第6章

"Hisownidea——entirely。And，byJove!heprovestoberight。Youcan\'tdoanythingherewithoutauniform。Andtheytellmehe\'sgoteverythingcorrect，downtothecrestonthebuttons。"

Theywalkedoninsilenceforafewmoments，PendletonretainingacertainrigidityofstepandbearingwhichPaulhadcometorecognizeasindicatingsomeuneasinessormentaldisturbanceonhispart。Hathawayhadnointentionofprecipitatingtheconfidenceofhiscompanion。Perhapsexperiencehadtoldhimitwouldcomesoonenough。Sohespokecarelesslyofhimself。Howtheneedofayear\'srelaxationandchangehadbroughthimabroad，hisjourneyings，and，finally，howhehadbeenadvisedbyhisGermanphysiciantospendafewweeksatStrudleBadpreparatorytothevoyagehome。Yethewasperfectlyawarethatthecolonelfromtimetotimecastafurtiveglanceathisface。"AndYOU，"hesaidinconclusion——"whendoyouintendtoreturntoCalifornia?"

Thecolonelhesitatedslightly。"IshallremaininEuropeuntilMissArguelloissettled——Imean，"headdedhurriedly，"untilshehas——ahem!——completedhereducationinforeignwaysandcustoms。

Yousee，Hathaway，Ihaveconstitutedmyself，afteracertainfashion，Imaysay——still，herguardian。Iamanoldman，withneitherkithnorkinmyself，sir——I\'malittletooold-fashionedfortheboysoverthere"——withavaguegesturetowardsthewest，which，however，toldPaulhownearitstillwastohim。"Butthen，amongtheoldfogyshere——blankitall!——itisn\'tnoticed。SoI

lookafterher，yousee，orrathermakemyselfresponsibleforhergenerally——although，ofcourse，shehasotherfriendsandassociates，youunderstand，moreofherownageandtastes。"

"AndI\'venodoubtshe\'sperfectlysatisfied，"saidPaulinatoneofconviction。

"Well，yes，sir，Ipresumeso，"saidthecolonelslowly；"butI\'vesometimesthought，Mr。Hathaway，thatitwouldhavebeenbetterifshe\'dhavehadawoman\'scare——theprotectionyouunderstand，ofanelderlywomanofsociety。Thatseemstobethestylehere，youknow——achaperon，theycallit。Now，MillyWoods，yousee，isaboutthesameage，andtheDonaAnna，ofcourse，isolder，but——

blankit!——she\'sasbigaflirtastherest——Imean，"headded，correctinghimselfsharply，"shelacksbalance，sir，and——whatshallIcallit?——self-abnegation。"

"ThenDonaAnnaisstillofyourparty?"askedPaul。

"Sheis，sir，andherbrother，DonCaesar。Ihavethoughtitadvisable，onYerba\'saccount，tokeepupasmuchaspossiblethesuggestionofherSpanishrelationship——althoughbyreasonoftheirabsurdignoranceofgeographyandpoliticaldivisionsouthere，thereisaprevailingimpressionthatsheisaSouthAmerican。A

fact，sir。IhavemyselfbeenmistakenfortheDictatorofoneoftheseinfernalRepublics，andIhavebeenpointedoutasrulingoveramillionortwoofniggerslikeGeorge!"

Therewasnotraceofanyconceptionofhumorinthecolonel\'sface，althoughheutteredashortlaugh，asifinpoliteacceptanceofthepossibilitythatPaulmighthaveone。Farfromthat，hiscompanion，lookingatthestrikingprofileanderectfigureathisside——atthelongwhitemoustachewhichdroopedfromhisdarkcheeks，andrememberinghisownsensationsatfirstseeingGeorge——

thoughtthepopularbeliefnotsowonderful。Hewasevenforcedtoadmitthattheperfectunconsciousnessonthepartofmasterandmanofanyincongruityorpeculiarityinthemselvesassistedthepublicmisconception。Anditwas，Ifear，withafeelingofwickeddelightthat，onenteringthehotel，hehailedtheevidentconsternationofthosecorrectfellow-countrymenfromwhomhehadlatelyfled，atwhattheyapparentlyregardedasanationalscandal。HeoverheardtheirhurriedassurancetotheirEnglishfriendsthathiscompanionswereNOTfromBoston，andenjoyedtheirmortificationthatthisexplanationdidnotseemtodetractfromtheinterestandreliefwithwhichtheBritonssurveyedthem，ortheopenadmirationoftheGermans。

AlthoughPendletonsomewhatunbentduringsupper，hedidnotalludetothesecretofYerba\'sparentage，norofanytardyconfidenceofhers。Toallappearancethesituationremainedasitwasthreeyearsago。Hespokeofhergreatpopularityasanheiressandabeautifulwoman，andthemarkedattentionsshereceived。Hedoubtednotthatshehadrejectedverydistinguishedoffers，butshekeptthattoherself。Shewasperfectlycompetenttodoso。

Shewasnogiddygirl，tobeflatteredordeceived；onthecontrary，hehadneverknownacoolerormoresensiblewoman。Sheknewherownworth。Whenshemetthemanwhosatisfiedherambitionandunderstanding，shewouldmarry，andnotbefore。Hedidnotknowwhatthatambitionwas；itwassomethingexalted，ofcourse。Hecouldonlysay，ofhisownknowledge，thatlastyear，whentheywereontheItalianlakes，therewasacertainprince——

Mr。Hathawaywouldunderstandwhyhedidnotmentionnames——whowasnotonlyattentivetoher，butattentivetoHIM，sir，byJove!andmostsignificantinhisinquiries。Itwastheonlyoccasionwhenhe，thecolonel，hadeverspokentoheronsuchsubjects；and，knowingthatshewasnotindifferenttothefellow，whowasnotbadofhiskind，hehadaskedherwhyshehadnotencouragedhissuit。

Shehadsaid，withalaugh，thathecouldn\'tmarryherunlesshegaveuphisclaimofsuccessiontoacertainreigninghouse；andshewouldn\'taccepthimWITHOUTIT。Thosewereherwords，sir，andhecouldonlysaythattheprinceleftafewdaysafterwards，andtheyhadneverseenhimsince。Astotheprincelingsandcountsandbarons，sheknewtoadaythedateoftheirpatentsofnobility，andwhatprivilegestheywereentitledto；shecouldtelltoadotthevalueoftheirestates，theamountoftheirdebts，and，byJove!sir，theamountofmortgagesshewasexpectedtopayoffbeforeshemarriedthem。SheknewtheamountofincomeshehadtobringtothePrussianArmy，fromthegeneraltothelieutenant。

Sheunderstoodherownvalueandherrights。TherewasayoungEnglishlordlingshemetontheRhine，whoseboyishwaysandsimplicityseemedtopleaseher。Theyweregreatfriends；buthewantedhim——thecolonel——toinducehertoacceptaninvitationforbothtovisithismother\'shomeinEngland，thathispeoplemightseeher。Butshedeclined，sir!Shedeclinedtopassinreviewbeforehismother。ShesaiditwasforHIMtopassinreviewbeforeHERmother。

"Didshesaythat?"interruptedPaul，fixinghisbrighteyesuponthecolonel。

"Ifshehadone，ifshehadone，"correctedthecolonel，hastily。

"Ofcourseitwasonlyanillustration。Thatsheisanorphanisgenerallyknown，sir。"

Therewasadeadsilenceforafewmoments。Thecolonelleanedbackinhischairandpulledhismoustache。Paulturnedawayhiseyes，andseemedabsorbedinreflection。Afteramomentthecolonelcoughed，pushedasidehisglass，and，leaningacrossthetable，said，"Ihaveafavortoaskofyou，Mr。Hathaway。"

Therewassuchasingularchangeinthetoneofhisvoice，anunexpectedrelaxationofsomeartificialtension，——arelaxationwhichstruckPaulsopatheticallyasbeingasmuchphysicalasmental，asifhehadsuddenlybeenovertakeninsomeexertionbytheweaknessofage，——thathelookedupquickly。Certainly，althoughstillerectandlightlygraspinghismoustache，thecolonellookedolder。

"Byallmeans，mydearcolonel，"saidPaulwarmly。

"DuringthetimeyouremainhereyoucanhardlyhelpmeetingMissArguello，perhapsfrequently。Itwouldbestrangeifyoudidnot；

itwouldappeartoeverybodystillstranger。Givemeyourwordasagentlemanthatyouwillnotmaketheleastallusiontoherofthepast——norreopenthesubject。"

Paullookedfixedlyatthecolonel。"Icertainlyhadnointentionofdoingso，"hesaidafterapause，"forIthoughtitwasalreadysettledbyyoubeyonddisturbanceordiscussion。ButdoI

understandyou，thatSHEhasshownanyuneasinessregardingit?

Fromwhatyouhavejusttoldmeofherplansandambition，Icanscarcelyimaginethatshehasanysuspicionoftherealfacts。"

"Certainlynot，"saidthecolonelhurriedly。"ButIhaveyourpromise。"

"Ipromiseyou，"saidPaul，afterapause，"thatIshallneitherintroducenorrefertothesubjectmyself，andthatifSHEshouldquestionmeagainregardingit，whichishardlypossible，Iwillrevealnothingwithoutyourconsent。"

"Thankyou，"saidPendleton，without，however，exhibitingmuchreliefinhisface。"Shewillreturnhereto-morrow。"

"Ithoughtyousaidshewasabsentforsomedays，"saidPaul。

"Yes；butsheiscomingbacktosaygood-bytoDonaAnna，whoarrivesherewithherbrotherthesameday，ontheirwaytoParis。"

ItflashedthroughPaul\'smindthatthelasttimehehadseenherwasinthecompanyoftheBriones。Itwasnotapleasantcoincidence。Yethewasnotawarethatithadaffectedhim，untilhesawthecolonelwatchinghim。

"Ibelieveyoudon\'tfancythebrother，"saidPendleton。

ForaninstantPaulwasstronglytemptedtoavowhisoldvaguesuspicionsofDonCaesar，buttheutterhopelessnessofreopeningthewholesubjectagain，andhisrecollectionofthepassageinPendleton\'sletterthatpurportedtobeYerba\'sowntheoryofhisdislike，checkedhimintime。Heonlysaid，"Idon\'trememberwhetherIhadanycausefordislikingDonCaesar；IcantellbetterwhenIseehimagain，"andchangedthesubject。AfewmomentslaterthecolonelsummonedGeorgefromsomelowerregionofthehotel，androsetotakehisleave。"MissArguello，withhermaidandcourier，willoccupyheroldsuiteofroomshere，"heremarked，withareturnofhisoldimperiousness。"Georgehasgiventheordersforher。Ishallnotchangemypresentlodgings，butofcoursewillcalleveryday。Goodnight!"

CHAPTERVI。

ThenextmorningPaulcouldnothelpnoticinganincreasedandevenexaggeratedrespectpaidhimbythehotelattendants。HewasaskedifhisEXCELLENCYwouldheservedwithbreakfastinaprivateroom，andhiscondescensioninselectingthepubliccoffee-roomstrucktheobsequiouschamberlain，butdidnotpreventhimfromprecedingPaulbackwardstothetable，andsummoningawaitertoattendspeciallyupon"milor。"SurmisingthatGeorgeandthecolonelmightbeinsomewayconnectedwiththisextravagance，hepostponedaninvestigationtillheshouldhaveseenthemagain。And，althoughhehardlydaredtoconfessittohimself，theunexpectedprospectofmeetingYerbaagainfullypreoccupiedhisthoughts。HehadbelievedthathewouldeventuallyseeherinEurope，insomevagueandindefinitewayandhour:ithadbeeninhismindwhenhestartedfromCalifornia。Thatitwouldbesosoon，andinsuchasimpleandnaturalmanner，hehadneverconceived。

"HehadreturnedfromhismorningwalktotheBrunnen，andwassittingidlyinhisroom，whentherewasaknockatthedoor。Itopenedtoaservantbearingasalverwithacard。Paullifteditwithaslighttremor，notattheengravednameof"MariaConcepciondeArguellosdelaYerbaBuena，"butattherememberedschool-girlhandthathadpenciledunderneaththewords，"wishesthefavorofanaudiencewithhisExcellencytheLordLieutenant-GovernoroftheCalifornias。"

Paullookedinquiringlyattheservant。"ThegnadigeFrauleinwasinherownsalon。WouldEXCELLENCYwalkthatway?Itwasbutastep；ineffect，thenextapartment。"

Paulfollowedhimintothehallwithwonderingsteps。Thedoorofthenextroomwasopen，anddisclosedahandsomelyfurnishedsalon。

Atallgracefulfigurerosequicklyfrombehindawriting-table，andadvancedwithoutstretchedhandsandafrankyetmischievoussmile。ItwasYerba。

Standingthereinagrayishhat，mantle，andtravelingdress，allofonesubduedyetalluringtone，shelookedasbeautifulaswhenhehadlastseenher——andyet——unlike。Forabriefbittermomenthisinstinctsrevoltedatthisfamiliaryieldingupinhisfaircountrywomenofallthatwasdistinctivelyoriginalinthemtoalientastesandhabits，andheresentedtheplasticyetcharacterlessmobilitywhichmadeYerba\'sParisiandressandEuropeanmannerfithersocharminglyandyetexpresssolittle。

Forabriefcriticalmomentherememberedtheplacid，unchangingsimplicityofGerman，andtheinflexibleandingrainedreserveofEnglish，girlhood，inoppositiontothisindistinctivecosmopolitangrace。Butonlyforamoment。Assoonasshespoke，acertainflavorofindividualityseemedtoreturntoherspeech。

"Confess，"shesaid，"itwasacourageousthingformetodo。Youmighthavebeensomebodyelse——arealExcellency——orheavenknowswhat!Or，whatisworseinyournewmagnificence，youmighthaveforgottenoneofyouroldest，mosthumble，butfaithfulsubjects。"

Shedrewbackandmadehimamockceremoniouscurtsy，thateveninitscharmingexaggerationsuggestedtoPaul，however，thatshehadalreadymadeitsomewhereseriously。

"Butwhatdoesitallmean?"heasked，smiling，feelingnotonlyhisdoubtsanduneasinessvanish，buteventheyearsofseparationmeltawayinherpresence。"IknowIwenttobedlastnightaveryhumbleindividual，andyetIseemtoawakenthismorningaveryexaltedpersonage。AmIreallyCommanderoftheFaithful，oramI

dreaming?MightItroubleyou，asmypredecessorAbouHassandidSweetlips，tobitemylittlefinger?"

"Doyoumeantosayyouhavenotseenthe\'Auzeiger?\'"shereturned，takingasmallGermanprintedsheetfromthetableandpointingtoaparagraph。Paultookthepaper。Certainlytherewastheplainannouncementamongthearrivalsof"HisExcellencyPaulHathaway，LordLieutenant-GovernoroftheCalifornias。"Alightflasheduponhim。

"ThisisGeorge\'swork。HeandColonelPendletonwereherewithmelastnight。"

"Thenyouhaveseenthecolonelalready?"shesaid，withascarcelyperceptiblealterationofexpression，which，however，struckPaul。

"Yes。Imethimatthetheatrelastevening。"Hewasabouttoplungeintoananimateddescriptionofthecolonel\'sindignation，butcheckedhimself，heknewnotwhy。Buthewasthankfulthenextmomentthathehad。

"Thataccountsforeverything，"shesaid，liftingherprettyshoulderswithaslightshrugofweariness。"IhadtoputasteptoGeorge\'stalkingaboutMEthreemonthsago，——hisextravaganceissomethingTOOawful。Andthecolonel，whoiscompletelyinhishands，——trustinghimforeverything，eventhelanguage，——doesn\'tseeit。"

"Butheisextravagantinthepraiseofhisfriendsonly，andyoucertainlyjustifyallhecansay。"

Shewastakingoffherhat，andstoppedforamomenttolookathimthoughtfully，withthesofttendrilsofherhairclingingtoherforehead。"Didthecoloneltalkmuchaboutme?"

"Agreatdeal。Infact，Ithinkwetalkedofnothingelse。Hehastoldmeofyourtriumphsandyourvictims；ofyourvariouscampaignsandyourconquests。AndyetIdaresayhehasnottoldmeall——andIamdyingtohearmore。"

Shehadlaiddownherhatandunloosedalargebowofhermantle，butstoppedsuddenlyinthemidstofitandsatdownagain。

"Iwishyou\'ddosomethingforme。"

"Youhaveonlytonameit。"

"Well，dropallthiskindoftalk!TrytothinkofmeasifIhadjustcomefromCalifornia——or，better，asifyouhadneverknownanythingofmeatall——andwemetforthefirsttime。Youcould，I

daresay，makeyourselfveryagreeabletosuchayoungladywhowaswillingtobepleased——whynottome?Iventuretosayyouhavenotevertroubledyourselfaboutmesincewelastmet。No——hearmethrough——why，then，shouldyouwishtotalkoverwhatdidn\'tconcernyouatthetime?Promisemeyouwillstopthisreminiscentgossip，andIpromiseyouIwillnotonlynotboreyouwithit，buttakecarethatitisnotintrudeduponyoubyothers。Makeyourselfpleasanttomebytalkingaboutyourselfandyourprospects——anythingbutME——andIwillthrowoverthoseprincesandbaronsthatthecolonelhasravedaboutanddevotemyselftoyouwhileyouarehere。DoesthatsuityourExcellency?"Shehadcrossedherknees，and，withherhandsclaspedoverthem，andthetoeofhersmallbootadvancedbeyondherskirt，leanedforwardintheattitudeherememberedtohaveseenhertakeinthesummer-

houseatRosario。

"Perfectly，"hesaid。

"Howlongwillyoubehere?"

"Aboutthreeweeks:that，Ibelieve，isthetimeallottedformycure。"

"Areyoureallyill，"shesaidquietly，"orimagineyourselfso?"

"Itamountstoaboutthesamething。Butmycuremaynottakesolong，"headded，fixinghisbrighteyesuponher。

Shereturnedhisgazethoughtfully，andtheyremainedlookingateachothersilently。

"Thenyouarestrongerthanyougiveyourselfcreditfor。Thatisveryoftenthecase，"shesaidquietly。"There，"sheaddedinanothertone，"itissettled。Youwillcomeandgoasyoulike，usingthissalonasyourown。Stay，wecandosomethingtoday。

Whatdoyousaytoarideintheforestthisafternoon?Millyisn\'thereyet，butitwillbequiteproperforyoutoaccompanymeonhorseback，though，ofcourse，wecouldn\'twalkahundredyardsdowntheAlleetogetherunlesswewereverlobt。"

"But，"saidPaul，"youareexpectingcompanythisafternoon。DonCaesar——ImeanMissBrionesandherbrotherarecomingheretosaygood-by。"

Sheregardedhimcuriously，butwithoutemotion。

"ColonelPendletonshouldhaveaddedthattheyweretoremainhereovernightasmyguests，"shesaidcomposedly。Andofcourseweshallbebackintimefordinner。Butthatisnothingtoyou。Youhaveonlytobereadyatthreeo\'clock。Iwillseethatthehorsesareordered。Ioftenridehere，andthepeopleknowmytastesandhabits。Wewillhaveapleasantrideandagoodlongtalktogether，andI\'llshowyouaruinandadistantviewofthevillawhereIhavebeenstaying。"Sheheldoutherhandwithafrankgirlishsmile，andevenagirlishanticipationofpleasureinherbrowneyes。Hebentoverherslimfingersforamoment，andwithdrew。

Whenhewasinhisownroomagain，hewasconsciousonlyofastrongdesiretoavoidthecoloneluntilafterhisridewithYerba。

Hewouldkeephiswordsofarastoabstainfromallusiontoherfamilyorherpast:indeed，hehadhisownopinionofitsfutility。

Butitwouldbestrangeif，withhispastexperience，hecouldnotfindsomeotherwaytodetermineherconvictionsorwinherconfidenceduringthosetwohoursofcompanionship。Hewouldaccepthertermsfairly；ifshehadanyulteriordesigninheradvances，hewoulddetectit；ifshehadtheleastconcernforhim，shecouldnotcontinuelonganartificialfriendship。Buthemustnotthinkofthat!

ByabsentinghimselffromthehotelhemanagedtokeepclearofPendletonuntilthehourarrived。HewasgratifiedtofindYerbainthesimplestandmostsensibleofhabits，asifshehadalreadydivinedhistastesandhadwishedtoavoidattractingundueattention。Nevertheless，itveryprettilyaccentedhertallgracefulfigure，andPaul，albeit，likemostartisticadmirersofthesex，notrecognizingawomanonahorseasaparticularlyharmoniousspectacle，wasforcedtoadmireher。Bothrodewell，andnaturally——havingbeenbroughtupinthesameWesternschool——

thehorsesrecognizedit，andinstinctivelyobeyedthem，andtheirconversationhadtheeasydeliberationandinflectionofatete-a-

tete。Paul，inviewofherprevioushint，talkedtoherofhimselfandhisfortunes，ofwhichsheappeared，however，tohavesomeknowledge。Hishealthhadobligedhimlatelytoabandonpoliticsandoffice；hehadbeensuccessfulinsomeventures，andhadbecomeajuniorpartnerinabankwithforeigncorrespondence。Shelistenedtohimforsometimewithinterestandattention，butatlastherfacebecameabstractedandthoughtful。"IwishIwereaman!"shesaidsuddenly。

Paullookedatherquickly。Forthefirsttimehedetectedintheringofhervoicesomethingofthepassionatequalityhefanciedhehadalwaysseeninherface。

"Exceptthatitmightgiveyoubettercontrolofyourhorse，I

don\'tseewhy，"saidPaul。"AndIdon\'tentirelybelieveyou。"

"Why?"

"Becausenowomanreallywishestobeamanunlesssheisconsciousofherfailureasawoman。"

"AndhowdoyouknowI\'mnot?"shesaid，checkingherhorseandlookinginhisface。Aquickconvictionthatshewasonthepointofsomeconfessionsprangintohismind，butunfortunatelyshowedinhisface。Shebeatbackhiseagerlookwithashortlaugh。

"There，don\'tspeak，anddon\'tlooklikethat。Thatremarkwasworthytheusualartlessmaiden\'sinvitationtoacompliment，wasn\'tit?Letuskeeptothesubjectofyourself。Why，withyourpoliticalinfluence，don\'tyougetyourselfappointedtosomediplomaticpositionoverhere?"

"Therearenoneinourservice。Youwouldn\'twantmetosinkmyselfinsomeabsurdsocialfunctions，whicharecalledbythatname，merelytobecometheenvyandhatredofafewrichrepublicans，likeyourfriendswhohauntforeigncourts?"

"That\'snotaprettyspeech——butIsupposeIinvitedTHATtoo。

Don\'tapologize。I\'dratherseeyouflareoutlikethatthanpaycompliments。YetIfancyyou\'readiplomatist，forallthat。"

"YoudidmethehonortobelieveIwasoneonce，whenIwassimplythemostpalpableassandbunglerliving，"saidPaulbitterly。

Shewasstillsweetlysilent，apparentlypreoccupiedinsmoothingoutthemaneofherwalkinghorse。"DidI?"shesaidsoftly。Hedrewclosebesideher。

"Howdifferentthevegetationisherefromwhatitiswithus!"shesaidwithnervousquickness，directinghisattentiontothegrassroadbeneaththem，withoutliftinghereyes。"Idon\'tmeanwhatiscultivated，——forIsupposeittakescenturiestomakethelawnstheyhaveinEngland，——butevenherethebladesofgrassseemtopressclosertogether，asiftheywerecrowdedoroverpopulated，likethecountry；andthisforest，whichhasbeenalwayswildandwasahuntingpark，hasablaselook，asifitwasalreadytiredoftheunchangingtraditionsandmonotonyaroundit。IthinkoverthereNatureaffectsandinfluencesus:here，Ifancy，itisitselfaffectedbythepeople。"

"IthinkagooddealofNaturecomesoverfromAmericaforthatpurpose，"hesaiddryly。

"AndIthinkyouarebreakingyourpromise——besidesbeingagoose!"

sheretortedsmartly。Nevertheless，forsomeoccultreasontheybothseemedrelievedbythisexquisitewitticism，andtrottedonamicablytogether。WhenPaulliftedhiseyestohershecouldseethattheyweresuffusedwithatendermischief，asofareprovingyetsecretlyadmiringsister，andherstrangelydelicatecomplexionhadtakenonitselfthatfaintAlpineglowthatwasmoreofanilluminationthanacolor。"There，"shesaidgayly，pointingwithherwhipasthewoodopeneduponagladethroughwhichthepartedtreesshowedalongbluecurvatureofdistanthills，"youseethatwhitethinglyinglikeasnowdriftonthehills?"

"Orthefamilywashingonahedge。"

"Asyouplease。Well，thatisthevilla。"

"Andyouwereveryhappythere?"saidPaul，watchinghergirlishlyanimatedface。

"Yes；andasyoudon\'taskquestions，I\'lltellyouwhy。ThereisoneofthesweetestoldladiestherethatIevermet——theperfectionofold-timecourtlinesswithallthemotherishnessofaGermanwoman。Shewasverykindtome，and，asshehadnodaughterofherown，IthinkshetreatedmeasifIwasone。Atleast，I

canimaginehowonewouldfeeltoher，andwhatawomanlikethatcouldmakeofanygirl。Youlaugh，Mr。Hathaway，youdon\'tunderstand——butyoudon\'tknowwhatanadvantageitwouldbetoagirltohaveamotherlikethat，andknowthatshecouldfallbackonherandholdherownagainstanybody。She\'sequippedfromthestart，insteadofbeinghandicapped。It\'sallverywelltotalkaboutthevalueofmoney。Itcangiveyoueverythingbutonething——thepowertodowithoutit。"

"IthinkitspurchasingvaluewouldincludeeventhegnadigeFrau，"

saidPaul，whohadlaughedonlytohidetheuneasinessthatYerba\'sapproachtothetabooedsubjecthadrevivedinhim。Sheshookherhead；then，recoveringhertoneofgentlebanter，said，"There——

I\'vemadeaconfession。Ifthecoloneltalkstoyouagainaboutmyconquests，youwillknowthatatpresentmyaffectionsarecentredontheBaron\'smother。Iadmitit\'sastrongpointinhis——inANYBODY\'S——favor，whocanshowanunblemishedmaternalpedigree。

Whatapityitisyouareanorphan，likemyself，Mr。Hathaway!

ForIfancyyourmothermusthavebeenaveryperfectwoman。A

greatdealofhertactandproprietyhasdescendedtoyou。Onlyitwouldhavebeennicerifshehadgivenittoyou，likepocketmoney，asoccasionrequired——whichyoumighthavesharedwithme——

thanleavingittoyouinonethumpinglegacy。"

Itwasimpossibletotellhowfartheplayfulnessofherbrowneyessuggestedanyulteriormeaning，forasPaulagaineagerlydrewtowardsher，shesentherhorseintoarapidcanterbeforehim。

Whenhewasathersideagain，shesaid，"Thereisstilltheruintoseeonourwayhome。Itisjustoffheretotheright。Butifyouwishtogooveritwewillhavetodismountatthefootoftheslopeandwalkup。Ithasn\'tanystoryorlegendthatIknowof；I

lookedovertheguide-booktocramforitbeforeyoucame，buttherewasnothing。Soyoucaninventwhatyoulike。"

Theydismountedatthebeginningofagentleacclivity，whereanancientwagon-road，nowgrass-grown，rosesmoothasaglacis。

Tyingtheirhorsestotwomoplikebushes，theyclimbedtheslopehandinhandlikechildren。Therewereafewwindingbrokensteps，partofafallenarchway，afewfeetofvaultedcorridor，asuddenbreach——theskybeyond——andthatwasall!Notall；forbeforethem，overlookedatfirst，layachasmcoveringhalfanacre，inwhichthewholeoftheoriginaledifice——towerturrets，walls，andbattlements——hadbeenapparentlycast，inextricablymixedandmingledatdifferentdepthsandangles，withhereandthere，likemushroomsfromadust-heap，ascoreoftreesupspringing。

"ThisisnotTime——butgunpowder，"saidPaul，leaningoveraparapetofthewallandgazingattheabyss，withaslightgrimace。

"Itdon\'tlookveryromantic，certainly，"saidYerba。"Ionlysawitfromtheroadbefore。I\'mdreadfullysorry，"sheadded，withmockpenitence。"Isuppose，however，SOMETHINGmusthavehappenedhere。"

"Theremayhavebeennobodyinthehouseatthetime，"saidPaulgravely。"Thefamilymayhavebeenatthebaths。"

Theystoodclosetogether，theirelbowsrestinguponthebrokenwall，andalmosttouching。Beyondtheabyssanddarkerforesttheycouldseethemorevividgreenandregularlinesoftheplane-treesofStrudleBad，theglitterofaspire，ortheflashofadome。

Fromtheabyssitselfaroseacoolodorofmoistgreenleaves，thescentofsomeunseenblossoms，andaroundthebakingvinesonthehotwallthehumofapparentlytasklessanddisappointedbees。

Therewasnobodyinsightintheforestroad，nooneworkingintheborderingfields，andnosuggestionofthepresent。TheremighthavebeenthreeorfourcenturiesbetweenthemandStrudleBad。

"Thelegendofthisplace，"saidPaul，glancingatthelongbrownlashesandovaloutlineofthecheeksonearhisown，"issimple，yetaffecting。Acruel，remorseless，butfascinatingHexiewasoncelovedbyasimpleshepherd。Hehadneverdaredtosyllablehishopelessaffection，orclaimfromherasyllabled——perhapsI

shouldsayaone-syllabled——reply。Hehadfollowedherfromremotelands，dumblyworshipingher，buildinginhisfoolishbrainanair-

castleofhappiness，whichbyreasonofhermagicpowershecouldalwaysseeplainlyinhiseyes。Andoneday，beguilinghiminthedepthsoftheforest，sheledhimtoafair-seemingcastle，and，biddinghimenteritsportals，offeredtoshowhimarealizationofhisdream。But，lo!evenasheenteredthestatelycorridoritseemedtocrumbleawaybeforehim，anddisclosedahideousabyssbeyond，inwhichthewholeofthatgoodlypalacelayinheapedandtangledruins——thefittingsymbolofhiswreckedandshatteredhopes。"

Shedrewbackalittlewayfromhim，butstillholdingontothetopofthebrokenwallwithoneslimgauntletedhand，andswungherselftooneside，whileshesurveyedhimwithsmiling，partedlipsandconsciouseyelids。Hepromptlycoveredherhandwithhisown，butshedidnotseemtonoticeit。

"Thatisnotthestory，"shesaid，inafaintvoicethatevenherstrugglingsaucinesscouldnotmakesteadier。"Thetruestoryiscalled\'TheLegendoftheGoose-GirlofStrudleBad，andtheenterprisingGosling。\'Therewasonceagoose-girloftheplainwhotriedhonestlytodrivehergeesetomarket，butoneeccentricandwillfulgosling——Mr。Hathaway!Stop——please——Ibegyouletmego!"

Hehadcaughtherinhisarms——theoneencirclingherwaist，theotherhandstillgraspinghers。Shestruggled，halflaughing；

yieldedforabreathlessmomentashislipsbrushedhercheek，and——

threwhimoff。"There!"shesaid，"thatwilldo:thestorywasnotillustrated。"

"But，Yerba，"hesaid，withpassionateeagerness，"hearme——itisallGod\'struth——Iloveyou!"

Shedrewbackfarther，shakingthedustofthewallfromthefoldsofherhabit。Then，withalowervoiceandapalercheek，asifhislipshadsentherbloodandutterancebacktoherheart，shesaid，"Come，letusgo。"

"Butnotuntilyou\'veheardme，Yerba。"

"Well，then——Ibelieveyou——there!"shesaid，lookingathim。

"Youbelieveme?"herepeatedeagerly，attemptingtotakeherhandagain。

Shedrewbackstillfarther。"Yes，"shesaid，"orIshouldn\'tbeherenow。There!thatmustsufficeyou。Andifyouwishmestilltobelieveyou，youwillnotspeakofthisagainwhileweareouttogether。Come，letusgobacktothehorses。"

Helookedatherwithallhissoul。Shewaspale，butcomposed，and——hecouldsee——determined。Hefollowedherwithoutaword。

Sheacceptedhishandtosupportheragaindowntheslopewithoutembarrassmentorreminiscentemotion。Thewholescenethroughwhichshehadjustpassedmighthavebeenburiedintheabyssandruinsbehindher。Assheplacedherfootinhishandtoremount，andforamomentrestedherweightonhisshoulder，herbrowneyesmethisfranklyandwithoutatremor。

Norwasshecontentwiththis。AsPaulatfirstrodeonsilently，hisheartfilledwithunsatisfiedyearning，sheralliedhimmischievously。Wasitkindinhimonthis，theirfirstdaytogether，tosulkinthisfashion?Wasitapromisefortheirfutureexcursions?DidheintendtocarrythislugubriousvisagethroughtheAlleeanduptothecourtyardofthehoteltoproclaimhissentimentalconditiontotheworld?Atleast，shetrustedhewouldnotshowittoMilly，whomightrememberthatthiswasonlytheSECONDTIMEtheyhadmeteachother。Therewassomethingsosweetlyreasonableinthis，andwithalnotwithoutacertainhopefulnessforthefuture，tosaynothingofthehalf-mischievous，half-reproachfulsmilethataccompaniedit，thatPaulexertedhimself，andeventuallyrecoveredhislostgayety。Whentheyatlastdrewupinthecourtyard，withtheflushofyouthandexerciseintheirfaces，Paulfelthewastheobjectofenvytotheloungers，andoffreshgossiptoStrudleBad。Itstruckhimlesspleasantlythattwodarkfaces，whichhadbeenpreviouslyregardinghiminthegloomofthecorridorandvanishedasheapproached，reappearedsomemomentslaterinYerba\'ssalonasDonCaesarandDonaAnna，withabenignlydifferentexpression。DonaAnnaespeciallygreetedhimwithsomuchoftheostentatiousarchnessofaconfidentandforgivingwomantoamomentarilyrecreantlover，thathefeltabsurdlyembarrassedinYerba\'spresence。Hewasthinkinghowhecouldexcusehimself，whenhenoticedabeautifulbasketofflowersonthetableandatinynotebearingabaron\'screst。Yerbahadputitasidewith——asitseemedtohimatthemoment——analmosttoopronouncedindifference——andanindifferencethatwasstronglycontrastedtoDonaAnna\'seagerlyexpressedenthusiasmovertheoffering，andherultimatesupplicationstoPaulandherbrothertoadmireitsbeautiesandthewonderfultasteofthedonor。

AllthisseemedsoincongruouswithPaul\'sfeelings，andaboveallwiththerecollectionofhisscenewithYerba，thatheexcusedhimselffromdiningwiththeparty，alleginganengagementwithhisoldfellow-travelertheGermanofficer，whoseacquaintancehehadrenewed。Yerbadidnotpresshim；heevenfanciedshelookedrelieved。ColonelPendletonwascoming；Paulwasnotloath，inhispresentframeofmind，todispensewithhiscompany。Aconvictionthatthecolonel\'scounselwasnotthebestguideforYerba，andthatinsomevaguewaytheirinterestswereantagonistic，hadbeguntoforceitselfuponhim。Hehadnointentionofbeingdisloyaltoheroldguardian，buthefeltthatPendletonhadnotbeenfrankwithhimsincehisreturnfromRosario。HadheeverbeensowithHER?Hesometimesdoubtedhisdisclaimer。

HewasluckyinfindingtheGeneraldisengaged，andtogethertheydinedatarestaurantandspenttheeveningattheKursaal。Later，attheResidenzClub，theGeneralleanedoverhisbeer-glassandsmilinglyaddressedhiscompanion。

"SoIhearyou，too，areaconquestofthebeautifulSouthAmerican。"

ForaninstantPaul，recognizingonlyDonaAnnaunderthatepithet，lookedpuzzled。

"Come，myfriend，"saidtheGeneralregardinghimwithsomeamusement，"Iamanoldermanthanyou，yetIhardlythinkIcouldhaveriddenoutwithsuchagoddesswithoutbecomingherslave。"

Paulfelthisfaceflushinspiteofhimself。"Ah!youmeanMissArguello，"hesaidhurriedly，hiscolorincreasingathisownmentionofthatnameasifhewereimposingituponhishonestcompanion。"Sheisanoldacquaintanceofmine——frommyownState——

California。"

"Ah，so，"saidtheGeneral，liftinghiseyebrowsinprofoundapology。"Athousandpardons。"

"Surely，"saidPaul，withadesperateattempttorecoverhisequanimity，"YOUoughttoknowourgeographybetter。"

"So，Iamwrong。Butstillthename——Arguello——surelythatisnotAmerican?Still，theysayshehasnoaccent，anddoesnotlooklikeaMexican。"

ForaninstantPaulwassuperstitiouslystruckwiththefatalinfelicityofYerba\'sselectionofaforeignname，thatnowseemedonlytoinvitethatcommentandcriticismwhichsheshouldhaveavoided。NorcouldheexplainitatlengthtotheGeneralwithoutassistingandaccentingthedeception，whichhewasalwayshopinginsomevaguewaytobringtoanend。HewassorryhehadcorrectedtheGeneral；hewasfuriousthathehadallowedhimselftobeconfused。

Happilyhiscompanionhadmisinterpretedhisannoyance，andwithimpulsiveGermanfriendshipthrewhimselfintowhathebelievedtobePaul\'sfeelings。"Donnerwetter!Yourbeautifulcountrywomanismadethesubjectofcuriosityjustbecausethatstupidbaronispersistentinhisseriousattentions。Thatisquiteenough，mygoodfriend，tomakeKlatschenhereamongthoseanimalswhodonotunderstandthefreedomofanAmericangirl，orthatanheiressmayhavesomethingelsetodowithhermoneythantoexpenditontheBaron\'smortgages。But"——hestopped，andhissimple，honestfaceassumedanairofprofoundandsagaciouscunning——"Iamgladtotalkaboutitwithyou，whoofcourseareperfectlyfamiliarwiththeaffair。Ishallnowbeabletoknowwhattosay。Myword，myfriend，hassomeweighthere，andIshalluseit。AndnowyoushalltellmeWHOisourlovelyfriend，andWHOwereherparentsandherkindredinherownhome。Herassociateshere，youpossiblyknow，areanimpossiblecolonelandhisnever-before-approachedvalet，withsomeSouthAmericanIndianplanters，and，Ibelieve，apork-butcher\'sdaughter。ButofTHEM——itmakesnothing。TellmeofHERpeople。"

WithhiskindlyseriousfacewithinafewinchesofPaul\'s，andsympathizingcuriositybeamingfromhispince-nez，heobligedthewretchedandconscience-strickenHathawaytorespondwithadetailedaccountofYerba\'sparentageasprojectedbyherselfandindorsedbyColonelPendleton。HedweltsomewhatparticularlyontheromanticcharacteroftheTrust，hopingtodrawtheGeneral\'sattentionawayfromthequestionofrelationship，buthewaschagrinedtofindthatthehonestwarriorevidentlyconfoundedtheTrustwithsomeeleemosynaryinstitutionandsympatheticallyglosseditover。"Ofcourse，"hesaid，"theMexicanMinisteratBerlinwouldknowallabouttheArguellofamily:sotherewouldbenoquestionthere。"