Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Garnett,oftheRubyRancho,andGethings,oftheSanPablo,bothonhorseback,foundthemselvessidebyside.Ignoringthedriveandthespiritoftheoccasion,theykeptupaprolongedandseriousconversationonanexpectedriseinthepriceofwheat.Dabney,alsoonhorseback,followedthem,listeningattentivelytoeveryword,buthazardingnoremark.

           Mrs.DerrickandHilmasatinthebackseatofthecarry-all,behindyoungVacca.Mrs.Derrick,alittledisturbedbysuchagreatconcourseofpeople,frightenedattheideaofthekillingofsomanyrabbits,drewbackinherplace,heryoung-girleyestroubledandfilledwithavaguedistress.Hilma,verymuchexcited,leanedfromthecarry-all,anxioustoseeeverything,watchingforrabbits,askinginnumerablequestionsofAnnixter,whorodeatherside.

           ThechangethathadbeenprogressinginHilma,eversincethenightofthefamousbarn-dance,nowseemedtobeapproachingitsclimax;firstthegirl,thenthewoman,lastofalltheMother.Consciousdignity,anewelementinhercharacter,developed.Theshrinking,thetimidityofthegirljustawakeningtotheconsciousnessofsex,passedawayfromher.Theconfusion,thetroublouscomplexityofthewoman,amysteryeventoherself,disappeared.Motherhooddawned,theoldsimplicityofhermaidendayscamebacktoher.Itwasnolongerasimplicityofignorance,butofsupremeknowledge,thesimplicityoftheperfect,thesimplicityofgreatness.Shelookedtheworldfearlesslyintheeyes.