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form of Mrs。 Hanson's brother； Irvine Lovelands。 I spell
Irvine by guess； for I could get no information on the
subject； just as I could never find out； in spite of many
inquiries； whether or not Rufe was a contraction for Rufus。
They were all cheerfully at sea about their names in that
generation。 And this is surely the more notable where the
names are all so strange； and even the family names appear to
have been coined。 At one time； at least； the ancestors of
all these Alvins and Alvas； Loveinas； Lovelands； and
Breedloves； must have taken serious council and found a
certain poetry in these denominations； that must have been；
then； their form of literature。 But still times change； and
their next descendants； the George Washingtons and Daniel
Websters； will at least be clear upon the point。 And anyway；
and however his name should be spelt； this Irvine Lovelands
was the most unmitigated Caliban I ever knew。
Our very first morning at Silverado； when we were full of
business； patching up doors and windows； making beds and
seats； and getting our rough lodging into shape； Irvine and
his sister made their appearance together； she for
neighbourliness and general curiosity； he； because he was
working for me； to my sorrow； cutting firewood at I forget
how much a day。 The way that he set about cutting wood was
characteristic。 We were at that moment patching up and
unpacking in the kitchen。 Down he sat on one side； and down
sat his sister on the other。 Both were chewing pine…tree
gum； and he； to my annoyance； accompanied that simple
pleasure with profuse expectoration。 She rattled away；
talking up hill and down dale； laughing； tossing her head；
showing her brilliant teeth。 He looked on in silence； now
spitting heavily on the floor； now putting his head back and
uttering a loud； discordant； joyless laugh。 He had a tangle
of shock hair； the colour of wool； his mouth was a grin；
although as strong as a horse； he looked neither heavy nor
yet adroit； only leggy； coltish； and in the road。 But it was
plain he was in high spirits； thoroughly enjoying his visit；
and he laughed frankly whenever we failed to accomplish what
we were about。 This was scarcely helpful： it was even； to
amateur carpenters； embarrassing； but it lasted until we
knocked off work and began to get dinner。 Then Mrs。 Hanson
remembered she should have been gone an hour ago； and the
pair retired； and the lady's laughter died away among the
nutmegs down the path。 That was Irvine's first day's work in
my employment … the devil take him！
The next morning he returned and； as he was this time alone；
he bestowed his conversation upon us with great liberality。
He prided himself on his intelligence； asked us if we knew
the school ma'am。 HE didn't think much of her； anyway。 He
had tried her； he had。 He had put a question to her。 If a
tree a hundred feet high were to fall a foot a day； how long
would it take to fall right down？ She had not been able to
solve the problem。 〃She don't know nothing；〃 he opined。 He
told us how a friend of his kept a school with a revolver；
and chuckled mightily over that； his friend could teach
school； he could。 All the time he kept chewing gum and
spitting。 He would stand a while looking down； and then he
would toss back his shock of hair； and laugh hoarsely； and
spit； and bring forward a new subject。 A man； he told us；
who bore a grudge against him； had poisoned his dog。 〃That
was a low thing for a man to do now； wasn't it？ It wasn't
like a man； that； nohow。 But I got even with him： I pisoned
HIS dog。〃 His clumsy utterance； his rude embarrassed manner；
set a fresh value on the stupidity of his remarks。 I do not
think I ever appreciated the meaning of two words until I
knew Irvine … the verb； loaf； and the noun； oaf； between
them； they complete his portrait。 He could lounge； and
wriggle； and rub himself against the wall； and grin； and be
more in everybody's way than any other two people that I ever
set my eyes on。 Nothing that he did became him； and yet you
were conscious that he was one of your own race； that his
mind was cumbrously at work； revolving the problem of
existence like a quid of gum； and in his own cloudy manner
enjoying life； and passing judgment on his fellows。 Above
all things； he was delighted with himself。 You would not
have thought it； from his uneasy manners and troubled；
struggling utterance； but he loved himself to the marrow； and
was happy and proud like a peacock on a rail。
His self…esteem was； indeed； the one joint in his harness。
He could be got to work； and even kept at work； by flattery。
As long as my wife stood over him； crying out how strong he
was； so long exactly he would stick to the matter in hand；
and the moment she turned her back； or ceased to praise him；
he would stop。 His physical strength was wonderful； and to
have a woman stand by and admire his achievements； warmed his
heart like sunshine。 Yet he was as cowardly as he was
powerful； and felt no shame in owning to the weakness。
Something was once wanted from the crazy platform over the
shaft； and he at once refused to venture there … 〃did not
like；〃 as he said； 〃foolen' round them kind o' places；〃 and
let my wife go instead of him； looking on with a grin。
Vanity； where it rules； is usually more heroic： but Irvine
steadily approved himself； and expected others to approve
him； rather looked down upon my wife； and decidedly expected
her to look up to him； on the strength of his superior
prudence。
Yet the strangest part of the whole matter was perhaps this；
that Irvine was as beautiful as a statue。 His features were；
in themselves； perfect； it was only his cloudy； uncouth； and
coarse expression that disfigured them。 So much strength
residing in so spare a frame was proof sufficient of the
accuracy of his shape。 He must have been built somewhat
after the pattern of Jack Sheppard； but the famous
housebreaker； we may be certain； was no lout。 It was by the
extraordinary powers of his mind no less than by the vigour
of his body； that he broke his strong prison with such
imperfect implements； turning the very obstacles to service。
Irvine； in the same case； would have sat down and spat； and
grumbled curses。 He had the soul of a fat sheep； but；
regarded as an artist's model； the exterior of a Greek God。
It was a cruel thought to persons less favoured in their
birth； that this creature； endowed … to use the language of
theatres … with extraordinary 〃means；〃 should so manage to
misemploy them that he looked ugly and almost deformed。 It
was only by an effort of abstraction； and after many days；
that you discovered what he was。
By playing on the oaf's conceit； and standing closely over
him； we got a path made round the corner of the dump to our
door； so that we