"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。"