AttheendoftwohoursGeorge\'sbarber-employerreturnedtorelievehisassistant，and，onreceivingfromhimanaccountandacertainpercentageoftheafternoon\'sfeesminusthegiftfromPaul，wasinformedbyGeorgethatheshouldpretermithisattendanceforafewdays。\"Udderprivateandpersonalaffairs，\"
explainedtheoldnegro，whomadenosocialdistinctioninhisvocabulary，\"peroccupyin\'disniggah\'stime。\"Theheadbarber，unwillingtoloseareallygoodassistant，endeavoredtodissuadehimbytheofferofincreasedemolument，butGeorgewasfirm。
Asheenteredthesitting-roomthecoloneldetectedhisstep，andcalledhimin。
\"Anothertime，George，neverallowaguestofminetosendawaywine。Ifhedon\'tcareforit，putitonthesideboard。\"
\"Yes，sah；butasyo\'didn\'tlikeityo\'self，MarseHarry，anddewinewasdemost\'xpensivequalityobGlencoe\"——
\"D——ntheexpense!\"Hepaused，andgazedsearchinglyathisoldretainer。
\"George，\"hesaidsuddenly，yetinagentlevoice，\"don\'tlietome，or\"——inastillkindervoice——\"I\'llflogtheblackskinoffyou!Listentome。HAVEyougotanymoneyleft?\"
\"\'Deed，sah，dereIS，\"saidthenegroearnestly。\"I\'lljistfetchitwiddeaccounts。\"
\"Holdon!I\'vebeenthinking，lyinghere，thatiftheWidowMolloycan\'tpaybecauseshesoldout，andthattobacconistisruined，andwe\'vehadtopaythewatertaxforoldBillSoames，therentlastweekdon\'tamounttomuch，whilethere\'sthemonth\'sbillfortherestaurantandthatblankdruggist\'saccountforlotionsandmedicinestocomeoutofit。Itstrikesmewe\'reprettyneartouchingbottom。I\'veeverythingIwanthere，but，byGod，sir，ifIfindYOUskimpingyourselforlyingtomeorborrowingmoney\"——
\"Yes，MarseHarry，buttheWidderMolloydonegoneandpaidupdisafernoon。I\'llbringdebooksandmoneytoproveit；\"andhehurriedlyreenteredthesitting-room。
Thenwithtremblinghandsheemptiedhispocketsonthetable，includingPaul\'sgiftandthefeeshehadjustreceived，andopeningadesk-drawertookfromitastripedcottonhandkerchief，suchasnegrowomenwearontheirheads，containingasmallquantityofsilvertiedupinahardknot，andaboy\'spurse。Thisheemptiedonthetablewithhisownmoney。
TheyweretheonlyrentsofColonelHenryPendleton!Theywerecontributedby\"GeorgeWashingtonThomson；\"hiswife，otherwiseknownas\"AuntDinah，\"washerwoman；and\"ScipioThomson，\"theirson，agedfourteen，bootblack。Itdidnotamounttomuch。Butinthathappymoisturethatdimmedtheoldman\'seyes，Godknowsitlookedlargeenough。
CHAPTERIII。
AlthoughtheraysofanuncloudedsunwerehotintheSantaClararoadsandbyways，andthedry，bleacheddusthadbecomeanimpalpablepowder，theperspiringandparchedpedestrianwhorashlysoughtreliefintheshadeofthewaysideoakwasspeedilychilledtothebonebythenorthwesttrade-windsthatonthoseAugustafternoonssweptthroughthedefilesoftheCoastRange，andevenpenetratedthepastoralvalleyofSanJose。Theanomalyofstrawhatsandovercoatswiththeoccupantsofbuggiesandstationwagonswasthusaccountedfor，andevenintheshelteredgardenof\"ElRosario\"twoyounggirlsinlightsummerdresseshadthrownwrapsovertheirshouldersastheyloungeddownabroadrose-alleyatrightangleswiththedeep，longverandaofthecasa。Yet，inspiteofthechill，theoldSpanishhouseandgardenspresentedaluxurious，almosttropical，picturefromtheroadside。Banks，beds，andbowersofroseslenttheirnameandcolortothegrounds；
tree-likeclustersofhangingfuchsias，mound-likemassesofvariegatedverbena，andtangledthicketsofceanothusandspreadingheliotropeweresetinboundariesofvenerableolive，fig，andpeartrees。Theoldhouseitself，apicturesquerelieftotheglaringnewnessofthepaintedvillasalongtheroad，hadbeentastefullymodifiedtosuittheneedsandhabitsofalatercivilization；thegalleriesoftheinnercourtyard，orpatio，hadbeentransferredtotheoutsidewallsintheformofdeepverandas，whiletheoldadobewallsthemselveswerehiddenbeneathflowingCapejessamineorbestarredpassionvines，andtoppedbyroofsofcylindricalredtiles。
\"MissYerba!\"saidadry，masculinevoicefromtheveranda。
Thetalleryounggirlstarted，anddrewherselfsuddenlybehindalargeCastilianrose-tree，dragginghercompanionwithher，andputtingherfingerimperativelyuponaprettybutsomewhatpassionatemouth。Theothergirlcheckedalaugh，andremainedwatchingherfriend\'swickedlyleveledbrowsinamusedsurprise。
Thecallwasrepeatedfromtheveranda。Afteramoment\'spausetherewasthesoundofretreatingfootsteps，andallwasquietagain。
\"Why，forgoodness\'sake，didn\'tyouanswer，Yerba?\"askedtheshortergirl。
\"Oh，Ihatehim!\"respondedYerba。\"Heonlywantedtoboremewithhisstupid，formal，sham-parentaltalk。Becausehe\'smyofficialguardianhethinksitnecessarytoassumethismannertowardsmewhenwemeet，andtreatsmeasifIweresomethingbetweenhisstepdaughterandanalmshouseorphanorapoliceboard。It\'sperfectlyridiculous，forit\'sonlyputonwhileheisinoffice，andheknowsit，andIknowit，andI\'mtiredofmakingbelieve。
Why，mydear，theychangeeveryelection；I\'vehadsevenofthem，allmoreorlessofthiskind，sinceIcanremember。\"
\"ButIthoughtthereweretwoothers，dear，thatwerenotofficial，\"saidhercompanion，coaxingly。
Yerbasighed。\"No；therewasanother，whowaspresidentofabank，butthatwasalsotobeofficialifhedied。Iusedtolikehim，heseemedtobetheonlygentlemanamongthem；butitappearsthatheisdreadfullyimproper；shootspeoplenowandthenfornothingatall，andburstuphisbank——and，ofcourse，he\'simpossible，and，asthere\'snomorebank，whenhediesthere\'llbenomoretrustee。\"
\"Andthere\'sthethird，youknow——astranger，whoneverappears?\"
suggestedtheyoungergirl。
\"AndwhodoyousupposeHEturnsouttobe?Doyourememberthatconceitedlittlewretch——that\'BabySenator，\'Ithinktheycalledhim——whowasintheparloroftheGoldenGatetheothermorningsurroundedbyhisidioticworshipersandtoadiesandballot-boxstuffers?Well，ifyouplease，THAT\'SMr。PaulHathaway——theHonorablePaulHathaway，whowashedhishandsofme，mydear，atthebeginning!\"
\"Butreally，Yerba，Ithoughtthathelookedandacted\"——
\"Youthoughtofnothingatall，Milly，\"returnedYerba，withauthority。\"Itellyouhe\'samassofconceit。WhatelsecanyouexpectofaMan——toadiedandfawnedupontothatextent?Itmademesick!Icouldhavejustshakenthem!\"
Asiftoemphasizeherstatement，shegraspedoneofthelongwillowybranchesoftheenormousrose-bushwhereshestood，andshookitlightly。Theactiondetachedafewofthematurerblossoms，andsentdownashoweroffadedpinkpetalsonherdarkhairandyellowdress。\"Ican\'tbearconceit，\"sheadded。
\"Oh，Yerba，juststandasyouare!Idowishthegirlscouldseeyou。YoumaketheLOVELIESTpicture!\"
Shecertainlydidlookveryprettyasshestoodthere——afewleaveslodgedinherhair，clingingtoherdress，andsuggestingbyreflectionthecolorthatherdelicatesatinskinwouldhaveresentedinitsowntexture。Butsheturnedimpatientlyaway——
perhapsnotbeforeshehadallowedthispassingvisiontoimpressthemindofherdevotedadherent——andsaid，\"Comealong，orthatdreadfulmanwillbeoutontheverandaagain。\"
\"But，ifyoudislikehimso，whydidyouaccepttheinvitationtomeethimhereatluncheon?\"saidthecuriousMilly。
\"Ididn\'taccept；theMotherSuperiordidforme，becausehe\'stheMayorofSanFranciscovisitingyouruncle，andshe\'salwaysanxioustoplacatethepowersthatbe。AndIthoughthemighthavesomeinformationthatIcouldgetoutofhim。Anditwasbetterthanbeingintheconventallday。AndIthoughtIcouldstandHIM
ifyouwerehere。\"
Millygratefullyacceptedthisdoubtfulproofofaffectionbysqueezinghercompanion\'sarm。\"Andyoudidn\'tgetanyinformation，dear?\"
\"Ofcoursenot!Theidiotknowsonlytheoldtraditionofhisoffice——thatIwasamysteriousTrustleftinMayorHammersley\'shands。Heactuallyinformedmethat\'Buena\'meant\'Good\'；thatitwaslikelythenameofthecaptainofsomewhaler，thatputintoSanFranciscointheearlydays，whosechildIwas，andthat，ifI
chosetocallmyself\'MissGood，\'hewouldallowit，andgetabillpassedintheLegislaturetolegalizeit。Thinkofit，mydear!
\'MissGood，\'likeoneofMrs。Barbauld\'sstories，oramoralgovernessinthe\'PrimaryReader。\'\"
\"\'MissGood，\'\"repeatedMilly，innocently。\"Yes，youmightputaneattheend——G-double-o-d-e。ThereareGoodesinPhiladelphia。
Andthenyouwon\'thavetosacrificethatsweetpretty\'Yerba，\'
that\'ssostylishandmusical，foryou\'dstillbe\'YerbaGood。\'
But，\"sheadded，asYerbamadeanimpatientgesture，\"whydoyouworryyourselfaboutTHAT?Youwouldn\'tkeepyourownnamelong，whateveritwas。Anheiresslikeyou，dear，——lovelyandaccomplished，——wouldhavethebestnamesaswellasthebestmeninAmericatochoosefrom。\"
\"Nowpleasedon\'trepeatthatidiot\'swords。That\'swhatHEsays；
that\'swhattheyALLsay!\"returnedYerba，pettishly。\"Onewouldreallythinkitwasnecessaryformetogetmarriedtobecomeanybodyatall，orhaveanystandingwhatever。And，whateveryoudo，don\'tgotalkingofmeasifIwerenamedafteravegetable。
\'YerbaBuena\'isthenameofanislandinthebayjustoffSanFrancisco。I\'mnamedafterthat。\"
\"ButIdon\'tseethedifference，dear。Theislandwasnamedafterthevinethatgrowsonit。\"
\"YOUdon\'tseethedifference?\"saidYerba，darkly。\"Well，Ido。
Butwhatareyoulookingat?\"
Hercompanionhadcaughtherarm，andwasgazingintentlyatthehouse。
\"Yerba，\"shesaidquickly，\"there\'stheMayor，anduncle，andastrangegentlemancomingdownthewalk。They\'relookingforus。
And，asIlive，Yerb!thestrangegentlemanisthatyoungsenator，Mr。Hathaway!\"
\"Mr。Hathaway?Nonsense!\"
\"Lookforyourself。\"
Yerbaglancedatthethreegentlemen，who，ahundredyardsdistant，wereslowlyadvancinginthedirectionoftheceanothus-hedge，behindwhichthegirlshadinstinctivelystrayedduringtheirconversation。
\"Whatareyougoingtodo?\"saidMilly，eagerly。\"They\'recomingstraightthisway。Shallwestayhereandletthempass，ormakearunforthehouse?\"
\"No，\"saidYerba，toMilly\'sgreatsurprise。\"Thatwouldlookasifwecared。Besides，Idon\'tknowthatMr。HathawayhascometoseeME。We\'llstrolloutandmeetthemaccidentally。\"
Millywasstillmoreastonished。However，shesaid，\"Waitamoment，dear!\"and，withtheinstinctivedeftnessofhersex，inthreesmalltugsandagentlehitch，shookYerba\'sgownintoperfectfolds，passedherfingersacrossherforeheadandoverherears，securing，however，withahairpinontheirpassagethreeoftherosepetalswheretheyhadfallen。Then，dischargingtheirfacesofanypreviousexpression，thesetwocharminghypocritessalliedoutinnocentlyintothewalk。Nothingcouldbemorenaturalthantheirmanner:ifacriticismmightbeventuredupon，itwasthattheirelbowswereslightlydrawninwardsandbeforethem，leavingtheirhandsgracefullyadvancedinthelineoftheirfigures，anattitudeacceptedthroughoutthecivilizedworldofdeportmentasindicatingfastidiousrefinementnotunmingledwithpermissiblehauteur。
Thethreegentlemenliftedtheirhatsatthisravishingapparition，andhalted。TheMayoradvancedwithgreatpoliteness。
\"Ifearedyoudidn\'thearmecallyou，MissYerba，soweventuredtoseekyou。Asthetwogirlsexchangedalmostinfantileglancesofsurprise，hecontinued:\"Mr。PaulHathawayhasdoneusthehonorofseekingyouhere，ashedidnotfindyouattheconvent。YoumayhaveforgottenthatMr。Hathawayisthethirdoneofyourtrustees。\"
\"AndsoinefficientandworthlessthatIfearhedoesn\'tcount，\"
saidPaul，\"but，\"raisinghiseyestoYerba\'s，\"IfancythatIhavealreadyhadthepleasureofseeingyou，and，Ifear，themortificationofhavingdisturbedyouandyourfriendsintheparloroftheGoldenGateHotelyesterday。\"
Thetwogirlslookedateachotherwiththesamechildlikesurprise。YerbabrokethesilencebysuddenlyturningtoMilly。
\"Certainly，yourememberhowgreatlyinterestedwewereintheconversationofapartyofgentlemenwhoweretherewhenwecamein。IamafraidourfoolishprattlemusthavedisturbedYOU。I
knowthatwewerestruckwiththeintelligentandeloquentdevotionofyourfriends。\"
\"Oh，perfectly，\"chimedintheloyalbutsomewhatinfelixMilly，\"anditwassokindandthoughtfulofMr。Hathawaytotakethemawayashedid。\"
\"Ifeltthemoreembarrassed，\"continuedHathaway，smiling，butstillcriticallyexaminingYerbaforanindicationofsomethingcharacteristic，beyondthispalpableconventionality，\"asI
unfortunatelymustpresentmycredentialsfromagentlemanasmuchofastrangerasmyself——ColonelPendleton。\"
Thetrade-windwasevidentlymakingitselffelteveninthispastoralretreat，forthetwogentlemenappearedtoshrinkslightlywithinthemselves，andachillseemedtohavepassedoverthegroup。TheMayorcoughed。TheavuncularWoodsgazedabstractedlyatalargecactus。EvenPaul，preparedbypreviousexperience，stoppedshort。
\"ColonelPendleton!Oh，dotellmeallabouthim!\"flashedoutYerba，suddenly，withclaspedhandsandeagergirlishbreath。
Paulcastaquickgratefulglanceatthegirl。Whetherassumedornot，herenthusiasticoutburstwaseffective。TheMayorlookeduneasilyatWoods，andturnedtoPaul。
\"Ah，yes!Youandheareoriginalco-trustees。IbelievePendletonisinreducedcircumstances。Neverquitegotoverthatbanktrouble。\"
\"Thatisonlyaquestionoflegislativeinvestigationandrelief，\"
saidPaullightly，yetwithpurposelyvagueofficialmysteryofmanner。Then，turningquicklytoYerba，asifreplyingtotheonlyrealquestionatissue，hecontinuedpointedly，\"Iamsorrytosaythecolonel\'shealthissopoorthatitkeepshimquitearecluse。
Ihavealetterfromhimandamessageforyou。\"Hisbrighteyesaddedplainly——\"assoonaswecangetridofthosepeople。\"
\"Thenyouthinkthatabill\"——begantheMayor，eagerly。
\"Ithink，mydearsir，\"saidPaulplaintively，\"thatIandmyfriendshavealreadytriedthepatienceofthesetwoyoungladiesquiteenoughyesterdaywithpoliticsandlaw-making。Ihavetocatchthesix-o\'clocktraintoSanFranciscothisevening，andhavealreadylostthetimeIhopedtospendwithMissYerbabymissingherattheconvent。Letmestrollonhere，ifyoulike，andifI
venturetomonopolizetheattentionofthisyoungladyforhalfanhour，you，mydearMr。Mayor，whohavemorefrequentaccesstoher，Iknow，willnotbegrudgeittome。\"
HeplacedhimselfbesideYerbaandMilly，andbegananentertaining，although，Ifear，slightlyexaggerated，accountofhisreceptionbytheLadySuperior，andherevidentdoubtsofhisidentitywiththetrusteementionedinPendleton\'sletterofintroduction。\"Iconfessshefrightenedme，\"hecontinued，\"whensheremarkedthat，accordingtomystatement，IcouldhavebeenonlyeighteenyearsoldwhenIbecameyourguardian，andasmuchinwantofoneasyouwere。IthinkthatonlyherbeliefthatMr。
WoodsandtheMayorwoulddetectmeasanimpostorprovokedheratlasttotellmeyourwhereabouts。\"
\"ButwhyDIDtheyevermakeyouatrustee，forgoodness\'sake?\"
saidMilly，naively。\"Wastherenoonegrownupatthattimethattheycouldhavecalledupon?\"
\"ThoseweretheEARLYdaysofCalifornia，\"respondedPaul，withgreatgravity，althoughhewasconsciousthatYerbawasregardinghimnarrowly，\"andIprobablylookedolderandmoreintelligentthanIreallywas。For，candidly，\"withtheconsciousnessofYerba\'seyesstilluponhim，\"Irememberverylittleaboutit。I
daresayIwasselected，asyoukindlysuggest，\'forgoodness\'
sake。\'\"
\"Afterall，\"saidthevolatileMilly，whoseemedinclined，aschaperone，todirecttheconversation，\"therewassomethingprettyandromanticaboutit。Youtwopooryoungthingstakingcareofeachother，forofcoursetherewerenowomenhereinthosedays。\"
\"OfcoursethereWEREwomenhere\"interruptedYerba，quickly，withahalf-meaning，half-interrogativeglanceatPaulthatmadehiminstinctivelyuneasy。\"Youlatercomers\"——toMilly——\"alwaysseemtothinkthattherewasnothingherebeforeyou!\"Shepaused，andthenadded，withanaivemixtureofreproachandcoquetrythatwasascharmingasitwasunexpected，\"Astotakingcareofeachother，Mr。Hathawayveryquicklygotridofme，Ibelieve。\"
\"ButIleftyouinbetterhands，MissYerba；andletmethankyounow，\"headdedinalowertone，\"forrecognizingitasyoudidamomentago。I\'mgladthatyouinstinctivelylikedColonelPendleton。Hadyouknownhimbetter，youwouldhaveseenhowtruthfulthatinstinctwas。Hischieffaultintheeyesofourworthyfriendsisthatheremindsthemofagreatdealtheycan\'tperpetuateandmuchtheywouldliketoforget。\"Hecheckedhimselfabruptly。\"Buthereisyourletter，\"heresumed，drawingColonelPendleton\'smissivefromhispocket，\"perhapsyouwouldliketoreaditnow，incaseyouhaveanymessagetoreturnbyme。MissWoodsandIwillexcuseyou。\"
Theyhadreachedtheendoftherose-alley，whereasummer-housethatwasinitselfarose-bowerpartlydiscloseditself。Theothergentlemenhadlaggedbehind。\"IwillamuseMYSELF，andconsoleyourotherguardian，dear，\"saidthevivaciousMilly，witharapidexchangeofglanceswithYerba，\"untilthishorridbusinessisover。Besides，\"sheaddedwithcheerfulvagueness，\"aftersolongaseparationyoumusthaveagreatdealtosaytoeachother。\"
Paulsmiledassherustledaway，andYerba，enteringthesummer-
house，satdownandopenedtheletter。Theyoungmanremainedleaningagainsttherusticarchway，occasionallyglancingatherandatthemovingfiguresinthegardens。Hewasconsciousofanoddexcitementwhichhecouldtracetonoparticularcause。Itwastruethathehadbeenannoyedatnotfindingtheyounggirlattheconvent，andathavingtojustifyhimselftotheLadySuperiorforwhatheconceivedtobeanactofgratuitouskindness；norwasheblindtothefactthathispersistenceinfollowingherwasmoreanactofaggressionagainsttheenemiesofPendletonthanofconcernforYerba。Shewascertainlypretty，hecouldnotrememberhermothersufficientlytotraceanylikeness，andhehadneveradmiredthemother\'spronouncedbeauty。Shehadflashedoutforaninstantintowhatseemedoriginalityandfeeling。Butithadpassed，andshehadaskednofurtherquestionsinregardtothecolonel。
Shehadhurriedlyskimmedthroughtheletter，whichseemedtobecomposedofcertainfiguresandaccounts。\"Isupposeit\'sallright，\"shesaid；\"atleastyoucansaysoifheasksyou。It\'sonlyanexplanationwhyhehastransferredmymoneyfromthebanktoRothschild\'sagentyearsago。Idon\'tseewhyitshouldinterestmeNOW。\"
Paulmadenodoubtthatitwasthesametransferthathadshipwreckedthecolonel\'sfortuneandalienatedhisfriends，andcouldnothelpreplyingsomewhatpointedly，\"ButIthinkitshould，MissYerba。Idon\'tknowwhatthecolonelexplainedtoyou——
doubtless，notthewholetruth，forheisnotamantopraisehimself；but，thefactis，thebankwasindifficultiesatthetimeofthattransfer，and，tomakeit，hesacrificedhispersonalfortune，and，Ithink，awakenedsomeofthatill-feelingyouhavejustnoticed。\"Hecheckedhimselftoolate:hehadagainlostnotonlyhistactandself-control，buthadnearlybetrayedhimself。
Hewassurprisedthatthegirl\'sjustifiableignoranceshouldhaveirritatedhim。Yetshehadevidentlynotnoticed，ormisunderstoodit，forshesaid，withacertainprecisionthatwasalmoststudied:——
\"Yes，IsupposeitwouldhavebeenaterriblethingtohimtohavebeensuspectedofmisappropriatingaTrustconfidedtohimbypartieswhohadalreadypaidhimthehighcomplimentofconfidingtohiscareasecretandafortune。\"
Paulglancedatherquicklywithastonishment。Wasthisignorance，orsuspicion?Hermanner，however，suddenlychanged，withthecharmingcapriciousnessofyouthandconsciousbeauty。\"Hespeaksofyouinthisletter，\"shesaid，lettingherdarkeyesrestonhimprovokingly。
\"Thataccountsforyourlackofinterestthen，\"saidPaulgayly，relievedtoturnaconversationfraughtwithsomuchdanger。
\"Buthespeaksveryflatteringly，\"shewenton。\"Heseemstobeanotheroneofyouradmirers。I\'msure，Mr。Hathaway，afterthatsceneinthehotelparloryesterday，YOU，atleast，cannotcomplainofhavingbeenmisrepresentedbeforeME。Totellyouthetruth，I
thinkIhatedyoualittleforit。\"
\"Youwerequiteright，\"returnedPaul。\"Imusthavebeeninsufferable!AndIadmitthatIwasslightlypiquedagainstYOU
fortheidolatriesshowereduponyouatthesamemomentbyyourfriends。\"
Usually，whentwoyoungpeoplehavereachedthepointofconfidinglyexchangingtheirfirstimpressionsofeachother，someprogresshasbeenmadeinfirstacquaintance。ButitdidnotstrikePaulinthatway，andYerba\'snextremarkwasdiscouraging。
\"ButI\'mratherdisappointed，forallthat。ColonelPendletontellsmeyouknownothingofmyfamilyorofthesecret。\"
Paulwasthistimequiteprepared，andwithstoodthegirl\'sscrutinycalmly。\"Doyouthink，\"heaskedlightly，\"thatevenHE
knows?\"
\"Ofcoursehedoes，\"shereturnedquickly。\"Doyousupposehewouldhavetakenallthattroubleyouhavejusttalkedaboutifhedidn\'tknowit?Andfearedtheconsequences，perhaps?\"sheadded，withaslightreturnofherpreviousexpressivemanner。
AgainPaulwaspuzzledandirritated，heknewnotwhy。Butheonlysaidpleasantly，\"Idifferfromyouthere。IamafraidthatsuchathingasfearneverenteredintoColonelPendleton\'scalculationsonanysubject。Ithinkhewouldactthesametowardsthehighestandthelowest，thepowerfulorthemostweak。\"Assheglancedathimquicklyandmischievously，headded，\"Iamquitewillingtobelievethathisknowledgeofyoumadehisdutypleasanter。\"
Hewasagainquitesincere，andhisslightsympathyhadthatirresistiblequalityoftoneandlookwhichmadehimsodangerous。
Forhewasstruckwiththepretty，soothedself-complacencythathadshoneinherfacesincehehadspokenofPendleton\'sequaldisinterestedness。Itseemed，too，asifwhathehadtakenforpassionorpetulanceinhermannerhadbeenonlyaresistancetosomecontinualaggressionofcondition。Withthatremainderheldincheck，acertainlatentnobilitywasapparent，asofhertrueself。Inthismomentofpleasedabstractionshehaddrawnthroughthelattice-workofoneofthewindowsasprayofrosesclingingtothevine，andwithhergracefulheadalittleononeside，wassoftlycaressinghercheekwithit。Shecertainlywasverypretty。
Fromthecrownofherdarklittleheadtothenarrowrosettedslippersthathadbeenidlytappingtheground，butnowseemedtopressitmoreproudly，witharchedinstepsandsmallankles，shewaspleasanttolookupon。
\"Butyousurelyhavesomethingelsetothinkabout，MissYerba?\"
saidtheyoungman，withconviction。\"Inafewmonthsyouwillbeofage，andridofthosedreadfullystupidguardians；withyour\"——
Theloosenedrose-sprayflewfromherhandoutofthewindowasshemadeagesture，halfreal，halfassumed，ofimploringsupplication。
\"Oh，please，Mr。Hathaway，forHeaven\'ssakedon\'tYOUbegintoo!
Youaregoingtosaythat，withmywealth，myaccomplishments，mybeauty，myfriends，whatmorecanIwant?WhatdoIcareaboutasecretthatcanneitheraddtothemnortakethemaway?Yes，youwere!It\'stheregularthingtosay——everybodysaysit。Why，I
shouldhavethought\'theyoungestsenator\'couldaffordtohavebeenmoreoriginal。\"
\"IpleadguiltytoALLtheweaknessesofhumanity，\"saidPaul，warmly，againbeginningtobelievethathehadbeenmostunjusttoherindependence。
\"Well，Iforgiveyou，becauseyouhaveforgottentosaythat，ifI
don\'tlikethenameofYerbaBuena，IcouldSOeasilychangethattoo。\"
\"ButyouDOlikeit，\"saidPaul，touchedwiththisfirsthearingofhernameinherownmusicalaccents，\"orwouldlikeitifyouheardyourselfpronounceit。\"Itsuddenlyrecurredtohim，withastrangethrillofpleasure，thathehimselfhadgivenittoher。
Itwasasifhehadcreatedsomemusicalinstrumenttowhichshehadjustgivenvoice。Inhisenthusiasmhehadthrownhimselfonthebenchbesideherinanattitudethat，Ifear，wasnotasdignifiedasbecamehiselderlyoffice。
\"Butyoudon\'tthinkthatismyNAME，\"saidthegirl，quickly。
\"Ibegyourpardon?\"saidPaul，hesitatingly。
\"Youdon\'tthinkthatanybodywouldhavebeensoutterlyidioticastocallmeafteraground-vine——avegetable?\"shecontinuedpetulantly。
\"Eh?\"stammeredPaul。
\"Anamethatcouldbesoeasilytranslated，\"shewenton，halfscornfully，\"andwhentranslated，wasnopossibletitleforanybody?Thinkofit——MissGoodHerb!Itistooridiculousforanything。\"
Paulwasnotusuallywantinginself-possessioninanemergency，orinskilltomeetattack。Buthewassoconvincedofthetruthofthegirl\'saccusation，andnowrecalledsovividlyhisownconsternationonhearingtheresultofhisyouthfulandromanticsponsorshipforthefirsttimefromPendleton，thathewasstruckwithconfusion。
\"Butwhatdoyousupposeitwasintendedfor?\"hesaidatlast，vaguely。\"Itwascertainly\'YerbaBuena\'intheTrust。Atleast，Isupposeso，\"hecorrectedhimselfhurriedly。
\"Itisonlyasupposition，\"shesaidquietly，\"foryouknowitcannotbeproved。TheTrustwasneverrecorded，andtheonlycopycouldnotbefoundamongMr。Hammersley\'spapers。Itisonlypartofthename，ofwhichthefirstislost。\"
\"Partofthename?\"repeatedPaul，uneasily。
\"Partofit。ItisacorruptionofdelaYerbaBuena，——oftheYerbaBuena，——andreferstotheislandofYerbaBuenainthebay，andnottotheplant。Thatislandwaspartofthepropertyofmyfamily——theArguellos——youwillfinditsorecordedintheSpanishgrants。MynameisArguellodelaYerbaBuena。\"
Itisimpossibletodescribethetimidyettriumphant，thehalf-
appealingyetcomplacent，convictionofthegirl\'sutterance。A
momentbefore，Paulwouldhavebelieveditimpossibleforhimtohavekepthisgravityandhisrespectforhiscompanionunderthisegregiousillusion。Buthekeptboth。Forasuddenconvictionthatshesuspectedthetruth，andhadtakenthisaudaciousandoriginalplanofcrushingit，overpoweredallothersense。TheArguellos，itflasheduponhim，wereanoldSpanishfamily，formerownersofYerbaBuenaIsland，whohadinthelastyearsbecomeextinct。TherehadbeenastorythatoneofthemhadelopedwithanAmericanshipcaptain\'swifeatMonterey。ThelegendaryhistoryofearlySpanishCaliforniawasfilledwithmoreremarkableincidents，corroboratedwithlittledifficultyfromSpanishauthorities，who，itwasalleged，lentthemselvesreadilytoanyfabricationorforgery。Therewasnoracialpride:onthecontrary，theyhadshownaneageralacritytoallythemselveswiththeirconquerors。ThefriendsoftheArguelloswouldbeproudtorecognizeandrememberintheAmericanheiressthedescendantoftheircountrymen。Allthispassedrapidlythroughhismindafterthefirstmomentofsurprise；allthismusthavebeenthedeliberatereasoningofthisgirlofseventeen，whosedarkeyeswerebentuponhim。Whethershewasseekingcorroborationorcomplicityhecouldnottell。
\"Haveyoufoundthisoutyourself?\"heasked，afterapause。
\"Yes。OneofmyfriendsattheconventwasJositaCastro；sheknewallthehistoryoftheArguellos。Sheisperfectlysatisfied。\"
ForaninstantPaulwonderedifitwasajointconceptionofthetwoschoolgirls。But，onreflection，hewaspersuadedthatYerbawouldcommitherselftonoaccomplice——ofherownsex。Shemighthavedominatedthegirl，andwouldmakeherafirmpartisan，whilethegirlwouldbeconvincedofitherself，andbelieveherselfafreeagent。Hehadhadsuchexperiencewithmenhimself。
\"Butwhyhaveyounotspokenofitbefore——andtoColonelPendleton?\"
\"HedidnotchoosetotellME，\"saidYerba，withfemininedexterity。\"IhavepreferredtokeepitmyselfasecrettillIamofage。\"
\"WhenColonelPendletonandsomeoftheothertrusteeshavenorighttosayanything，\"thoughtPaulquickly。Shehadevidentlytrustedhim。Yet，fascinatedashehadbeenbyheraudacity，hedidnotknowwhethertobepleased，orthereverse。HewouldhavepreferredtobeplacedonanequalfootingwithJositaCastro。Sheanticipatedhisthoughtsbysaying，withhalf-raisedeyelids:——
\"WhatdoYOUthinkofit?\"
\"ItseemstobesonaturalandobviousanexplanationofthemysterythatIonlywonderitwasnotthoughtofbefore，\"saidPaul，withthatperfectsinceritythatmadehissympathysoeffective。
\"Yousee，\"——stillunderherprettyeyelids，andthetenderpromiseofasmilepartingherlittlemouth，——\"I\'mbelievingthatyoutellthetruthwhenyousayyoudon\'tknowanythingaboutit。\"
ItwasadesperatemomentwithPaul，buthissympatheticinstincts，andpossiblyhisluck，triumphed。Hismomentaryhesitationeasilysimulatedthecautionofaconscientiousman；hiskniteyebrowsandbrighteyes，loweredinaneffortofmemory，didtherest。\"I
rememberitallsoindistinctly，\"hesaid，withliteraltruthfulness；\"therewasaveiledladypresent，tallanddark，towhomMayorHammersleyandthecolonelshowedasingular，and，itstruckme，asanalmostsuperstitious，respect。Iremembernow，distinctly，Iwasimpressedwiththereverentialwaytheybothaccompaniedhertothedoorattheendoftheinterview。\"Heraisedhiseyesslightly；theyounggirl\'sredlipswereparted；
thatilluminationoftheskin，whichwashernearestapproachtocolor，hadquitetransfiguredherface。Hefelt，suddenly，thatshebelievedit，yethehadnosenseofremorse。Hehalfbelievedithimself；atleast，herememberedthenobilityofthemother\'sself-renunciationanditseffectuponthetwomen。Whyshouldnotthedaughterpreservethistruthfulpictureofhermother\'smomentaryexaltation?Whichwasthemosttruthful——that，orthedegradingfacts?\"Youspeakofasecret，\"headded。\"IcanrememberlittlemorethanthattheMayoraskedmetoforgetfromthatmomentthewholeoccurrence。IdidnotknowatthetimehowcompletelyIshouldfulfillhisrequest。Youmustremember，MissYerba，asyourLadySuperiorhas，thatIwasabsurdlyyoungatthetime。Idon\'tknowbutthatImayhavethought，inmyyouthfulinexperience，thatthissortofthingwasofcommonoccurrence。
Andthen，Ihadmyownfuturetomake——andyouthisbrutallyselfish。IwasquitefriendlessandunknownwhenIleftSanFranciscoforthemines，atthetimeyouenteredtheconventasYerbaBuena。\"
Shesmiled，andmadeaslightimpulsivegesture，asifshewouldhavedrawnnearertohim，butcheckedherself，stillsmiling，andwithoutembarrassment。Itmayhavebeenamovementofyouthfulcamaraderie，andthatoccasionalmaternalratherthansisterlyinstinctwhichsometimesinfluencesayounggirl\'smasculinefriendship，andelevatesthefavoredfriendtotheplaneofthedollshehasoutgrown。Asheturnedtowardsher，however，sherose，shookoutheryellowdress，andsaidwithprettypetulance:——
\"Thenyoumustgososoon——andthisyourfirstandlastvisitasmyguardian?\"
\"NoonecouldregretthatmorethanI，\"lookingatherwithundefinedmeaning。
\"Yes，\"shesaid，withatantalizingcoquetrythatmighthavesuggestedanunderlyingseriousness。\"IthinkyouHAVElostagooddeal。Perhaps，sohaveI。Wemighthavebeengoodfriendsinalltheseyears。Butthatispast。\"
\"Why?Surely，Ihope，myshortcomingswithMissYerbaBuenawillnotberememberedbyMissArguello?\"sailPaul，earnestly。
\"Ah!SHEmaybeaverydifferentperson。\"
\"Ihopenot，\"saidtheyoungman，warmly。\"ButHOWdifferent?\"
\"Well，shemaynotputherselfinthewayofreceivingsuchpoint-
blankcomplimentsasthat，\"saidtheyounggirl，demurely。
\"Notfromherguardian?\"
\"Shewillhavenoguardianthen。\"Shesaidthisgravely，butalmostatthesamemomentturnedandsatdownagain，throwingherlinkedhandsoverherknee，andlookedathimmischievously。\"Youseewhatyouhavelost，sir。\"
\"Isee，\"saidPaul，butwithallthegravitythatshehaddropped。
\"No；butyoudon\'tseeall。Ihadnobrother——nofriend。Youmighthavebeenboth。Youmighthavemademewhatyouliked。Youmighthaveeducatedmefarbetterthantheseteachers，or，atleastgivenmesomeprideinmystudies。ThereweresomanythingsI
wantedtoknowthattheycouldn\'tteachme；somanytimesIwantedadvicefromsomeonethatIcouldtrust。ColonelPendletonwasverygoodtomewhenhecame；healwaystreatedmelikeaprincessevenwhenIworeshortfrocks。Itwashismannerthatfirstmademethinkheknewmyfamily；butIneverfeltasifIcouldtellhimanything，andIdon\'tthink，withallhischivalrousrespect，heeverunderstoodme。Astotheothers——theMayors——well，youmayjudgefromMr。Henderson。ItisawonderthatIdidnotrunawayordosomethingdesperate。Now，areyounotaLITTLEsorry?\"
Hervoice，whichhadasmanycapriciouschangesashermanner，hadbeenalternatelycoquettish，petulant，andserious，hadnowbecomeplayfulagain。But，liketherestofhersex，shewasevidentlymorealerttohersurroundingsatsuchamomentthanhercompanion，forbeforehecouldmakeanyreply，shesaid，withoutapparentlylooking，\"Butthereisadeputationcomingforyou，Mr。Hathaway。
Yousee，thecaseishopeless。Youneverwouldbeabletogivetoonewhatisclaimedbythemany。\"
Paulglanceddowntherose-alley，andsawthatthedeputationinquestionwascomposedoftheMayor，Mr。Woods，athin，delicate-