\"Shoot—Off—His—Mouth——theBeardlessBoyChiefoftheSierras——hasspoken!LetthePaleFacewiththeblackmoustacheponderandbewarehowhetalkshereaftertotheRipplingCochituateWater!
Go!\"
Nevertheless，assoonasthedoorhadcloseduponFalkner，Lee’ssmilevanished。Withhiscolorlessfaceturnedtothefadinglightatthewindow，thehollowsinhistemplesandthelinesinthecornersofhiseyesseemedtohavegrownmoreprofound。Heremainedmotionlessandabsorbedinthoughtsodeepthatthelightrustleofaskirt，thatwouldatothertimeshavethrilledhissensitiveear，passedunheeded。Atlast，throwingoffhisreveriewiththefullandunrestrainedsighofamanwhobelieveshimselfalone，hewasstartledbythesoftlaughofMrs。Hale，whohadenteredtheroomunperceived。
\"Dearme!Howportentous!Really，IalmostfeelasifIwereinterruptingatete—a—tetebetweenyourselfandsomeoldflame。I
haven’theardanythingsoold—fashionedandconservativeasthatsighsinceIhavebeeninCalifornia。IthoughtyouneverhadanyPastouthere？\"