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like vehicle。 He had also assumed； evidently in great haste； a
black frock coat buttoned over his waistcoatless and cravatless
shirt； and a tall black hat that already seemed to be cracking in
the sunlight。 He drove up； at once assisted her to the narrow
perch beside him； and with a nod to Bent drove off。 His breathless
expedition relieved the leave…taking of these young people of any
ceremony。
〃I suppose；〃 said Mr。 Dawson； giving a half glance over his
shoulder as they struck into the dusty highway；〃I suppose you
don't care to see anybody before you get to San Jose？〃
〃No…o…o；〃 said Rose； timidly。
〃And I reckon you wouldn't mind my racin' a bit if anybody kem up？〃
〃No。〃
〃The mare's sort o' fastidious about takin' anybody's dust。〃
〃Is she？〃 said Rose； with a faint smile。
〃Awful；〃 responded her companion； 〃and the queerest thing of all
is； she can't bear to have any one behind her； either。〃
He leaned forward with his expression of humorous enjoyment of some
latent joke and did something with the reinsRose never could
clearly understand what； though it seemed to her that he simply
lifted them with ostentatious lightness； but the mare suddenly
seemed to LENGTHEN herself and lose her height； and the stalks of
wheat on either side of the dusty track began to melt into each
other； and then slipped like a flash into one long； continuous；
shimmering green hedge。 So perfect was the mare's action that the
girl was scarcely conscious of any increased effort； so harmonious
the whole movement that the light skeleton wagon seemed only a
prolonged process of that long； slim body and free； collarless
neck； both straight as the thin shafts on each side and straighter
than the delicate ribbon…like traces which； in what seemed a mere
affectation of conscious power； hung at times almost limp between
the whiffle…tree and the narrow breast band which was all that
confined the animal's powerful fore…quarters。 So superb was the
reach of its long easy stride that Rose could scarcely see any
undulations in the brown shining back on which she could have
placed her foot； nor felt the soft beat of the delicate hoofs that
took the dust so firmly and yet so lightly。
The rapidity of motion which kept them both with heads bent forward
and seemed to force back any utterance that rose to their lips
spared Rose the obligation of conversation； and her companion was
equally reticent。 But it was evident to her that he half suspected
she was running away from the Randolphs； and that she wished to
avoid the embarrassment of being overtaken even in persuasive
pursuit。 It was not possible that he knew the cause of her flight；
and yet she could not account for his evident desire to befriend
her； nor； above all； for his apparently humorous enjoyment of the
situation。 Had he taken it gravely； she might have been tempted to
partly confide in him and ask his advice。 Was she doing right；
after all？ Ought she not to have stayed long enough to speak her
mind to Mrs。 Randolph and demand to be sent home？ No！ She had not
only shrunk from repeating the infamous slander she had overheard；
but she had a terrible fear that if she had done so； Mrs。 Randolph
was capable of denying it； or even charging her of being still
under the influence of the earthquake shock and of walking in her
sleep。 No！ She could not trust hershe could trust no one there。
Had not even the major listened to those infamous lies？ Had she
not seen that he was helpless in the hands of this cabal in his own
household？a cabal that she herself had thoughtlessly joined
against him。
They had reached the first slight ascent。 Her companion drew out
his watch； looked at it with satisfaction； and changed the position
of his hands on the reins。 Without being able to detect the
difference； she felt they were slackening speed。 She turned
inquiringly towards him； he nodded his head； with a half smile and
a gesture to her to look ahead。 The spires of San Jose were
already faintly uplifting from the distant fringe of oaks。
So soon！ In fifteen minutes she would be thereand THEN！ She
remembered suddenly she had not yet determined what to do。 Should
she go on at once to San Francisco； or telegraph to her father and
await him at San Jose？ In either case a new fear of the
precipitancy of her action and the inadequacy of her reasons had
sprung up in her mind。 Would her father understand her？ Would he
underrate the cause and be mortified at the insult she had given
the family of his old friend； or； more dreadful still； would he
exaggerate her wrongs and seek a personal quarrel with the major。
He was a man of quick temper； and had the Western ideas of redress。
Perhaps even now she was precipitating a duel between them。 Her
cheeks grew wan again； her breath came quickly； tears gathered in
her eyes。 Oh； she was a dreadful girl； she knew it； she was an
utterly miserable one； and she knew that too！
The reins were tightened。 The pace lessened and at last fell to a
walk。 Conscious of her telltale eyes and troubled face； she dared
not turn to her companion to ask him why； but glanced across the
fields。
〃When you first came I didn't get to know your name； Miss Mallory；
but I reckon I know your father。〃
Her father！ What made him say that？ She wanted to speak； but she
felt she could not。 In another moment； if he went on； she must do
SOMETHINGshe would cry！
〃I reckon you'll be wanting to go to the hotel first； anyway？〃
There！she knew it！ He WOULD keep on！ And now she had burst into
tears。
The mare was still walking slowly； the man was lazily bending
forward over the shafts as if nothing had occurred。 Then suddenly；
illogically； and without a moment's warning； the pride that had
sustained her crumbled and became as the dust of the road。
She burst out and told himthis stranger！this man she had
disliked！all and EVERYTHING。 How she had felt； how she had been
deceived； and what she had overheard！
〃I thought as much；〃 said her companion； quietly； 〃and that's why I
sent for your father。〃
〃You sent for my father！when？where？〃 echoed Rose； in
astonishment。
〃Yesterday。 He was to come to…day； and if we don't find him at the
hotel it will be because he has already started to come here by the
upper and longer road。 But you leave it to ME； and don't you say
anything to him of this now。 If he's at the hotel； I'll say I
drove you down there to show off the mare。 Sabe？ If he isn't；
I'll leave you there and come back here to find him。 I've got
something to tell him that will set YOU all right。〃 He smiled
grimly； lifted the reins； the mare started forward again； and the
vehicle and its occupants disappeared in a vanishing dust cloud。
CHAPTER VI
It was nearly noon when Mr。 Dawson finished rubbing down his
sweating mare in the little stable shed among the wheat。 He had
left Rose at the hotel；