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them because they are valuable； and nobody interferes； and is
content to humor him； laugh at him； and feel superior。 It don't
strike me as quite fair； does it you？〃
Rushbrook was pleased。 Without the vanity that would be either
annoyed at this revelation of his reputation； or gratified at her
defense of it； he was simply glad to discover that she had not
recognized him as her host； and could continue the conversation
unreservedly。 〃Have you seen the ladies' boudoir？〃 he asked。 〃You
know； the room fitted with knick…knacks and pretty thingssome of
'em bought from old collections in Europe； by fellows who knew what
they were but perhaps；〃 he added； looking into her eyes for the
first time； 〃didn't know exactly what ladies cared for。〃
〃I merely glanced in there when I first came； for there was such a
queer lot of womenI'm told he isn't very particular in that way
that I didn't stay。〃
〃And you didn't think THEY might be just as valuable and good as
some of the furniture； if they could have been pulled around and
put into shape； or set in a corner； eh？〃
The young girl smiled； she thought her fellow…guest rather amusing；
none the less so； perhaps； for catching up her own ideas； but
nevertheless she slightly shrugged her shoulders with that hopeless
skepticism which women reserve for their own sex。 〃Some of them
looked as if they had been pulled around； as you say； and hadn't
been improved by it。〃
〃There's no one there now；〃 said Rushbrook； with practical
directness； 〃come and take a look at it。〃 She complied without
hesitation； walking by his side； tall； easy； and self…possessed；
apparently accepting without self…consciousness his half paternal；
half comrade…like informality。 The boudoir was a large room；
repeating on a bigger scale the incongruousness and ill fitting
splendor of the others。 When she had of her own accord recognized
and pointed out the more admirable articles； he said； gravely
looking at his watch； 〃We've just about seven minutes yet； if you'd
like to pull and haul these things around； I'll help you。〃
The young girl smiled。 〃I'm quite content with what I've done in
my own room； where I have no one's taste to consult but my own。 I
hardly know how Mr。 Rushbrook； or his lady friends； might like my
operating here。〃 Then recognizing with feminine tact the snub that
might seem implied in her refusal； she said quickly； 〃Tell me
something about our hostbut first look！ isn't that pretty？〃
She had stopped before the window that looked upon the dim blue
abyss of the canyon； and was leaning out to gaze upon it。
Rushbrook joined her。
〃There isn't much to be changed down THERE； is there？〃 he said；
half interrogatively。
〃No； not unless Mr。 Rushbrook took it into his head to roof it in；
and somebody was ready with a contract to do it。 But what do you
know of him？ Remember； I'm quite a stranger here。〃
〃You came with Charley Leyton？〃
〃With MRS。 Leyton's party；〃 said the young girl； with a half…
smiling emphasis。 〃But it seems that we don't know whether Mr。
Rushbrook wants us here or not till he comes。 And the drollest
thing about it is that they're all so perfectly frank in saying
so。〃
〃Charley and he are old friends； and you'll do well to trust to
their judgment。〃
This was hardly the kind of response that the handsome and clever
society girl before him had been in the habit of receiving； but it
amused her。 Her fellow…guest was decidedly original。 But he
hadn't told her about Rushbrook； and it struck her that his opinion
would be independent； at least。 She reminded him of it。
〃Look here；〃 said Rushbrook； 〃you'll meet a man here to…nightor
he'll be sure to meet YOUwho'll tell you all about Rushbrook。
He's a smart chap； knows everybody and talks well。 His name is
Jack Somers； he is a great ladies' man。 He can talk to you about
these sort of things； too；〃indicating the furniture with a half
tolerant； half contemptuous gesture； that struck her as
inconsistent with what seemed to be his previous interest；〃just
as well as he can talk of people。 Been in Europe； too。〃
The young girl's eye brightened with a quick vivacity at the name；
but a moment after became reflective and slightly embarrassed。 〃I
know himI met him at Mr。 Leyton's。 He has already talked of Mr。
Rushbrook； but；〃 she added； avoiding any conclusion； with a pretty
pout； 〃I'd like to have the opinion of others。 Yours； now； I fancy
would be quite independent。〃
〃You stick to what Jack Somers has said； good or bad； and you won't
be far wrong；〃 he said assuringly。 He stopped； his quick ear had
heard approaching voices； he returned to her and held out his hand。
As it seemed to her that in California everybody shook hands with
everybody else on the slightest occasions； sometimes to save
further conversation； she gave him her own。 He shook it； less
forcibly than she had feared； and abruptly left her。 For a moment
she was piqued at this superior and somewhat brusque way of
ignoring her request； but reflecting that it might be the
awkwardness of an untrained man； she dismissed it from her mind。
The voices of her friends in the already resounding passages also
recalled her to the fact that she had been wandering about the
house with a stranger； and she rejoined them a little self…
consciously。
〃Well； my dear；〃 said Mrs。 Leyton； gayly； 〃it seems we are to stay。
Leyton says Rushbrook won't hear of our going。〃
〃Does that mean that your husband takes the whole opera troupe over
to your house in exchange？〃
〃Don't be satirical； but congratulate yourself on your opportunity
of seeing an awfully funny gathering。 I wouldn't have you miss it
for the world。 It's the most characteristic thing out。〃
〃Characteristic of what？〃
〃Of Rushbrook； of course。 Nobody else would conceive of getting
together such a lot of queer people。〃
〃But don't it strike you that we're a part of the lot？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 returned the lively Mrs。 Leyton。 〃No doubt that's the
reason why Jack Somers is coming over； and is so anxious that YOU
should stay。 I can't imagine why else he should rave about Miss
Grace Nevil as he does。 Come； Grace； no New York or Philadelphia
airs； here！ Consider your uncle's interests with this capitalist；
to say nothing of ours。 Because you're a millionaire and have been
accustomed to riches from your birth； don't turn up your nose at
our unpampered appetites。 Besides； Jack Somers is Rushbrook's
particular friend； and he may think your criticisms unkind。〃
〃But IS Mr。 Somers such a great friend of Mr。 Rushbrook's？〃 asked
Grace Nevil。
〃Why； of course。 Rushbrook consults him about all these things；
gives him carte blanche to invite whom he likes and order what he
likes； and trusts his taste and judgment implicitly。〃
〃Then this gathering is Mr。 Somers's selection？〃
〃How preposterous you are； Grace。 Of course not。 Only Somers's
IDEA of what is pleasing to Rushbrook； gotten up with a taste and
discretion all his own。 You know Somers is a gentleman； educated
at West Pointtraveled all over Europeyou might have met him
there； and Rushbrookwell； you have only to see him to know what
HE is。 Don't you understand？〃
A slight seriousness； the same shadow that once before darkened the
girl's charming face gave way to a mischievous knitting of her
brows as she said naively； 〃No。〃
CHAPTER III
Grace Nevil had quite recovered her equanimity when the
indispensable Mr。 Somers； handsome； well…bred； and self…restrained；
approached her later in the crowded drawing…room。 Blended with his
subdued personal admiration was a certain ostentation of respect
as of a tribute to a distinguished guestthat struck her。 〃I am
to have the pleasure of taking you in； Miss Nevil；〃 he said。 〃It's
my one compensation for the dreadful responsibility just thrust
upon me。 Our host has been suddenly calle