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said quietly。
〃And Dunn wouldn't marry you now。〃
〃I'm not so sure of that； either。〃
〃Nellie；〃 said Wynn excitedly； 〃do you want to drive me mad？ Have
you nothing to saynothing to suggest？〃
〃Oh； you want me to help you； do you！ Why didn't you say that first？
Well； go and bring Dunn here。〃
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〃Are you mad？ The man has gone already in pursuit of your lover；
believing you with him。〃
〃Then he will the more readily come and talk with me without him。
Will you take the invitationyes or no？〃
〃Yes； but〃
〃Enough。 On your way there you will stop at the hotel and give Low
a letter from me。〃
〃Nellie！〃
〃You shall read it； of course；〃 she said scornfully； 〃for it will be your
text for the conversation you will have with him。 Will you please take
your hand from the lock and open the door？〃
Wynn mechanically opened the door。 The young girl flew up… stairs。
In a very few moments she returned with two notes： one contained a few
lines of formal invitation to Dunn； the other read as follows：
〃DEAR MR。 DORMAN；My father will tell you how deeply I regret
that our recent botanical excursions in the Carquinez Woods have been a
source of serious misapprehensions to those who had a claim to my
consideration； and that I shall be obliged to discontinue them for the future。
At the same time he wishes me to express my gratitude for your valuable
instruction and assistance in that pleasing study； even though approaching
events may compel me to relinquish it for other duties。 May I beg you to
accept the inclosed ring as a slight recognition of my obligations to you？
〃Your grateful pupil；
〃NELLIE WYNN。〃
When he had finished reading the letter； she handed him a ring；
which he took mechanically。 He raised his eyes to hers with perfectly
genuine admiration。 〃You're a good girl； Nellie；〃 he said； and； in a
moment of parental forgetfulness； unconsciously advanced his lips
towards her cheek。 But she drew back in time to recall him to a sense of
that human weakness。
〃I suppose I'll have time for a nap yet；〃 she said； as a gentle hint to her
embarrassed parent。 He nodded and turned towards the door。
〃If I were you；〃 she continued； repressing a yawn； 〃I'd manage to be
seen on good terms with Low at the hotel； so perhaps you need not give
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the letter to him until the last thing。 Good…by。〃
The sitting…room door opened and closed behind her as she slipped up…
stairs； and her father； without the formality of leave…taking； quietly let
himself out by the front door。
When he drove into the high road again； however； an overlooked
possibility threatened for a moment to indefinitely postpone his amiable
intentions regarding Low。 The hotel was at the further end of the
settlement towards the Carquinez Woods； and as Wynn had nearly reached
it he was recalled to himself by the sounds of hoofs and wheels rapidly
approaching from the direction of the Excelsior turnpike。 Wynn made no
doubt it was the sheriff and Brace。 To avoid recognition at that moment；
he whipped up his horse； intending to keep the lead until he could turn into
the first cross…road。 But the coming travelers had the fleetest horse； and
finding it impossible to distance them he drove close to the ditch； pulling
up suddenly as the strange vehicle was abreast of him； and forcing them to
pass him at full speed； with the result already chronicled。 When they had
vanished in the darkness； Mr。 Wynn； with a heart overflowing with
Christian thankfulness and universal benevolence； wheeled round； and
drove back to the hotel he had already passed。 To pull up at the veranda
with a stentorian shout； to thump loudly at the deserted bar； to hilariously
beat the panels of the landlord's door； and commit a jocose assault and
battery upon that half…dresssed and half…awakened man； was eminently
characteristic of Wynn； and part of his amiable plans that morning。
〃Something to wash this wood smoke from my throat； Brother Carter；
and about as much again to prop open your eyes；〃 he said； dragging Carter
before the bar； 〃and glasses round for as many of the boys as are up and
stirring after a hard…working Christian's rest。 How goes the honest
publican's trade； and who have we here？〃
〃Thar's Judge Robinson and two lawyers from Sacramento； Dick
Curson over from Yolo；〃 said Carter； 〃and that ar young Injin yarb doctor
from the Carquinez Woods。 I reckon he's jist upI noticed a light under
his door as I passed。〃
〃He's my man for a friendly chat before breakfast；〃 said Wynn。 〃You
needn't come up。 I'll find the way。 I don't want a light； I reckon my
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eyes ain't as bright nor as young as his； but they'll see almost as far in the
darkhe！ he！〃 And； nodding to Brother Carter； he strode along the
passage； and with no other introduction than a playful and preliminary
〃Boo！〃 burst into one of the rooms。 Low； who by the light of a single
candle was bending over the plates of a large quarto； merely raised his
eyes and looked at the intruder。 The young man's natural imperturbability；
always exasperating to Wynn； seemed accented that morning by contrast
with his own over…acted animation。
〃Ah ha！wasting the midnight oil instead of imbibing the morning
dews；〃 said Father Wynn archly； illustrating his metaphor with a
movement of his hand to his lips。 〃What have we here？〃
〃An anonymous gift；〃 replied Low simply； recognizing the father of
Nellie by rising from his chair。 〃It's a volume I've longed to possess； but
never could afford to buy。 I cannot imagine who sent it to me。〃
Wynn was for a moment startled by the thought that this recipient of
valuable gifts might have influential friends。 But a glance at the bare
room； which