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-