But she accepted the position handsomely; and
during the week that I now passed with them, both she
and Jim had the grace to spare me questions. It was to
Calistoga that we went; there was some rumour of a Napa
land-boom at the moment, the possibility of stir
attracted Jim, and he informed me he would find a
certain joy in looking on, much as Napoleon on St.
Helena took a pleasure to read military works. The
field of his ambition was quite closed; he was done
with action, and looked forward to a ranch in a
mountain dingle, a patch of corn, a pair of kine, a
leisurely and contemplative age in the green shade of
forests. "Just let me get down on my back in a
hayfield," said he, "and you'll find there's no more
snap to me than that much putty."
And for two days the perfervid being actually rested.
The third, he was observed in consultation with the
local editor, and owned he was in two minds about
purchasing the press and paper. "It's a kind of a hold
for an idle man," he said pleadingly; "and if the
section was to open up the way it ought to, there might
be dollars in the thing.
Pages:
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473