第5章

Paultooktheenvelopeandopenedit。Itcontainedaprinter\'sproof-slip，whichhehurriedlyglancedover。Itreadasfollows:——

"ThoseofourreaderswhoarefamiliarwiththeearlyhistoryofSanFranciscowillbeinterestedtoknowthataneccentricandirregulartrusteeship，vestedforthelasteightyearsintheMayorofSanFranciscoandtwoofouroldestcitizens，wasterminatedyesterdaybythemajorityofabeautifulandaccomplishedyounglady，apupiloftheconventofSantaClara。Veryfew，excepttheoriginaltrustees，werecognizantofthefactthattheadministrationofthetrusteeshasbeenarecognizedfunctionofthesuccessiveMayorsofSanFranciscoduringthisperiod；andthemysterysurroundingithasbeenonlylatelydivulged。ItoffersatouchingandromanticinstanceofasurvivaloftheoldpatriarchaldutiesoftheformerAlcaldesandthesimplicityofpioneerdays。

Itseemsthat，intheunsettledconditionsoftheMexicanland-

titlesthatfollowedtheAmericanoccupation，theconsumptivewidowofascionofoneoftheoldestCalifornianfamiliesintrustedherpropertyandthecustodyofherinfantdaughtervirtuallytothecityofSanFrancisco，asrepresentedbythetrusteesspecified，untilthegirlshouldbecomeofage。Withinayear，theinvalidmotherdied。Withwhatloyalty，sagacity，andprudencethesegentlemenfulfilledtheirtrustmaybegatheredfromthefactthatthepropertyleftintheirchargehasnotonlybeensecuredandprotected，butincreasedahundredfoldinvalue；andthattheyounglady，whoyesterdayattainedhermajority，isnotonlyoneoftherichestlandedheiressesonthePacificSlope，butoneofthemostaccomplishedandthoroughlyeducatedofhersex。

ItisnownosecretthatthisfavoredchildofChrysopolisistheDonaMariaConcepciondeArguellodelaYerbaBuena，socalledfromherancestralpropertyontheisland，nowownedbytheFederalgovernment。Butitisanaffectingandpoetictributetotheparentofheradoptionthatshehaspreferredtopassundertheold，quaintlytypicalnameofthecity，andhasbeenknowntoherfriendssimplyas\'MissYerbaBuena。\'Itisanolesspleasantandsuggestivecircumstancethatour\'youngestsenator，\'theHonorablePaulHathaway，formerlyprivatesecretarytoMayorHammersley，isoneoftheoriginalunofficialtrustees；whilethechivalryoftheolderdaysisperpetuatedinthepersonofColonelHarryPendleton，theremainingtrustee。"

Assoonashehadfinished，Paultookapencilandcrossedoutthelastsentence；butinsteadoflayingtheproofaside，orreturningittothewaitingsecretary，heremainedwithitinhishand，hissilent，setfaceturnedtowardsthewindow。Whetherthemerelyhumansecretarywastiredofwaiting，orthedevotedpartisansawsomethingonhisyoungchief\'sfacethatdisturbedhim，heturnedtoPaulwiththatexaggeratedrespectwhichhisfunctionsassecretaryhadgrafteduponhisaffectionforhisoldassociate，andsaid:——

"Ihopenothing\'swrong，sir。NotanotherofthosescurrilousattacksonyouforputtingthatbillthroughtorelieveColonelPendleton?Yetitwasariskythingforyou，sir。"

Paulstarted，recoveredhimselfasiffromsomeremoteabstraction，and，withasmile，said:"No，——nothing。Quitethereverse。WritetoMr。Slate，thankhim，andsaythatitwilldoverywell——withtheexceptionofthelinesIhavemarkedout。Thenbringmetheletter，andIwilladdthisinclosure。DidyoucallonColonelPendleton?"

"Yes，sir。HewasatSantaClara，andhadnotyetreturned，——atleast，that\'swhatthatdandyniggerofhistoldme。Theairsandgracesthatthatcreatureputsonsincethecolonel\'saffairshavebeenstraightenedoutisalittletoomuchforawhitemantostand。Why，sir!d——difhedidn\'twanttopatronizeYOU，andallowedtomethat\'deKernel\'hada\'fahideah\'ofyou，\'andthoughtyouapromisin\'youngman。\'Thefactis，sir，thepartyismakingabigmistaketryingtogivevotestothatkindofcattle——

itwouldonlybegivingtwovotestotheotherside，for，slaveorfree，they\'rethechattelsoftheiroldmasters。Andastothemasters\'gratitudeforwhatyou\'vedoneaffectingasinglevoteoftheirparty——you\'remistaken。"

"ColonelPendletonbelongstonoparty，"saidPaul，curtly；"butifhisoldconstituentsevertrytogetintopoweragain，they\'velosttheironlyindependentmartyr。"

Hepresentlybecameabstractedagain，andShearproducedfromhisovercoatpocketaseriesofofficial-lookingdocuments。

"I\'vebroughtthereports，sir。"

"Eh?"saidPaul，absently。

Thesecretarystared。"ThereportsoftheSanFranciscoChiefofPolicethatyouaskedmetoget。"Hisemployerwascertainlyveryforgetfulto-day。

"Oh，yes；thankyou。Youcanlaythemonmydesk。I\'lllookthemoverinCommittee。Youcangonow，andifanyonecallstoseemesayI\'mbusy。"

Thesecretarydisappearedintheadjoiningroom，andPaulleanedbackinhischair，thinking。Hehad，atlast，effectedtheworkhehadresolveduponwhenheleftRosariotwomonthsago；thearticlehehadjustread，andwhichwouldappearasaneditorialintheSanFranciscopaperthedayaftertomorrow，wastheculminationofquietlypersistentlabor，inquiry，anddeduction，andwouldbeaccepted，hereafter，asauthentichistory，which，ifnotthoroughlyestablished，atleastcouldnotbegainsaid。ImmediatelyonarrivingatSanFrancisco，hehadhastenedtoPendleton\'sbedside，andlaidthefactsandhisplanbeforehim。Tohismingledastonishmentandchagrin，thecolonelhadobjectedvehementlytothis"saddlingofanybody\'soffspringonagentlemanwhocouldn\'tdefendhimself，"andevenPaul\'sexplanationthattheputativefatherwasamythscarcelyappeasedhim。ButPaul\'stimelydemonstration，byrelatingthescenehehadwitnessedofJudgeBaker\'sinfelicitousmemory，thatthesecretwaslikelytoberevealedatanymoment，andthatifthegirlcontinuedtoclingtohertheory，ashefearedshewould，eventothepartingwithherfortune，theywouldbeforcedtoacceptit，orbeplacedinthehideouspositionofpublishingherdisgrace，atlastconvincedhim。

Ontheotherhand，therewaslessdangerofherPOSITIVEimpositionbeingdiscoveredthanoftheVAGUEANDIMPOSITIVEtruth。Therealdangerlayinthepresentuncertaintyandmystery，whichcourtedsurmiseandinviteddiscovery。Paul，himself，waswillingtotakealltheresponsibility，andatlastextractedfromthecolonelapromiseofpassiveassent。Theonlyrevelationhefearedwasfromtheinterferenceofthemother，butPendletonwasstronginthebeliefthatshehadnotonlyutterlyabandonedthegirltothecareofherguardians，butthatshewouldneverrescindherresolutiontodisclaimherrelationship；thatshehadgoneintoself-exileforthatpurpose；andthatifsheHADchangedhermind，hewouldbethefirsttoknowofit。Onthisdaytheyhadparted。Meantime，Paulhadnotforgottenanotherresolutionhehadformedonhisfirstvisittothecolonel，andhadactuallysucceededingettinglegislativerelieffortheGoldenGateBank，andrestoringtothecolonelsomeofhisprivatepropertythathadbeeninthehandsofareceiver。

ThishadbeenthebackgroundofPaul\'smeditation，whichonlythrewintostrongerreliefthefaceandfigurethatmovedbeforehimaspersistentlyasithadoncebeforeinthetwilightofhisroomatRosario。Thereweretimeswhenhermoonlitface，withitsfaint，strangesmile，stoodoutbeforehimasithadstoodoutoftheshadowsofthehalf-darkeneddrawing-roomthatnight；ashehadseenit——hebelievedforthelasttime——framedforaninstantinthepartedcurtainsofthedoorway，whenshebadehim"Goodnight。"

Forhehadnevervisitedhersince，and，ontheattainmentofhermajority，haddelegatedhispassingfunctionstoPendleton，whomhehadinducedtoaccompanytheMayortoSantaClaraforthefinalandformalceremony。Forthepresentsheneednotknowhowmuchshehadbeenindebtedtohimfortheaccomplishmentofherwishes。

Withasighheatlastrecalledhimselftohisduty，and，drawingthepileofreportswhichShearhadhandedhim，hebegantoexaminethem。These，again，borereferencetohissilent，unobtrusiveinquiries。InhisfunctionasChairmanofCommitteehehadtakenadvantageofakindofadvancedmorallegislationtheninvogue，andparticularlyinreferencetoacertainsocialreform，toexaminestatistics，authorities，andwitnesses，andinthisindirectbutexhaustivemannerhadsatisfiedhimselfthatthewoman"KateHoward，"alias"Beverly，"alias"Durfree，"hadlongpassedbeyondthekenoflocalpolicesupervision，andthatintherecordtherewasnotraceorindicationofherchild。Hewasgoingoverthoseinfelixrecordsofearlytransgressionswiththeeyeoftrainedexperience，makingnotesfromtimetotimeforhisofficialuse，andyetalwayswatchfulofhissecretquest，whensuddenlyhestoppedwithaquickenedpulse。Intherecordofanaffrayatagambling-house，oneofthepartieshadsoughtrefugeintheroomsof"KateHoward，"whowasrepresentedbeforethemagistratebyHER

PROTECTOR，JUANDEARGUELLO。ThedategivenwascontemporarywiththebeginningoftheTrust，butthatprovednothing。Butthename——

haditanysignificance，orwasitagrimcoincidence，thatspokeevenmoreterriblyandhopelesslyofthewoman\'spromiscuousfrailty?Heagainattackedtheentirereport，buttherewasnootherrecordofhername。Eventhatwouldhavepassedanyeyelesseagerandwatchfulthanhisown。

Helaidthereportsaside，andtookuptheproof-slipagain。WasthereanymanlivingbuthimselfandPendletonwhowouldconnectthesetwostatements?ThatherrelationswiththisArguellowerebriefandnotgenerallyknownwasevidentfromPendleton\'signoranceofthefact。Buthemustseehimagain，andatonce。

PerhapshemighthaveacquiredsomeinformationfromYerba；theyounggirlmighthavegiventohisagethatconfidenceshehadwithheldfromtheyoungerman；indeed，herememberedwithaflushitwaspartlyinthathopehehadinducedthecoloneltogotoSantaClara。Heputtheproof-slipinhispocketandsteppedtothedoorofthenextroom。

"YouneednotwritethatlettertoSlate，Tony。Iwillseehimmyself。IamgoingtoSanFranciscoto-night。"

"Anddoyouwantanythingcopiedfromthereports，sir?"

Paulquicklysweptthemfromthetableintohisdrawer，andlockedit。"Notnow，thankyou。I\'llfinishmynoteslater。"

ThenextmorningPaulwasinSanFrancisco，andhadagaincrossedtheportalsoftheGoldenGateHotel。Hehadbeenalreadytoldthatthedoomofthatpalatialedificewassealedbythelayingofthecornerstoneofanewerectioninthenextsquarethatshouldutterlyeclipseit；heevenfanciedthatithadalreadylostitsfreshness，anditsmeretriciousglitterhadbeentarnished。Butwhenhehadorderedhisbreakfasthemadehiswaytothepublicparlor，happilydesertedatthatearlyhour。Itwasherethathehadfirstseenher。Shewasstandingthere，bythatmirror，whentheireyesfirstmetinasuddeninstinctivesympathy。Sheherselfhadrememberedandconfessedit。Herecalledthepleasedyetconscious，girlishsuperioritywithwhichshehadreceivedtheadulationofherfriends；hismemoryofherwasbroadenoughnoweventoidentifyMilly，asitrepeopledthevacantandsilentroom。

AnhourlaterhewasmakinghiswaytoColonelPendleton\'slodgings，andhalfexpectingtofindtheSt。CharlesHotelitselftransformedbytheeagerspiritofimprovement。Butitwasstillthereinallitsbarbaricandprovincialincongruity。Publicopinionhadevidentlyrecognizedthatnothingsavetheabsoluterazingofitswarpedandflimsywallscouldeffectachange，andwaitedforittocollapsesuddenlylikethehouseofcardsitresembled。Paulwonderedforamomentifitwerenotominousofitslodgers\'hopelessinabilitytoacceptchangedconditions，anditwaswithafeelingofdoubtthatheevennowascendedthecreakingstaircase。Butitwasinstantlydissipatedonthethresholdofthecolonel\'ssitting-roombytheappearanceofGeorgeandhisreceptionofhismaster\'sguest。

Thegrizzlednegrowasarrayedinasurprisinglynewsuitofblueclothwithaportentouswhitewaistcoatandanenormouscrumpledwhitecravat，thatgavehimtheappearanceofsufferingfromaglandularswelling。Hismannerhad，itseemedtoPaul，advancedinexaggerationwithhisclothes。Dustingachairandofferingittothevisitor，heremainedgracefullyposedwithhishandonthebackofanother。

"Yo\'findsusheahyet，MarseHathaway，"hebegan，elegantlytoyingwithanenormoussilverwatch-chain，"fo\'deKernelhedon\'binfindcontagiousapartmentsdatatallapproximate，andhedon\'

build，forhismind\'snotdatsettleddatheain\'tgoin\'totrabbel。Deplaceislowdown，sah，anddefo\'ksislowdown，anddah\'saheapo\'whitetrashdathascongestedunderderoofobdehotelsincewecame。Butweusesittemper\'ly，sah，fo\'depresent，andinadissolutoryfashion。"

ItstruckPaulthatthecontiguityofacertainbarber\'sshopanditsdangerousreminiscenceshadsomethingtodowithGeorge\'sloftydepreciationofhissurroundings，andhecouldnothelpsaying:——

"Thenyoudon\'tfinditnecessarytohaveitconvenienttothebarber\'sshopanymore?Iamgladofthat，George。"

Theshottold。TheunfortunateGeorge，afteranendeavortocollecthimselfbyalteringhisposetwoorthreetimesinrapidsuccession，finallycollapsed，and，withanairofmingledpainanddignity，butwithoutlosinghisceremoniouspolitenessoruniquevocabulary，said:——

"Yo\'gotmedah，sah!Yo\'gotmedah!Deinfirmitieso\'humannatcheh，sah，isdecommonp\'opertyobman，andagemplumlikeyo\'self，sah，alegislato\'andapow\'fulspeakah，isdelassonetohol\'itagindeindividalpusson。Iconfess，sah，decircumstanceswaspropiskuous，defeesfahlygood，andderisksinferior。Degemplumwhokeptdeshopwasanartesshisself，andhadbeenniggahtoKernelHendersonofTennessee，anddogemplumIrelievedwasaMr。Johnson。ButdeKernel，hewouldn\'tseeitindatlight，sah，andifyo\'don\'mind，sah"——

"Ihaven\'ttheslightestideaoftellingthecoloneloranybody，George，"saidPaul，smiling；"andIamgladtofindonyourownaccountthatyouareabletoputasideanyworkbeyondyourdutyhere。"

"Thankyo\'，sah。Ifyo\'\'llletmeintroduceyo\'toderefreshment，yo\'\'llfinditallrightnow。DeGlencoeisdah。DeKernelwillbeheresoon，buthewouldbepow\'fulmo\'tified，sah，ifyo\'didn\'thabsomethingafo\'hecome。"Heopenedawell-filledsideboardashespoke。ItwasthefirstevidencePaulhadseenofthecolonel\'srestoredfortunes。Hewouldwillinglyhavecontentedhimselfwiththismereoutwardmanifestation，butinhisdesiretosoothetheruffleddignityoftheoldmanheconsentedtopartakeofasmallglassofspirits。Georgeatoncebecameradiantandcommunicative。"DeKernelbingonetoSantaClaratoseedeyoungladydat\'sfinishedheredercationdah——deKernel\'sonlyward，sah。

She\'soneo\'dosemillion-heiressesandhighlyconnected，sah，widdeoldMexicanGobbermen，Iunderstand。AndIreckondey\'sbinbiggoin\'sondoundar，fohdeMayerkemhisselffo\'deKernel。Lookslikedesmightbinaproceshon，sah。Yo\'don\'knowofayoungladybinhabatitle，sah?Iwon\'tbeshuah，hisHonahdeMayerordeKerneldidn\'tsaysometingabouta\'Donna\'"

"Verylikely，"saidPaul，turningawaywithafaintsmile。Soitwasalreadyintheair!Settingasidetheoldnegro\'scharacteristicexaggeration，therehadalreadybeensomeconversationbetweenthecolonelandtheMayor，whichGeorgehadvaguelyoverheard。Hemightbetoolate，thealternativemightbenolongerinhishands。ButhisdiscomposurewasheightenedamomentlaterbytheactualapparitionofthereturningPendleton。

Hewasdressedinatightlybuttonedbluefrock-coat，whichfairlyaccentedhistall，thinmilitaryfigure，althoughthetoplappelwasthrownfarenoughbacktoshowafineruffledcambricshirtandcheckedginghamnecktie，andwasitselfadornedwithawhiterosebudinthebutton-hole。Fawn-coloredtrousersstrappedovernarrowpatent-leatherboots，andatallwhitehat，whosebroadmourning-bandwasaperpetualmemoryofhismother，whohaddiedinhisboyhood，completedhisfestaltransformation。Yethiserectcarriage，highaquilinenose，andlonggraydroopingmoustachelentadistinguishinggracetothissurvivalofabygonefashion，andover-rodeanyirreverentcomment。Evenhisslightlimpseemedtogiveapeculiarcharactertohismassivegold-headedstick，andmadeitapartofhisformalelegance。

HandingGeorgehisstickandamilitarycapehecarriedeasilyoverhisleftarm，hegreetedPaulwarmly，yetwithareturnofhisolddominantmanner。

"Gladtoseeyou，Hathaway，andgladtoseetheboyhasservedyoubetterthanthelasttime。IfIhadknownyouwerecoming，Iwouldhavetriedtogetbackintimetohavebreakfastwithyou。Butyourfriendsat\'Rosario\'——Ithinktheycallit；inmytimeitwasownedbyColonelBriones，andHEcalledit\'TheDevil\'sLittleCanyon\'——detainedmewithsomed——dcivilities。Let\'ssee——hisnameisWoods，isn\'tit?UsedtosellrumtorunawaysailorsonLongWharf，andtakestoresinexchange?OrwasitBaker?——JudgeBaker?Iforgetwhich。Well，sir，theywishedtoberemembered。"

ItstruckPaul，perhapsunreasonably，thatthecolonel\'sindifferenceanddigressionwerebothalittleassumed，andheaskedabruptly，——

"Andyoufulfilledyourmission?"

"Imadetheformaltransfer，withtheMayor，ofthepropertytoMissArguello。"

"ToMissArguello?"

"TotheDonaMariaConcepciondeArguellodelaYerbaBuena——tospeakprecisely，"saidthecolonel，slowly。"George，youcantakethathattothatblankhatter——what\'shisblankedname?Ireaditonlyyesterdayinalistoftheprominentcitizenshere——andtellhim，withmycompliments，thatIwantaGENTLEMAN\'Smourningbandaroundmyhat，andnotachild\'sshoelace。ItmaybeHISideaofthevalueofhisownparents——ifheeverhadany——butIdon\'tcareforhimtoappraisemine。Go!"

AsthedoorcloseduponGeorge，Paulturnedtothecolonel——

"ThenamItounderstandthatyouhaveagreedtoherstory?"

Thecolonelrose，pickedupthedecanter，pouredoutaglassofwhiskey，andholdingitinhishand，said:——

"MydearHathaway，letusunderstandeachother。Asagentleman，I

havemadeapointthroughlifenevertoquestiontheage，name，orfamilyofanyladyofmyacquaintance。MissYerbaBuenacameofageyesterday，and，assheisnolongermyward，sheiscertainlyentitledtotheconsiderationIhavejustmentioned。Ifshe，therefore，choosestotacktohernamethewholeSpanishdirectory，Idon\'tseewhyIshouldn\'tacceptit。"

Characteristicasthisspeechappearedtobeofthecolonel\'sordinarymanner，itstruckPaulasbeingonlyanimitationofhisusualfrankindependence，andmadehimuneasilyconsciousofsomevaguedesertiononPendleton\'spart。Hefixedhisbrighteyesonhishost，whowasostentatiouslysippinghisliquor，andsaid:——

"AmItounderstandthatyouhaveheardnothingmorefromMissYerba，eitherfororagainstherstory?Thatyoustilldonotknowwhethershehasdeceivedherself，hasbeendeceivedbyothers，orisdeceivingus?"

"AfterwhatIhavejusttoldyou，Mr。Hathaway，"saidthecolonel，withanincreasedexaggerationofmannerwhichPaulthoughtmustbeapparenteventohimself，"Ishouldhavebutonewayofdealingwithquestionsofthatkindfromanybodybutyourself。"

Thisculminatingextravagance——takeninconnectionwithPendleton\'spassingdoubts——actuallyforcedalaughfromPaulinspiteofhisbitterness。

ColonelPendleton\'sfaceflushedquickly。Likemostpositiveone-

idea\'dmen，hewasrestrictedfromanypossiblehumorouscombination，andonlyfeltamysterioussenseofbeingdetectedinsomeweakness。Heputdownhisglass。

"Mr。Hathaway，"hebegan，withaslightvibrationinhisusualdominantaccents，"youhavelatelyputmeunderasenseofpersonalobligationforafavorwhichIfeltIcouldacceptwithoutderogationfromayoungerman，becauseitseemedtobeonenotonlyofyouthfulgenerositybutofjustice，andwasnotunworthytheexaltedambitionofayoungmanlikeyourselforthesimpledesertsofanoldmansuchasIam。Iacceptedit，sir，themorereadily，becauseitwasentirelyunsolicitedbyme，andseemedtobethespontaneousofferingofyourownheart。IfIhavepresumeduponittoexpressmyselffreelyonothermattersinawaythatonlyexcitesyourridicule，Icanbutofferyouanapology，sir。IfI

haveacceptedafavorIcanneitherrenouncenorreturn，Imusttaketheconsequencestomyself，andevenbegYOU，sir，toputupwiththem。"

RemorsefulasPaulfelt，therewasasingularresemblancebetweenthepreviousreproachfulposeofGeorgeandthispresentattitudeofhismaster，asifthemerepropinquityofpersonalsacrificehadmadethemalike，thatstruckhimwithamingledpathosandludicrousness。Buthesaidwarmly，"ItisIwhomustapologize，mydearcolonel。Iamnotlaughingatyourconclusions，butatthissingularcoincidencewithadiscoveryIhavemade。"

"Ashow，sir?"

"IfindinthereportoftheChiefofthePolicefortheyear1850

thatKateHowardwasundertheprotectionofamannamedArguello。"

Thecolonel\'sexaggerationinstantlylefthim。HestaredblanklyatPaul。"Andyoucallthisalaughingmatter，sir?"hesaidsternly，butinhismorenaturalmanner。

"Perhapsnot，butIdon\'tthink，ifyouwillallowmetosayso，mydearcolonel，thatYOUhavebeentreatingthewholeaffairveryseriously。Ileftyoutwomonthsagoutterlyopposedtoviewswhichyouarenowtreatingasofnoimportance。Andyetyouwishmetobelievethatnothinghashappened，andthatyouhavenofurtherinformationthanyouhadthen。Thatthisisso，andthatyouarereallynonearertheFACTS，IamwillingtobelievefromyourignoranceofwhatIhavejusttoldyou，andyourconcernatit。ButthatyouhavenotbeeninfluencedinyourJUDGMENTofwhatyoudoknow，Icannotbelieve?"HedrewnearerPendleton，andlaidhishanduponhisarm。"Ibegyoutobefrankwithme，forthesakeofthepersonwhoseinterestsIseeyouhaveatheart。InwhatwaywillthediscoveryIhavejustmadeaffectthem?Youarenotsofarprejudicedastobeblindtothefactthatitmaybedangerousbecauseitseemscorroborative。"

Pendletoncoughed，rose，tookhisstick，andlimpedupanddowntheroom，finallydroppingintoanarmchairbythewindow，withhiscanebetweenhisknees，andthedroopinggraysilkenthreadsofhislongmoustachecurlednervouslybetweenhisfingers。

"Mr。Hathaway，IWILLbefrankwithyou。Iknownothingofthisblankaffair——blankitall!——butwhatI\'vetoldyou。Yourdiscoverymaybeacoincidence，nothingmore。ButIHAVEbeeninfluenced，sir，——influencedbyoneofthemostperfectgoddess-

like——yes，sir；oneofthemostsimplegirlishcreaturesthatGodeversentuponearth。AwomanthatIshouldbeproudtoclaimasmydaughter，awomanthatwouldalwaysbethesuperiorofanymanwhodareaspiretobeherhusband!Ayoungladyaspeerlessinherbeautyassheisinheraccomplishments，andwhoseequaldon\'twalkthisplanet!Iknow，sir，YOUdon\'tfollowme；Iknow，Mr。

Hathaway，yourPuritanprejudices；yourChurchproclivities，yourworldlysenseofpropriety；and，aboveall，sir，theblankedhypocriticalPharisaicdoctrinesofyourparty——ImeannooffensetoYOU，sir，personally——blindyoutothatgirl\'sperfections。

She，poorchild，herselfhasseenitandfeltit，butnever，inherblamelessinnocenceandpurity，suspectingthecause，\'Thereis，\'

shesaidtomelastnight，confidentially，\'somethingstrangelyantagonisticandrepellentinournatures，someundefinedandnamelessbarrierbetweenoureverunderstandingeachother。\'Youcomprehend，Mr。Hathaway，shedoesfulljusticetoyourintentionsandyourunquestionedabilities。\'Iamnotblind，\'shesaid，\'toMr。Hathaway\'sgifts，anditisverypossiblethefaultlieswithme。\'Herverywords，sir。"

"Thenyoubelievesheisperfectlyignorantofherrealmother?"

askedPaul，withasteadyvoice，butawhiteningface。

"Asanunbornchild，"saidthecolonel，emphatically。"ThesnowontheSierrasisnotmorespotlesslypureofanytraceorcontaminationofthemudoftheminingditches，thansheofhermotherandherpast。Theknowledgeofit，themerebreathofsuspicionofit，inherpresencewouldbeaprofanation，sir!Lookathereye——openastheskyandasclear；lookatherfaceandfigure——asclean，sir，asaBlue-Grassthoroughbred!Lookatthewayshecarriesherself，whetherinthosewhitefrillingsofhersimpleschool-gown，orthatblackeveningdressthatmakesherlooklikeaprincess!And，blankme，ifsheisn\'tone!There\'snopoorstockthere——nowhitetrash——nomixedblood，sir。Blankitall，sir，ifitcomestoTHAT——theArguellos——ifthere\'sahoundofthemliving——mightgodownontheirkneestohavetheirnamebornebysuchacreature!BytheEternal，sir，ifoneofthemdaredtocrossherpathwithawordthatwasn\'tabject——yes，sir，ABJECT，I\'dwipehisdustofftheearthandsenditbacktohisancestorsbeforeheknewwherehewas，ormynameisn\'tHarryPendleton!"

Hopelessandinconsistentasallthiswas，itwasawonderfulsighttoseethecolonel，hisdarksternfaceilluminatedwithazealot\'senthusiasm，hiseyesonfire，theendsofhisgraymoustachecurlingaroundhissetjaw，hisheadthrownback，hislegsastride，andhisgold-headedstickheldinthehollowofhiselbow，likealanceatrest!Paulsawit，andknewthatthisQuixotictransformationwaspartofHERtriumph，andyethadamiserableconsciousnessthatthecharmsofthisDulcineadelTobosohadscarcelybeenexaggerated。Heturnedhiseyesaway，andsaidquietly，——

"Thenyoudon\'tthinkthiscoincidencewilleverawakenanysuspicioninregardtoherrealmother?"

"Notintheleast，sir——notintheleast，"saidthecolonel，yet，perhaps，withmoredoggednessthanconvictionofaccent。"Nobodybutyourselfwouldevernoticethatpolicereport，andtheconnectionofthatwoman\'snamewithhiswasnotnotorious，orI

shouldhaveknownit。"

"Andyoubelieve，"continuedPaulhopelessly，"thatMissYerba\'sselectionofthenamewaspurelyaccidental?"

"Purely——aschool-girl\'sfancy。Fancy，didIsay?No，sir；byJove，aninspiration!"

"And，"continuedPaul，almostmechanically，"youdonotthinkitmaybesomeinsidioussuggestionofanenemywhoknewofthistransientrelationthatnoonesuspected?"

TohisfinalamazementPendleton\'sbrowcleared!"Anenemy?Gad!

youmayberight。I\'lllookintoit；and，ifthatisthecase，whichIscarcelydarehopefor，Mr。Hathaway，youcansafelyleavehimtoME。"

HelookedsosupremelyconfidentinhisfatuousheroismthatPaulcouldsaynomore。Heroseand，withafaintsmileuponhispaleface，heldouthishand。"IthinkthatisallIhavetosay。WhenyouseeMissYerbaagain，——asyouwill，nodoubt，——youmaytellherthatIamconsciousofnomisunderstandingonmypart，except，perhaps，astothebestwayIcouldserveher，andthat，butforwhatshehastoldYOU，IshouldcertainlyhavecarriedawaynoremembranceofanymisunderstandingofHERS。"

"Certainly，"saidthecolonel，withcheerfulphilosophy，"Iwillcarryyourmessagewithpleasure。Youunderstandhowitis，Mr。

Hathaway。Thereisnoaccountingfortheseinstincts——wecanonlyacceptthemastheyare。ButIbelievethatyourintentions，sir，werestrictlyaccordingtowhatyouconceivedtobeyourduty。Youwon\'ttakesomethingbeforeyougo?Well，then——good-by。"

TwoweekslaterPaulfoundamonghismorninglettersanenvelopeaddressedinColonelPendleton\'sboyishscrawlinghand。Heopeneditwithaneagernessthatnostudiedself-controlnorrigidpreoccupationofhisdutieshadyetbeenabletosubdue，andglancedhurriedlyatitscontents:——

DEARSIR，——AsIamonthepointofsailingtoEuropeto-morrowtoescortMissArguelloandMissWoodsonanextendedvisittoEnglandandtheContinent，IamdesirousofinformingyouthatIhavethusfarbeenunabletofindanyfoundationforthesuggestionsthrownoutbyyouinourlastinterview。MissArguello\'sSpanishacquaintanceshavebeenveryselect，andlimitedtoafewschoolfriendsandDonCaesarandDonaAnnaBriones，triedfriends，whoarealsofellow-passengerswithustoEurope。MissArguellosuggeststhatsomepoliticaldifferencebetweenyouandDonCaesar，whichoccurredduringyourvisittoRosariothreemonthsago，mayhave，perhaps，givenrisetoyoursupposition。Shejoinsmeinbestwishesforyourpubliccareer，whicheveninthedistractionofforeigntravelandtheobligationsofherpositionshewillfollowfromtimetotimewiththegreatestinterest。

Veryrespectfullyyours，HARRYPENDLETON。

CHAPTERV。

Itwasonthe3dofAugust，1863，thatPaulHathawayresignedhimselfandhisluggagetothecareofthegold-laced，ostensibleporteroftheStrudleBadHof，notwithoutsomeuncertainty，inalandofuniforms，whetherhewouldbeeventuallyconductedtothebarracks，thepoliceoffice，ortheConservatoire。HewasrelievedwhentheomnibusdroveintothecourtyardoftheBadHof，andthegold-chainedchamberlain，flankedbytwogreentubsofoleanders，receivedhimwithagravitycalculatedtocheckanypreconceivedideahemighthavethattravelingwasatriflingaffair，orthatanarrivalattheBadHofwasnotofseriousmoment。Hislettershadnotyetarrived，forhehad，inafitofrestlessness，shortenedhisroute，andhestrolledlistlesslyintothereading-room。TwoorthreeEnglishguestswereevidentlyoccupiedineminentlyrespectablereadingandwriting；twoweresittingbythewindowengagedinsubduedbutprofitableconversation；andtwoAmericansfromBostonwerecontentedlyimitatingthemontheothersideoftheroom。Adecentrestraint，asofpeoplewhowerenotforamomenttobeledintoanyforeignideaofsocialgayetyatawatering-place，wasvisibleeverywhere。AspectacledPrussianofficerinfulluniformpassedalongthehall，haltedforamomentatthedoorwayasifcontemplatinganarmedinvasion，thoughtbetterofit，andtookhisuniformawayintothesunlightoftheopensquare，whereitwasjoinedbyotheruniforms，andbecamebycontrastamiracleofunbracedlevity。PaulstoodthePolarsilenceforafewmoments，untiloneofthereadersaroseand，takinghisbook——aMurray——inhishand，walkedslowlyacrosstheroomtoacompanion，mutelypointedtoapassageinthebook，remainedsilentuntiltheotherhaddumblyperusedit，andthenwalkedbackagaintohisseat，havingachievedtheincidentwithoutaword。AtwhichPaul，convincedofhisownincongruity，softlywithdrewwithhishatinhishand，andhiseyesfixeddevotionallyuponit。

ItwasgoodafterthattogetintotheslantingsunlightandcheckeredlindenshadowsoftheAllee；toseeevenatightlyjacketedcavalrymannaturallywalkingwithClarchenandhertworound-facedanddrab-hairedyoungcharges；towatchthereturninginvalidprocession，veryrealandveryhuman，eachindividualintenselyinvolvedintheatmosphereofhisownsymptoms；andverygoodafterthattoturnintotheThiergarten，wheretheanimals，were，however，chieflyofhisownspecies，andshamelesslyandopenlyamusingthemselves。Itwaspleasanttocontrastitwithhisfirstvisittotheplacethreemonthsbefore，andcorrecthiscrudeimpressions。Anditwasstillmorepleasantsuddenlytorecognize，undertheroundflatcapofageneralofficer，aformertravelerwhowasfondoftalkingwithhimaboutAmericawithanintelligenceandunderstandingofitthatPaulhadoftenmissedamonghisowntraveledcountrymen。Itwaspleasanttohearhisunaffectedandsimplegreeting，torenewtheiroldacquaintance，andtosaunterbacktothehoteltogetherthroughthelongtwilight。

Theywereonlyafewsquaresfromthehotel，whenPaul\'sattentionwasattractedbythecuriosityanddelightoftwoorthreechildrenbeforehim，whoappearedtobefollowingaquaint-lookingfigurethatwasevidentlynotunfamiliartothem。Itappearedtobeaservantinastrikingliveryofgreenwithyellowfacingsandcrestedsilverbuttons，butstillmoreremarkablefortheindescribableminglingofjauntyeaseandconsciousdignitywithwhichhecarriedoffhisfinery。TherewassomethingsosingularandyetsovaguelyreminiscentinhispeculiarwalkandtheexaggeratedswingofhislightbamboocanethatPaulcouldnotonlyunderstandthechildishwonderofthepassers-by，whoturnedtolookafterhim，butwasstirredwithadeepercuriosity。Hequickenedhispace，butwasunabletodistinguishanythingofthefaceorfeaturesofthestranger，exceptthathishairunderhiscockedhatappearedtobetightlycurledandpowdered。Paul\'scompanion，whowasamusedatwhatseemedtobetheAmerican\'snationalcuriosity，hadseenthefigurebefore。"AservantinthesuiteofsomeEasternAltessevisitingthebaths。Youwillseestrangerthings，myfriend，intheStrudleBad。Parexample，yourowncountrymen，too；theonewhohasenrichedhimselfbythatporkofChicago，orthatsoap，orthiscandle，inacarriagewiththecrestofthetitlehehasboughtinItalywithhisdollars，andhisbeautifuldaughters，whoareseekingmoretitleswithpossiblematrimonialcontingencies。"

Afteranearlydinner，Paulfoundhiswaytothelittletheatre。

HehadalreadybeenstruckbyahighlycoloredposterneartheBahnhof，purportingthatadistinguishedGermancompanywouldgivearepresentationof"UncleTom\'sCabin，"andcertainpeculiaritiesinthepictorialadvertisementofthetableauxgavepromiseofsomeentertainment。Hefoundthetheatrefairlyfull；therewastheusualcontingentofabonnirteofficers，afairsprinklingofEnglishandGermantravelers，butapparentlynoneofhisowncountrymen。Hehadnotimetoexaminethehousemoreclosely，fortheplay，commencingwithsimplepunctuality，notonlyfarexceededthepromiseoftheposters，butofanypreviousperformanceoftheplayhehadwitnessed。Transportedatoncetoagorgeoustropicalregion——theslaveStatesofAmerica——resplendentwiththefruitsandpalmsofMauritius，andpeopledexclusivelywithPaulandVirginia\'scompanionsinstripedcotton，Hathawaymanagedtokeepacomposedface，untilthearrivalofthegoodSouthernplanterSt。

ClairasoneoftheearlierportraitsofGoethe，intopboots，lightkerseymerebreeches，redingoteandlooseByroncollar，compelledhimtoshrinkintotheuppercorneroftheboxwithhishandkerchieftohisface。Luckily，theactionpassedasthenaturaleffectuponahighlysympatheticnatureofreligiousinterviewsbetweenaround-facedflaxen-haired"KleineEva"and"OnkeelTome，"occasionallyassistedbyaDissentingclergymaninGenevabands；ofexcessivebrutalitywithacattlewhipbyaZamiel-likeLegree；ofthesufferingsofarunawaynegroZimmermadchenwithachildthreeshadeslighterthanherself；andofapaintedcanvas"man-hunt，"whereapparentlyfourwellknownGermancomposersonhorseback，withflowinghair，topboots，andaCordechasse，werepursuing，withtheaidofapackoffoxhounds，"themuchtoodeeplyabusedandyetspirituallyelevatedOnkeelTome。"Pauldidnotwaitforthefinalapotheosisof"derKleineEva，"but，inthesilenceofahushedaudience，madehiswayintothecorridoranddownthestaircase。Hewaspassinganopendoormarked"Direction，"whenhisattentionwassharplyattractedbyasmallgatheringarounditandthesoundsofindignantdeclamation。

Itwasthevoiceofacountryman——morethanthat，itwasafamiliarvoice，thathehadnotheardforthreeyears——thevoiceofColonelHarryPendleton!

"Tellhim，"saidPendleton，inscathingtones，tosomeinvisibleinterpreter，——"tell，him，sir，thatamoreinfamouscaricatureoftheblankestcaricaturethatevermalignedafreepeople，sir，I

neverbeforehadthehonorofwitnessing。TellhimthatI，sir——I，HarryPendleton，ofKentucky，aSoutherner，sir——anoldslaveholder，sir，declareittobeatissueoffalsehoodsunworthythecredenceofaChristiancivilizationlikethis——unworthytheattentionofthedistinguishedladiesandgentlementhataregatheredhereto-night。Tellhim，sir，hehasbeenimposedupon。

TellhimIamresponsible——givehimmycardandaddress——personallyresponsibleforwhatIsay。Ifhewantsproofs——blankitall!——

tellhimyouyourselfhavebeenaslave——MYslave，sir!Takeoffyourhat，sir!Askhimtolookatyou——askhimifhethinksyoueverlookedorcouldlooklikethatlop-eared，psalm-singing，white-headedhypocriteonthestage!Askhim，sir，ifhethinksthatblankringmastertheycallSt。ClairlookslikeME!"

AtthisastoundingexordiumPauleagerlypressedforwardandenteredthebureau。TherecertainlywasColonelPendleton，inspotlesseveningdress；erect，flashing，andindignant；hisaquilinenoseliftedlikeahawk\'sbeakoverhisquarry，hisiron-

graymoustache，nowwhiteandwaxed，partedlikeaswallow\'stailoverhishandsomemouth，andbetweenhimandtheastounded"Direction"stoodtheapparitionoftheAllee——George!Therewasnomistakinghimnow。WhatPaulhadthoughtwasacurledwigorpowderwastheoldnegro\'sownwhiteknottedwool，andtheastoundingliveryheworewascarriedoffasnoonebutGeorgecouldcarryit。

Buthewasstillmoreamazedwhentheoldservant，inaGermanasexaggerated，asincoherent，butstillasfluentandpersuasiveashisownnativespeech，begananextravagantbutperfectlydignifiedanddiplomatictranslationofhismaster\'sprotests。Whereandwhen，bywhatinstinct，hehadassimilatedandmadehisownthegrotesqueinversionsandponderoussentimentalitiesofTeutonicphrasing，Paulcouldnotguess；butitwaswithbreathlesswonderthathepresentlybecameawarethat，soperfectandconvincingwastheoldman\'sstyleanddeportment，notonlythesimpleofficialsbuteventhebystanderswereprofoundlyimpressedbythisfarragoofabsurdity。Ahappywordhereandthere，thefulltitleandrankgiven，evenwithaslightexaggeration，toeachindividual，broughtadeepandguttural"So!"fromlipsthatwouldhavefounditdifficulttorepeatalineofhisceremoniousidiocy。

IntheirpreoccupationneitherthecolonelnorGeorgehadperceivedPaul\'sentrance，but，astheoldservantturnedwithmagnificentcourtesytowardsthebystanders，hiseyesfelluponPaul。Aflashofsurprise，triumph，andsatisfactionlituphisrollingeyes。

Paulinstantlyknewthathenotonlyrecognizedhim，butthathehadalreadyheardofandthoroughlyappreciatedacertaindistinguishedpositionthatPaulhadlatelyheld，andwasquicktoapplyit。Intensifyingforamomentthegrandiloquenceofhismanner，hecalleduponhismaster\'smostdistinguishedandhappilyarrivedoldfriend，theLordLieutenantGovernoroftheGoldenCalifornias，tocorroboratehisstatement。ColonelPendletonstarted，andgraspedPaul\'shandwarmly。Paulturnedtothealreadyhalf-mollifiedDirectorwiththediplomaticsuggestionthatthevividandrealisticactingoftheadmirablecompanywhichhehimselfhadwitnessedhadperhapsundulyexcitedhisoldfriend，evenasithadundoubtedlythrownintogreaterrelieftheusualexaggerationsofdramaticrepresentation，andtheincidentterminatedwithaprofusionofapologies，andthemostcordialexpressionsofinternationalgoodfeelingonbothsides。

Yet，astheyturnedawayfromthetheatretogether，Paulcouldnothelpnoticingthat，althoughthecolonel\'sfirstgreetinghadbeenspontaneousandunaffected，itwassucceededbyanuneasyreserve。

Paulmadenoattempttobreakit，andconfinedhimselftoafewgeneralinquiries，endingbyinvitingthecoloneltosupwithhimatthehotel。Pendletonhesitated。"Atanyothertime，Mr。

Hathaway，Ishouldhaveinsisteduponyou，asthestranger，suppingwithme；butsincetheabsenceof——of——therestofmyparty——IhavegivenupmysuiteofroomsattheBadHof，andhavetakensmallerlodgingsformyselfandtheboyattheSchwartzeAdler。MissWoodsandMissArguellohaveacceptedaninvitationtospendafewdaysatthevillaoftheBaronandBaronessvonSchilprecht——anhourortwofromhere。"Helingeredoverthetitlewithanoddminglingofimpressivenessandinquiry，andglancedatPaul。ButHathawayexhibitingneitheremotionnorsurpriseatthementionofYerba\'snameorthetitleofherhost，hecontinued，"MissArguello，I

supposeyouknow，isimmenselyadmired:shehasbeen，sir，theacknowledgedbelleofStrudleBad。"

"Icanreadilybelieveit，"saidPaul，simply。

"Andhastakentheposition——theposition，sir，towhichsheisentitled。"

WithoutappearingtonoticetheslightchallengeinPendleton\'stone，Paulreturned，"Iamgladtohearit。Themoreparticularlyas，Ibelieve，theGermansaregreatsticklersforpositionandpedigree。"

"Youareright，sir——quiteright:theyare，"saidthecolonel，proudly——"although"——withacertainpremeditateddeliberation——"I

havebeencrediblyinformedthattheKingcan，incertaincases，ifhechooses，supply——yes，sir——SUPPLYafavoredpersonwithancestors——yes，sir，withANCESTORS!"

Paulcastaquickglanceathiscompanion。

"Yes，sir——thatis，wewillsay，inthecaseofaladyofinferiorrank——orevenbirth，theKingofthesepartscan，onhermarriagewithanobleman——blankitall!——ennobleherfatherandmother，andtheirfathersandmothers，thoughthey\'vebeendead，orasgoodasdead，foryears。"

"Iamafraidthat\'saslightexaggerationoftherarecustomofgranting\'noblelands，\'orestatesthatcarryhereditarytitleswiththem，"saidPaul，moreemphatically，perhaps，thantheoccasiondemanded。

"Fact，sir——Georgethereknowsitall，"saidPendleton。"Hegetsitfromtheotherservants。Idon\'tspeakthelanguage，sir，butHEdoes。Pickeditupinayear。"

"Imustcomplimenthimonhisfluency，certainly，"saidPaul，lookingatGeorge。

Theoldservantsmiled，andnotwithoutacertaincondescension。

"Yes，sah；Idon\'saytoascholarlikeyo\'self，sah，datI\'segotdegrandmaticalpresichion；butasfah，sah——asfahasdeIDIOTISMS

obdelanguagegoes。Sah——it\'sgen\'llyallowedI\'mdar!AstowhatMarseHarrysaysobdeignoblingobpredecessors，I\'vehadit，sah，fromdebestautority，sah——defurst，Imaysay，sah——derealprimafaciemen——degemplumobhisSereneHighness，indekorseebordinaryconversashun，sah。"

"That\'lldo，George，"saidPendleton，withpaternalbrusqueness。

"RunonaheadandtellthatblankchamberlainthatMr。Hathawayisoneofmyfriends——andhavesupperaccordingly。"AsthenegrohastenedawayheturnedtoPaul:"Whathesaysistrue:he\'sthemostpopularmanorboyinallStrudleBad——adevilishsightmorethanhismaster——andgoesanywherewhereIcan\'tgo。Princesandprincessesstopandtalktohiminthestreet；theGrandDukeaskedpermissiontohavehimupinhiscarriageattheracestheotherday；and，bytheEternal，sir，hegivesthestyletoalltheflunkeysintown!"

"AndIsee，hedressesthecharacter，"observedPaul。