A momentous silence followed.The particular form that Minty's vulgarity had taken had not been anticipated by the two other women.They had, not unreasonably, expected some original audacity or gaucherie from the blacksmith's daughter, which might astonish yet amuse their guest, and condone for the situation forced upon them.But they were not prepared for a playfulness that involved themselves in a ridiculous indiscretion.Mrs. Bradley's eyes sought her husband's meaningly; Louise's pretty mouth hardened.
Luckily the cheerful cause of it suddenly jumped up from the table,and saying that the stranger was starving, insisted upon bringing a dish from the other side and helping him herself plentifully.
Mainwaring rose gallantly to take the dish from her hand, a slight scuffle ensued which ended in the young man being forced down in his chair by the pressure of Minty's strong plump hand on his shoulder."There," she said, "ye kin mind your dinner now, and I reckon we'll give the others a chance to chip into the conversation,"and at once applied herself to the plate before her.
The conversation presently became general, with the exception that Minty, more or less engrossed by professional anxiety in the quality of the dinner and occasional hurried visits to the kitchen,briefly answered the few polite remarks which Mainwaring felt called upon to address to her.Nevertheless, he was conscious,malgre her rallying allusions to Miss Macy, that he felt none of the vague yet half pleasant anxiety with which Louise was beginning to inspire him.He felt at ease in Minty's presence, and believed,rightly or wrongly, that she understood him as well as he understood her.And there were certainly points in common between his two hostesses and their humbler though proud dependent.The social evolution of Mrs. Bradley and Louise Macy from some previous Minty was neither remote nor complete; the self-sufficient independence, ease, and quiet self-assertion were alike in each.
The superior position was still too recent and accidental for either to resent or criticise qualities that were common to both.
At least, this was what he thought when not abandoning himself to the gratification of a convalescent appetite; to the presence of two pretty women, the sympathy of a genial friend, the healthy intoxication of the white sunlight that glanced upon the pine walls, the views that mirrored themselves in the open windows, and the pure atmosphere in which The Lookout seemed to swim.Wandering breezes of balm and spice lightly stirred the flowers on the table,and seemed to fan his hair and forehead with softly healing breath.
Looking up in an interval of silence, he caught Bradley's gray eyes fixed upon him with a subdued light of amusement and affection, as of an elder brother regarding a schoolboy's boisterous appetite at some feast.Mainwaring laid down his knife and fork with a laughing color, touched equally by Bradley's fraternal kindliness and the consciousness of his gastronomical powers.
"Hang it, Bradley; look here!I know my appetite's disgraceful,but what can a fellow do?In such air, with such viands and such company!It's like the bees getting drunk on Hybla and Hymettus,you know.I'm not responsible!"
"It's the first square meal I believe you've really eaten in six months," said Bradley, gravely."I can't understand why your doctor allowed you to run down so dreadfully."
"I reckon you ain't as keerful of yourself, you Britishers, ez us,"said Minty."Lordy!Why there's Pop invests in more patent medicines in one day than you have in two weeks, and he'd make two of you.Mebbe your folks don't look after you enough."
"I'm a splendid advertisement of what YOUR care and your medicines have done," said Mainwaring, gratefully, to Mrs. Bradley; "and if you ever want to set up a 'Cure' here, I'm ready with a ten-page testimonial."
"Have a care, Mainwaring," said Bradley, laughing, "that the ladies don't take you at your word.Louise and Jenny have been doing their best for the last year to get me to accept a flattering offer from a Sacramento firm to put up a hotel for tourists on the site of The Lookout.Why, I believe that they have already secretly in their hearts concocted a flaming prospectus of 'Unrivalled Scenery'and 'Health-giving Air,' and are looking forward to Saturday night hops on the piazza."
"Have you really, though?" said Mainwaring, gazing from the one to the other.
"We should certainly see more company than we do now, and feel a little less out of the world," said Louise, candidly."There are no neighbors here--I mean the people at the Summit are not," she added, with a slight glance towards Minty.
"And Mr. Bradley would find it more profitable--not to say more suitable to a man of his position--than this wretched saw-mill and timber business," said Mrs. Bradley, decidedly.
Mainwaring was astounded; was it possible they considered it more dignified for a lawyer to keep a hotel than a saw-mill?Bradley,as if answering what was passing in his mind, said mischievously,"I'm not sure, exactly, what my position is, my dear, and I'm afraid I've declined the hotel on business principles.But, by the way, Mainwaring, I found a letter at the mill this morning from Mr.
Richardson.He is about to pay us the distinguished honor of visiting The Lookout, solely on your account, my dear fellow."
"But I wrote him that I was much better, and it wasn't necessary for him to come," said Mainwaring.
"He makes an excuse of some law business with me.I suppose he considers the mere fact of his taking the trouble to come here, all the way from San Francisco, a sufficient honor to justify any absence of formal invitation," said Bradley, smiling.
"But he's only--I mean he's my father's banker," said Mainwaring,correcting himself, "and--you don't keep a hotel."
"Not yet," returned Bradley, with a mischievous glance at the two women, "but The Lookout is elastic, and I dare say we can manage to put him up."