although Bradley's manner and sympathy were confidential and almost
brotherly, he never made any allusion to Mainwaring's own family or
connections, and, in fact, gave no indication of what he believed was
the national curiosity in regard to strangers. Somewhat embarrassed by
this indifference, Mainwaring made the occasion of writing some letters
home an opportunity for laughingly alluding to the fact that he had made
his mother and his sisters fully aware of the great debt they owed the
household of The Lookout.

"They'll probably all send you a round robin of thanks, except, perhaps,
my next brother, Bob."

Bradley contented himself with a gesture of general deprecation, and did
not ask WHY Mainwaring's young brother should contemplate his death with
satisfaction. Nevertheless, some time afterwards Miss Macy remarked
that it seemed hard that the happiness of one member of a family should
depend upon a calamity to another. "As for instance?" asked Mainwaring,
who had already forgotten the circumstance. "Why, if you had died and
your younger brother succeeded to the baronetcy, and become Sir Robert
Mainwaring," responded Miss Macy, with precision. This was the first and
only allusion to his family and prospective rank. On the other hand,
he had--through naive and boyish inquiries, which seemed to amuse his
entertainers--acquired, as he believed, a full knowledge of the history
and antecedents of the Bradley household. He knew how Bradley had
brought his young wife and her cousin to California and abandoned a
lucrative law practice in San Francisco to take possession of this
mountain mill and woodland, which he had acquired through some
professional service.

"Then you are a barrister really?" said Mainwaring, gravely.