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his lips had gained something from their framing。
He slept； through what seemed to be the unnatural stillness of the
large house；a quiet that might have come from the lingering
influence of the still virgin solitude around it； as if Nature had
forgotten the intrusion； or were stealthily retaking her own； and
later； through the rattle of returning wheels or the sound of
voices； which were； however； promptly absorbed in that deep and
masterful silence which was the unabdicating genius of the canyon。
For it was remarkable that even the various artists； musicians；
orators； and poets whom Maecenas had gathered in his cool business
fashion under that roof； all seemed to become； by contrast with
surrounding Nature； as new and artificial as the house； and as
powerless to assert themselves against its influence。
He was still sleeping when James re…entered the room； but awoke
promptly at the sound of his voice。 In a few moments he had
rearranged his scarcely disordered toilette； and stepped out
refreshed and observant into the hall。 The guests were still
absent from that part of the building； and he walked leisurely past
the carelessly opened doors of the rooms they had left。 Everywhere
he met the same glaring ornamentation and color； the same
garishness of treatment； the same inharmonious extravagance of
furniture； and everywhere the same troubled acceptance of it by the
inmates； or the same sense of temporary and restricted tenancy。
Dresses were hung over cheval glasses； clothes piled up on chairs
to avoid the use of doubtful and over ornamented wardrobes； and in
some cases more practical guests had apparently encamped in a
corner of their apartment。 A gentleman from Siskyousole
proprietor of a mill patent now being considered by Maecenashad
confined himself to a rocking…chair and clothes…horse as being
trustworthy and familiar； a bolder spirit from Yrekain treaty for
capital to start an independent journal devoted to Maecenas's
interestshad got a good deal out of； and indeed all he had INTO；
a Louis XVI。 armoire； while a young painter from Sacramento had
simply retired into his adjoining bath…room； leaving the glories of
his bedroom untarnished。 Suddenly he paused。
He had turned into a smaller passage in order to make a shorter cut
through one of the deserted suites of apartments that should bring
him to that part of the building where he designed to make his
projected improvement； when his feet were arrested on the threshold
of a sitting…room。 Although it contained the same decoration and
furniture as the other rooms； it looked totally different！ It was
tasteful； luxurious； comfortable； and habitable。 The furniture
seemed to have fallen into harmonious position； even the staring
decorations of the walls and ceiling were toned down by sprays of
laurel and red…stained manzanito boughs with their berries；
apparently fresh plucked from the near canyon。 But he was more
unexpectedly impressed to see that the room was at that moment
occupied by a tall； handsome girl； who had paused to take breath；
with her hand still on the heavy centre…table she was moving。
Standing there； graceful； glowing； and animated； she looked the
living genius of the recreated apartment。
CHAPTER II
Mr。 Rushbrook glanced rapidly at his unknown guest。 〃Excuse me；〃
he said； with respectful business brevity； 〃but I thought every one
was out；〃 and he stepped backward quickly。
〃I've only just come；〃 she said without embarrassment； 〃and would
you mind； as you ARE here； giving me a lift with this table？〃
〃Certainly；〃 replied Rushbrook； and under the young girl's
direction the millionaire moved the table to one side。
During the operation he was trying to determine which of his
unrecognized guests the fair occupant was。 Possibly one of the
Leyton party； that James had spoken of as impending。
〃Then you have changed all the furniture； and put up these things？〃
he asked； pointing to the laurel。
〃Yes； the room was really something TOO awful。 It looks better
now； don't you think？〃
〃A hundred per cent。；〃 said Rushbrook； promptly。 〃Look here； I'll
tell you what you've done。 You've set the furniture TO WORK！ It
was simply lying stillwith no return to anybody on the investment。〃
The young girl opened her gray eyes at this； and then smiled。 The
intruder seemed to be characteristic of California。 As for
Rushbrook； he regretted that he did not know her better； he would
at once have asked her to rearrange all the rooms； and have managed
in some way liberally to reward her for it。 A girl like that had
no nonsense about her。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃I wonder Mr。 Rushbrook don't look at it in that
way。 It is a shame that all these pretty thingsand you know they
are really good and valuableshouldn't show what they are。 But I
suppose everybody here accepts the fact that this man simply buys
them because they are valuable； and nobody interferes； and is
content to humor him； laugh at him； and feel superior。 It don't
strike me as quite fair； does it you？〃
Rushbrook was pleased。 Without the vanity that would be either
annoyed at this revelation of his reputation； or gratified at her
defense of it； he was simply glad to discover that she had not
recognized him as her host； and could continue the conversation
unreservedly。 〃Have you seen the ladies' boudoir？〃 he asked。 〃You
know； the room fitted with knick…knacks and pretty thingssome of
'em bought from old collections in Europe； by fellows who knew what
they were but perhaps；〃 he added； looking into her eyes for the
first time； 〃didn't know exactly what ladies cared for。〃
〃I merely glanced in there when I first came； for there was such a
queer lot of womenI'm told he isn't very particular in that way
that I didn't stay。〃
〃And you didn't think THEY might be just as valuable and good as
some of the furniture； if they could have been pulled around and
put into shape； or set in a corner； eh？〃
The young girl smiled； she thought her fellow…guest rather amusing；
none the less so； perhaps； for catching up her own ideas； but
nevertheless she slightly shrugged her shoulders with that hopeless
skepticism which women reserve for their own sex。 〃Some of them
looked as if they had been pulled around； as you say； and hadn't
been improved by it。〃
〃There's no one there now；〃 said Rushbrook； with practical
directness； 〃come and take a look at it。〃 She complied without
hesitation； walking by his side； tall； easy； and self…possessed；
apparently accepting without self…consciousness his half paternal；
half comrade…like informality。 The boudoir was a large room；
repeating on a bigger scale the incongruousness and ill fitting
splendor of the others。 When she had of her own accord recognized
and pointed out the more admirable articles； he said； gravely
looking at his watch； 〃We've just about seven minutes yet； if you'd
like to pull and haul thes