"Yes,--she is in fact a patroness of the library and sewing-circle,and takes the greatest interest in it.The Reverend Doctor Pilsbury relies upon her for everything.She runs the society,even to the training of the young ladies,sir.You shall see their exercises."This was certainly a new phase of Clementina's character.Yet why should she not assume the role of Lady Bountiful with the other functions of her new condition."I should have thought Miss Harcourt would have found this rather difficult with her other social duties,"he said,"and would have left it to her married sister."He thought it better not to appear as if avoiding reference to Euphemia,although quietly ignoring her late experiences.Mr.Harcourt was less easy in his response.
"Now that Euphemia is again with her own family,"he said ponderously,with an affectation of social discrimination that was in weak contrast to his usual direct business astuteness,"Isuppose she may take her part in these things,but just now she requires rest.You may have heard some rumor that she is going abroad for a time?The fact is she hasn't the least intention of doing so,nor do we consider there is the slightest reason for her going."He paused as if to give great emphasis to a statement that seemed otherwise unimportant."But here's Clementina coming,and Imust get you to excuse ME.I've to meet the trustees of the church in ten minutes,but I hope she'll persuade you to stay,and I'll see you later at the hall."As Clementina entered the room her father vanished and,I fear,as completely dropped out of Mr.Grant's mind.For the daughter's improvement was greater than her father's,yet so much more refined as to be at first only delicately perceptible.Grant had been prepared for the vulgar enhancement of fine clothes and personal adornment,for the specious setting of luxurious circumstances and surroundings,for the aplomb that came from flattery and conscious power.But he found none of these;her calm individuality was intensified rather than subdued;she was dressed simply,with an economy of ornament,rich material,and jewelry,but an accuracy of taste that was always dominant.Her plain gray merino dress,beautifully fitting her figure,suggested,with its pale blue facings,some uniform,as of the charitable society she patronized.
She came towards him with a graceful movement of greeting,yet her face showed no consciousness of the interval that had elapsed since they met;he almost fancied himself transported back to the sitting-room at Sidon with the monotonous patter of the leaves outside,and the cool moist breath of the bay and alder coming in at the window.
"Father says that you are only passing through Tasajara to-day,as you did through Sidon five years ago,"she said with a smiling earnestness that he fancied however was the one new phase of her character."But I won't believe it!At least we will not accept another visit quite as accidental as that,even though you brought us twice the good fortune you did then.You see,we have not forgotten it if you have,Mr.Grant.And unless you want us to believe that your fairy gifts will turn some day to leaves and ashes,you will promise to stay with us tonight,and let me show you some of the good we have done with them.Perhaps you don't know,or don't want to know,that it was I who got up this 'Library and Home Circle of the Sisters of Tasajara'which we are to open to-day.And can you imagine why?You remember--or have you forgotten--that you once affected to be concerned at the social condition of the young ladies on the plains of Sidon?Well,Mr.
Grant,this is gotten up in order that the future Mr.Grants who wander may find future Miss Billingses who are worthy to converse with them and entertain them,and who no longer wear men's hats and live on the public road."It was such a long speech for one so taciturn as he remembered Clementina to have been;so unexpected in tone considering her father's attitude towards him,and so unlooked for in its reference to a slight incident of the past,that Grant's critical contemplation of her gave way to a quiet and grateful glance of admiration.How could he have been so mistaken in her character?He had always preferred the outspoken Euphemia,and yet why should he not have been equally mistaken in her?Without having any personal knowledge of Rice's matrimonial troubles--for their intimate companionship had not continued after the survey--he had been inclined to blame him;now he seemed to find excuses for him.He wondered if she really had liked him as Peters had hinted;he wondered if she knew that he,Grant,was no longer intimate with him and knew nothing of her affairs.All this while he was accepting her proffered hospitality and sending to the hotel for his luggage.Then he drifted into a conversation,which he had expected would be brief,pointless,and confined to a stupid resume of their mutual and social progress since they had left Sidon.But here he was again mistaken;she was talking familiarly of present social topics,of things that she knew clearly and well,without effort or attitude.She had been to New York and Boston for two winters;she had spent the previous summer at Newport;it might have been her whole youth for the fluency,accuracy,and familiarity of her detail,and the absence of provincial enthusiasm.She was going abroad,probably in the spring.She had thought of going to winter in Italy,but she would wait now until her sister was ready to go with her.Mr.Grant of course knew that Euphemia was separated from Mr.Rice--no--not until her father told him?Well--the marriage had been a wild and foolish thing for both.But Euphemia was back again with them in the San Francisco house;she had talked of coming to Tasajara to-day,perhaps she might be there tonight.And,good heavens!it was actually three o'clock already,and they must start at once for the Hall.She would go and get her hat and return instantly.