It was a little after daybreak next morning that Mainwaring awoke from the first unrefreshing night he had passed at The Lookout.He was so feverish and restless that he dressed himself at sunrise, and cautiously stepped out upon the still silent veranda.The chairs which he and Louise Macy had occupied were still, it seemed to him,conspicuously confidential with each other, and he separated them,but as he looked down into the Great Canyon at his feet he was conscious of some undefinable change in the prospect.A slight mist was rising from the valley, as if it were the last of last night's illusions; the first level sunbeams were obtrusively searching, and the keen morning air had a dryly practical insistence which irritated him, until a light footstep on the farther end of the veranda caused him to turn sharply.
It was the singular apparition of a small boy, bearing a surprising resemblance to Minty Sharpe, and dressed in an unique fashion.On a tumbled sea of blond curls a "chip" sailor hat, with a broad red ribbon, rode jauntily.But here the nautical suggestion changed,as had the desire of becoming a pirate which induced it.A red shirt, with a white collar, and a yellow plaid ribbon tie, that also recalled Minty Sharpe, lightly turned the suggestion of his costume to mining.Short black velvet trousers, coming to his knee, and ostentatiously new short-legged boots, with visible straps like curling ears, completed the entirely original character of his lower limbs.
Mainwaring, always easily gentle and familiar with children and his inferiors, looked at him with an encouraging smile.Richelieu--for it was he--advanced gravely and held out his hand, with the cameo ring apparent.Mainwaring, with equal gravity, shook it warmly,and removed his hat.Richelieu, keenly observant, did the same.
"Is Jim Bradley out yet?" asked Richelieu, carelessly.
"No; I think not.But I'm Frank Mainwaring.Will I do?"
Richelieu smiled.The dimples, the white teeth, the dark, laughing eyes, were surely Minty's?
"I'm Richelieu," he rejoined with equal candor.
"Richelieu?"
"Yes.That Frenchman--the Lord Cardinal--you know.Mar saw Forrest do him out in St. Louis."
"Do him?"
"Yes, in the theayter."
With a confused misconception of his meaning, Mainwaring tried to recall the historical dress of the great Cardinal and fit it to the masquerader--if such he were--before him.But Richelieu relieved him by adding,--
"Richelieu Sharpe."
"Oh, that's your NAME!" said Mainwaring, cheerfully."Then you're Miss Minty's brother.I know her.How jolly lucky!"
They both shook hands again.Richelieu, eager to get rid of the burden of his sister's message, which he felt was in the way of free-and-easy intercourse with this charming stranger, looked uneasily towards the house.
"I say," said Mainwaring, "if you're in a hurry, you'd better go in there and knock.I hear some one stirring in the kitchen."
Richelieu nodded, but first went back to the steps of the veranda,picked up a small blue knotted handkerchief, apparently containing some heavy objects, and repassed Mainwaring.
"What! have you cut it, Richelieu, with your valuables?What have you got there?"
"Specimins," said Richelieu, shortly, and vanished.
He returned presently."Well, Cardinal, did you see anybody?"asked Mainwaring.
"Mrs. Bradley; but Jim's over to the mill.I'm goin' there."
"Did you see Miss Macy?" continued Mainwaring, carelessly.
"Loo?"
"Loo!--well; yes."
"No.She's philanderin' with Captain Greyson."
"Philandering with Greyson?" echoed Mainwaring, in wonder.
"Yes; on horseback on the ridge."
"You mean she's riding out with Mr.--with Captain Greyson?"
"Yes; ridin' AND philanderin'," persisted Richelieu.
"And what do you call philandering?"
"Well; I reckon you and she oughter know," returned Richelieu, with a precocious air.
"Certainly," said Mainwaring, with a faint smile.Richelieu really was like Minty.
There was a long silence.This young Englishman was becoming exceedingly uninteresting.Richelieu felt that he was gaining neither profit nor amusement, and losing time."I'm going," he said.
"Good morning," said Mainwaring, without looking up.
Richelieu picked up his specimens, thoroughly convinced of the stranger's glittering deceitfulness, and vanished.
It was nearly eight o'clock when Mrs. Bradley came from the house.
She apologized, with a slightly distrait smile, for the tardiness of the household."Mr. Bradley stayed at the mill all night, and will not be here until breakfast, when he brings your friend Mr.
Richardson with him"--Mainwaring scarcely repressed a movement of impatience--"who arrives early.It's unfortunate that Miss Sharpe can't come to-day."
In his abstraction Mainwaring did not notice that Mrs. Bradley slightly accented Minty's formal appellation, and said carelessly,--
"Oh, that's why her brother came over here so early!"
"Did YOU see him?" asked Mrs. Bradley, almost abruptly.
"Yes.He is an amusing little beggar; but I think he shares his sister's preference for Mr. Bradley.He deserted me here in the veranda for him at the mill."
"Louise will keep you company as soon as she has changed her dress," continued Mrs. Bradley."She was out riding early this morning with a friend.She's very fond of early morning rides."