who had always retained his old farmer…like habit of taking off his
coat with his hat on entering his own house； and appearing in his
shirt…sleeves； to indicate domestic ease and security； was obliged
to replace it； on account of the chill。 He had never felt at home
in this room。 Its strangeness had lately been heightened by Mrs。
Mulrady's purchase of a family portrait of some one she didn't
know； but who； she had alleged； resembled her 〃Uncle Bob；〃 which
hung on the wall beside some paintings in massive frames。 Mr。
Mulrady cast a hurried glance at the portrait that； on the strength
of a high coat…collar and high top curlboth rolled with equal
precision and singular sameness of colorhad always glared at
Mulrady as if HE was the intruder； and； passing through his wife's
gorgeous bedroom； entered the little dressing…room； where he still
slept on the smallest of cots； with hastily improvised
surroundings； as if he was a bailiff in 〃possession。〃 He didn't
linger here long； but； taking a key from a drawer； continued up the
staircase； to the ominous funeral marches of the beating rain on
the skylight； and paused on the landing to glance into his son's
and daughter's bedrooms； duplicates of the bizarre extravagance
below。 If he were seeking some characteristic traces of his absent
family； they certainly were not here in the painted and still damp
blazoning of their later successes。 He ascended another staircase；
and； passing to the wing of the house； paused before a small door；
which was locked。 Already the ostentatious decorations of wall and
passages were left behind； and the plain lath…and…plaster partition
of the attic lay before him。 He unlocked the door； and threw it
open。
CHAPTER V
The apartment he entered was really only a lumber…room or loft over
the wing of the house； which had been left bare and unfinished； and
which revealed in its meagre skeleton of beams and joints the
hollow sham of the whole structure。 But in more violent contrast
to the fresher glories of the other part of the house were its
contents； which were the heterogeneous collection of old furniture；
old luggage； and cast…off clothing； left over from the past life in
the old cabin。 It was a much plainer record of the simple
beginnings of the family than Mrs。 Mulrady cared to have remain in
evidence； and for that reason it had been relegated to the hidden
recesses of the new house； in the hope that it might absorb or
digest it。 There were old cribs； in which the infant limbs of
Mamie and Abner had been tucked up； old looking…glasses； that had
reflected their shining； soapy faces； and Mamie's best chip Sunday
hat； an old sewing…machine； that had been worn out in active
service； old patchwork quilts； an old accordion； to whose long
drawn inspirations Mamie had sung hymns； old pictures； books； and
old toys。 There were one or two old chromos； and； stuck in an old
frame； a colored print from the 〃Illustrated London News〃 of a
Christmas gathering in an old English country house。 He stopped
and picked up this print； which he had often seen before； gazing at
it with a new and singular interest。 He wondered if Mamie had seen
anything of this kind in England； and why couldn't he have had
something like it here； in their own fine house； with themselves
and a few friends？ He remembered a past Christmas； when he had
bought Mamie that now headless doll with the few coins that were
left him after buying their frugal Christmas dinner。 There was an
old spotted hobby…horse that another Christmas had brought to
AbnerAbner； who would be driving a fast trotter to…morrow at the
Springs！ How everything had changed！ How they all had got up in
the world； and how far beyond this kind of thingand yetyet it
would have been rather comfortable to have all been together again
here。 Would THEY have been more comfortable？ No！ Yet then he
might have had something to do； and been less lonely to…morrow。
What of that？ He HAD something to do： to look after this immense
fortune。 What more could a man want； or should he want？ It was
rather mean in him； able to give his wife and children everything
they wanted； to be wanting anything more。 He laid down the print
gently； after dusting its glass and frame with his silk
handkerchief； and slowly left the room。
The drum…beat of the rain followed him down the staircase； but he
shut it out with his other thoughts； when he again closed the door
of his office。 He set diligently to work by the declining winter
light； until he was interrupted by the entrance of his Chinese
waiter to tell him that supperwhich was the meal that Mulrady
religiously adhered to in place of the late dinner of civilization
was ready in the dining…room。 Mulrady mechanically obeyed the
summons； but on entering the room the oasis of a few plates in a
desert of white table…cloth which awaited him made him hesitate。
In its best aspect； the high dark Gothic mahogany ecclesiastical
sideboard and chairs of this room； which looked like the
appointments of a mortuary chapel； were not exhilarating； and to…
day； in the light of the rain…filmed windows and the feeble rays of
a lamp half…obscured by the dark shining walls； it was most
depressing。
〃You kin take up supper into my office；〃 said Mulrady； with a
sudden inspiration。 〃I'll eat it there。〃
He ate it there； with his usual healthy appetite； which did not
require even the stimulation of company。 He had just finished；
when his Irish cookthe one female servant of the housecame to
ask permission to be absent that evening and the next day。
〃I suppose the likes of your honor won't be at home on the
Christmas Day？ And it's me cousins from the old counthry at Rough…
and…Ready that are invitin' me。〃
〃Why don't you ask them over here？〃 said Mulrady； with another
vague inspiration。 〃I'll stand treat。〃
〃Lord preserve you for a jinerous gintleman！ But it's the likes of
them and myself that wouldn't be at home here on such a day。〃
There was so much truth in this that Mulrady checked a sigh as he
gave the required permission； without saying that he had intended
to remain。 He could cook his own breakfast： he had done it before；
and it would be something to occupy him。 As to his dinner； perhaps
he could go to the hotel at Rough…and…Ready。 He worked on until
the night had well advanced。 Then； overcome with a certain
restlessness that disturbed him； he was forced to put his books and
papers away。 It had begun to blow in fitful gusts； and
occasionally the rain was driven softly across the panes like the
passing of childish fingers。 This disturbed him more than the
monotony of silence； for he was not a nervous man。 He seldom read
a book； and the county paper furnished him only the financial and
mercantile news which was part of his business。 He knew he could
not sleep if he went to bed。 At last he rose； opened the window；
and looked out from pure idleness of occupation。 A splash of
wheels in the distant muddy road and fragments of a drunken song
showed signs of an early wandering reveller。 There were no lights
to be seen at the closed works； a profound darkness encompassed the
house； as if the distant pines in the hollow had moved up and round
it。 The silence was broken now only by the occasional sighing of
wind and rain。 It was not an inviting night for a perfunctory
walk； but an idea struck himhe would call upon the Slinns； and
anticipate his next day's visit！ They would probably have company；
and be glad to see him： he could tell the girls of Mamie and her
success。 That he had not thought of this before was a proof of his
usual self…contained isolation； that he thought of it now was an
equal proof that he was becoming at last accessible to loneliness。
He was angry with himself for what seemed to him a selfish
weakness。
He returned to his office； and； putting the envelope that had been
lying on Slinn's desk in his pocket； threw a serape over his
shoulders； and locked the front door of the house behind him。 It
was well that the way was a familiar one to him； and that his feet
instinctively found the trail； for the night was very dark。 At
times he was warned only by the gurgling of water of little
rivulets that descended the hill and crossed his path。 Without the
slightest fear； and with neither imagination nor sensitiveness； he
recalled how； the winter before； one of Don Caesar's vaqueros；
crossing this hill at night； had fallen down the chasm of a
landslip caused by the rain； and was found the next morning with
his neck broken in the gully。 Don Caesar had to take care of the
man's family。 Suppose such an accident should happen to him？
Well； he had made his will。 His wife and children would be
provided for； and the work of the mine would go on all the same； he
had arranged for that。 Would anybody miss him？ Would his wife； or
his son； or his daughter？ No。 He felt such a sudden and
overwhelming conviction of the truth of this that he stopped as
suddenly as if the chasm had opened before him。 No！ It was the
truth。 If he were to disappear forever in the darkness of the
Christmas night there was none to feel his loss。 His wife would
take care of Mamie； his son would take care of himself； as he had
beforerelieved of even the scant paternal authority he rebelled
against。 A more imaginative man than Mulrady would have combated
or have followed out this idea； and then dismissed it； to the
millionaire's matter…of…fact mind it was a deduction that； having
once presented itself to his perception； was already a recognized
fact。 For the first time in his life he felt a sudden instinct of
something like aversion towards his family； a feeling that even his
son's dissipation and criminality had never provoked。 He hurried
on angrily through the darkness。
It was very strange； the old house should be almost before him now；
across the hollow； yet there were no indications of light！ It was
not until he actually reached the garden fence； and the black bulk
of shadow rose out against the sky； that he saw a faint ray of
light from one of the lean…to windows。 He went to the front door
and knocked。 After waiting in vain for a reply； he knocked again。
The