girl is
simply upset by this earthquake。 It's a great pity her father
didn't come instead of telegraphing。 And by Jove； rather than hear
any more of this； I'll send for him myself；〃 said the major； in an
energetic but suppressed voice。
〃And the girl won't thank you； and you'll be a fool for your
pains；〃 returned Mrs。 Randolph； with dry persistency。
〃But according to your own ideas of propriety； Mallory ought to be
the first one to be consultedand by me； too。〃
〃Not in this case。 Of course； before any actual engagement is on；
you can speak of Emile's attentions。〃
〃But suppose Mallory has other views。 Suppose he declines the
honor。 The man is no fool。〃
〃Thank you。 But for that very reason he must。 Listen to me；
major； if he doesn't care to please his daughter for her own sake；
he will have to do so for the sake of decency。 Yes； I tell you；
she has thoroughly compromised herselfquite enough； if it is ever
known； to spoil any other engagement her father may make。 Why； ask
Adele！ The day of the earthquake she ABSOLUTELY had the audacity
to send him out of the room upstairs into your study for her fan；
and then follow him up there alone。 The servants knew it。 I knew
it； for I was in her room at the time with Father Antonio。 The
earthquake made it plain to everybody。 Decline it！ No。 Mr。
Mallory will think twice about it before he does that。 What's
that？ Who's there？〃
There was a sudden rustle in the bushes like the passage of some
frightened animaland then all was still again。
CHAPTER V
The sun； an hour high； but only just topping the greenish crests of
the wheat； was streaming like the morning breeze through the open
length of Tom Bent's workshed。 An exaggerated and prolonged shadow
of the young inventor himself at work beside his bench was
stretching itself far into the broken…down ranks of stalks towards
the invisible road； and falling at the very feet of Rose Mallory as
she emerged from them。
She was very pale； very quiet； and very determined。 The traveling
mantle thrown over her shoulders was dusty； the r