Hadtheyreallycloseduponherinsomepantheisticembracethatmadeherapartofthem？Hadshebeenbaptizedinthatmoonlightasachildofthegreatforest？Itwaseasytobelieveinthemythsofthepoetsofanidylliclifeunderthosetrees，where，freefromconventionalrestrictions，onelovedandwasloved。Ifshe，withherownworldlyexperience，couldthinkofthisnow，whymightnotGeorgeKearneyhavethought？……Shestopped，andfoundherselfblushingeveninthedarkness。Asthethoughtandblushweretheusualsequelofherreflections，itistobefearedthattheymayhavebeenattimestheimpellingcause。
Mr。Carr，however，madeupforhisdaughters’wantofsympathywithmetropolitanlife。Totheirastonishment，henotonlyplungedintothefashionablegayetiesandamusementsofthetown，butindressandmannerassumedtheroleofaleaderofsociety。Theinvariableanswertotheirhalf—humorouscommentwasthenecessitiesofthemine，andthepolicyoffrequentingthecompanyofcapitalists，toenlisttheirsupportandconfidence。Therewassomethinginthissounliketheirfather，thatwhatatanyothertimetheywouldhavehailedasarelieftohishabitualabstractionnowhalfalarmedthem。Yethewasnotdissipated——hedidnotdrinknorgamble。
Therecertainlydidnotseemanyharminhisfrequentingthesocietyofladies，withagallantrythatappearedtobeforcedandapleasurethattotheircriticaleyeswascertainlyapocryphal。
Hedidnotdraghisdaughtersintothemixedsocietyofthatperiod；hedidnotpressuponthemthecompanyofthosehemostfrequented，andwhoseacceptedpositioninthatlittleworldoffashionwasconsideredequaltotheirown。WhenJessiestronglyobjectedtothepronouncedmannersofacertainwidow，whoseactualpresentwealthandpecuniaryinfluencecondonedforamoreuncertainprehistoricpast，Mr。Carrdidnoturgeafurtheracquaintance。\"Aslongasyou’renotthinkingofmarryingagain，papa，\"Jessiehadsaidfinally，\"Idon’tseethenecessityofourknowingher。\"\"ButsupposeIwere，\"hadrepliedMr。Carrwithaffectedhumor。\"Thenyoucertainlywouldn’tcareforanyonelikeher，\"hisdaughterhadrespondedtriumphantly。Mr。Carrsmiled，anddroppedthesubject，butitisprobablethathisdaughters’
wantofsympathywithhisacquaintancesdidnotintheleastinterferewithhissocialprestige。Agentlemaninallhisrelationsandunderallcircumstances，evenhiscoldscientificabstractionwasprovocative；richmenenviedhisloftyignoranceofthesmallerdetailsofmoney—making，evenwhiletheymistrustedhisjudgment。Amanstillwellpreserved，andfreefromweakeningvices，hewasadangerousrivaltoyoungerandfasterSanFrancisco，intheeyesofthesex，whoknewhowtovalueareposetheydidnotthemselvespossess。