cametoNewYorkandenteredtheserviceoftheLordandthebondsoftheChurch，HenryPendleton，asMrs。Argalls，andhaveremainedsoeversince。"
　　"ButyouwouldnotobjecttoYerbaknowingthatyoulived，andrightlyboreherfather'sname?"saidPendletoneagerly。
　　Thewomanlookedathimwithcompressedlips。"Ishould。Ihaveburiedallmypast，andallitsconsequences。Letmenotseektoreopenitorrecallthem。"
　　"Butifyouknewthatshewasasproudasyourself，andthatthisveryuncertaintyastohernameandparentage，althoughshehasneverknownthewholetruth，keptherfromtakingthenameandbecomingthewifeofamanwhomsheloves?"
　　"Whomsheloves!"
　　"Yes；oneofherguardians——Hathaway——towhomyouintrustedherwhenshewasachild。"
　　"PaulHathaway——butHEknewit。"
　　"Yes。ButSHEdoesnotknowhedoes。Hehaskeptthesecretfaithfully，evenwhensherefusedhim。"
　　Shewassilentforamoment，andthensaid，——
　　"Sobeit。Iconsent。"
　　"Andyou'llwritetoher?"saidthecoloneleagerly。
　　"No。ButYOUmay，andifyouwantthemIwillfurnishyouwithsuchproofsasyoumayrequire。"
　　"Thankyou。"Heheldouthishandwithsuchahappyyetchildishgratitudeuponhiswornfacethatherowntrembledslightlyasshetookit。"Good-by!"
　　"Ishallseeyousoon，"shesaid。
　　"Ishallbehere，"hesaidgrimly。
　　"Ithinknot，"shereturned，withthefirstrelaxationofhersmilelessface，andmovedaway。
　　Asshepassedoutsheaskedtoseethehousesurgeon。Howsoondidhethinkthepatientshehadbeenconversingwithcouldberemovedfromthehospitalwithsafety?DidMrs。Argallsmean"far?"Mrs。
　　ArgallsmeantasfarasTHAT——tenderinghercardandeminentlyrespectableaddress。Ah!——perhapsinaweek。Notbefore?Perhapsbefore，unlesscomplicationsensued；thepatienthadbeenmuchrundownphysically，though，asMrs。Argallshadprobablynoticed，hewassingularlystronginnervouswillforce。Mrs。ArgallsHAD
　　noticedit，andconsidereditanextraordinarycaseofconviction——
　　worthyoftheclosestwatchingandcare。Whenhewasabletobemovedshewouldsendherowncarriageandherownphysiciantosuperintendhistransfer。Inthemeantimehewastowantfornothing。Certainly，hehadgivenverylittletrouble，and，infact，wantedverylittle。Justnowhehadonlyaskedforpaper，pens，andink。
　　CHAPTERVIII。
　　AsMrs。Argalls'scarriagerolledintoFifthAvenue，itforamomentnarrowlygrazedanothercarriage，loadedwithluggage，drivinguptoahotel。TheabstractedtravelerwithinitwasPaulHathaway，whohadreturnedfromEuropethatmorning。
　　Paulenteredthehotel，and，goingtotheregistermechanically，turneditsleavesforthepreviousarrivals，withthesamehopelesspatiencethathadforthelastsixweeksaccompaniedthishabitualpreliminaryperformanceonhisarrivalattheprincipalEuropeanhotels。ForhehadlostalltraceofYerba，Pendleton，Milly，andtheBrionesfromthedayoftheirdeparture。TheentirepartyseemedtohaveseparatedatBasle，and，inthateight-hours'starttheyhadofhim，tohavedisappearedtothefourcardinalpoints。
　　HehadlingeredafewdaysinLondontotransactsomebusiness；hewouldlingerafewdayslongerinNewYorkbeforereturningtoSanFrancisco。
　　Thedailypapersalreadycontainedhisnameinthelistofthesteamerpassengerswhoarrivedthatmorning。ItmightmeetHER
　　eye，althoughhehadbeenhauntedduringthevoyagebyaterriblefancythatshewasstillinEurope，andhadeitherhiddenherselfinsomeobscureprovincialtownwiththehalf-crazyPendleton，orhadenteredaconvent，oreven，inrecklessdespair，hadacceptedthenameandtitleofsomepennilessnobleman。Itwasthismiserabledoubtthathadmadehishomewardjourneyattimesseemlikeacrueldesertionofher，whileatothermomentstheconvictionthatMilly'sCalifornianrelativesmightgivehimsomeclewtoherwhereaboutsmadehimfeverishlyfearfulofdelayinganhouronhiswaytoSanFrancisco。HedidnotbelievethatshehadtoleratedthecompanyofBrionesasinglemomentafterthesceneattheBadHof，andyethehadnoconfidenceinthecolonel'sattitudetowardstheMexican。Hopelessofthefutureasherletterseemed，stillitsnaiveandtacitconfessionofherfeelingsatthemomentwasallthatsustainedhim。
　　Twodayspassed，andhestilllingeredaimlesslyinNewYork。IntwodaysmorethePanamasteamerwouldsail——yetinhishesitationhehadputoffsecuringhispassage。HevisitedtheofficesofthedifferentEuropeansteamerlines，andexaminedtherecentpassengerlists，buttherewasnorecordofanyoftheparty。Whatmadehisquestseemthemorehopelesswashisbeliefthat，afterBriones'
　　revelation，shehadcastoffthenameofArguelloandtakensomeother。ShemightevenbeinNewYorkunderthatnewnamenow。
　　Onthemorningofthethirdday，amonghisletterswasonethatborethepostmarkofanotedsuburbansettlementofwealthyvilla-
　　ownersontheHudsonRiver。ItwasfromMillyWoods，statingthatherfatherhadreadofhisarrivalinthepapers，andbeggedhewoulddineandstaythenextnightwiththemat"UnderCliff，"ifhe"stillhadanyinterestinthefortunesofoldfriends。Ofcourse，"addedtheperenniallyincoherentMilly，"ifitboresyouwesha'n'texpectyou。"ThequickcolorcametoPaul'scareworncheek。Hetelegraphedassent，andatsunsetthatafternoonsteppedoffthetrainatalittleprivatewoodlandstation——soabnormallyrusticandpicturesqueinitsbrown-barkwallscoveredwithscarletVirginiacreepersthatitlookedlikeatheatricalerection。
　　Mr。Woods'sstationwagonwasinwaiting，butPaul，handingthedriverhisvalise，andascertainingthegeneraldirectionofthehouse，andthatitwasnotfardistant，toldhimtogoonandhewouldfollowafoot。Thetremorofvagueanticipationhadalreadycomeuponhim；somethingthatheknewnotwhetherhefearedorlongedfor，onlythatitwasinevitable，hadbeguntopossesshim。
　　Hewouldsoonrecoverhimselfintheflaringgloryofthiswoodland，andtheinvigorationofthishaleOctoberair。
　　Itwasabeautifulandbrilliantsunset，yetnotsobeautifulandbrilliantbutthatthewholeopulentforestaroundhimseemedtochallengeandrepeatitsrichestaswellasitsmostdelicatedyes。
　　Thereddeningwest，seenthroughanopeningofscarletmaples，wasnolongerred；thegoldengloryofthesun，sinkingoverapromontoryofgleamingyellowsumachthatjuttedoutintothenobleriver，wasshornofitsintenseradiance；attimesinthethickestwoodsheseemedsurroundedbyayellownimbus；attimessoluminouswastheglowofthesetranslucentleavesthatthepositionofthesunitselfseemedchanged，ortheshadowscastindefianceofitsglory。Ashewalkedon，longreachesofthelordlyplacidstreamathissidewerevisible，asfarastheterracesoftheoppositeshore，liftedonbasalticcolumns，themselvesstreakedandveinedwithgoldandfire。Paulhadseennothinglikethissincehisboyhood；foraninstantthegreatheroicsoftheSierranlandscapewereforgotteninthismagnificentharlequinade。
　　Adimfootpathcrossedtheroadinthedirectionofthehouse，whichforthelastfewmomentshadbeenslowlyetchingitselfasasoftvignetteinatintedaureoleofwalnutandmapleuponthesteelblueoftheriver。Hewashesitatingwhethertotakethisshortcutorcontinueonbytheroad，whenheheardtherustlingofquickfootstepsamongthefallenleavesofthevariegatedthicketthroughwhichitstole。Hestoppedshort，theleafyscreenshiveredandparted，andatallgracefulfigure，likeadrapedandhiddenColumbine，burstthroughitspaintedfoliage。ItwasYerba!
　　Sheranquicklytowardshim，withpartedlips，shiningeyes，andafewscarletleavesclingingtothestuffofherworsteddressinawaythatrecalledthepinkpetalsofRosario。
　　"WhenIsawyouwerenotinthewagonandknewyouwerewalkingI
　　slippedouttointerceptyou，asIhadsomethingtotellyoubeforeyousawtheothers。Ithoughtyouwouldn'tmind。"Shestopped，andsuddenlyhesitated。
　　Whatwasthisnewstrangeshynessthatseemedtodroophereyelids，herproudhead，andeventheslimhandthathadbeensoimpulsivelyandfranklyoutstretchedtowardshim?Andhe——Paul——whatwashedoing?Wherewasthispassionateoutburstthathadfilledhisheartfornightsanddays?Wherethiseagertumultuousquestioningthathisfeverishlipshadrehearsedhourbyhour?Wherethisdesperatecouragethatwouldsweepthewholeworldawayifitstoodbetweenthem?Where，indeed?Hewasstandingonlyafewfeetfromher——cold，silent，andtremulous!
　　Shedrewbackastep，liftedherheadwithaquicktossthatseemedtocondensethemoistureinhershiningeyes，andsentwhatmighthavebeenaglitteringdew-dropflyingintotheloosedtendrilsofherhair。Calmanderectagain，sheputherlittlehandtoherjacketpocket。
　　"IonlywantedyoutoreadaletterIgotyesterday，"shesaid，takingoutanenvelope。
　　Thespellwasbroken。Paulcaughteagerlyatthehandthatheldtheletter，andwouldhavedrawnhertohim；butsheputhimasidegravelybutsweetly。
　　"Readthatletter!"
　　"TellmeofYOURSELFfirst!"hebrokeoutpassionately。"Whyyoufledfromme，andwhyInowfindyouhere，bythemerestchance，withoutawordofsummonsfromyourself，Yerba?Tellmewhoiswithyou?Areyoufreeandyourownmistress——freetoactforyourselfandme?Speak，darling——don'tbecruel!SincethatnightIhavelongedforyou，soughtforyou，andsufferedforyoueverydayandhour。TellmeifIfindyouthesameYerbawhowrote"——
　　"Readthatletter!"
　　"Icarefornonebuttheoneyouleftme。Ihavereadandrereadit，Yerba——carrieditalwayswithme。See!Ihaveithere!"Hewasintheactofwithdrawingitfromhisbreast-pocket，whensheputupherhandpiteously。
　　"Please，Paul，please——readthisletterfirst!"
　　Therewassomethinginhernewsupplicatinggrace，stillretainingthefaintestsuggestionofheroldgirlisharchness，thatstruckhim。Hetooktheletterandopenedit。ItwasfromColonelPendleton。
　　Plainly，concisely，andformally，withoutgivingthenameofhisauthorityorsuggestinghisinterviewwithMrs。Argalls，hehadinformedYerbathathehaddocumentarytestimonythatshewasthedaughterofthelateJosedeArguello，andlegallyentitledtobearhisname。Acopyoftheinstructionsgiventohiswife，recognizingYerbaBuena，thewardoftheSanFranciscoTrust，ashischildandhers，andleavingtothemotherthechoiceofmakingitknowntoherandothers，wasinclosed。
　　PaulturnedanunchangedfaceuponYerba，whowaswatchinghimeagerly，uneasily，almostbreathlessly。
　　"AndyouthinkthisconcernsME!"hesaidbitterly。"Youthinkonlyofthis，whenIspeakofthepreciousletterthatbademehope，andbroughtmetoyou?"
　　"Paul，"saidthegirl，withwonderingeyesandhesitatinglips；"doyoumeantosaythat——that——thisis——nothingtoyou?"
　　"Yes——butforgiveme，darling!"hebrokeoutagain，withasuddenvagueremorsefulness，asheoncemoresoughtherelusivehand。"I
　　amabrute——anegotist!IforgotthatitmightbesomethingtoYOU。"
　　"Paul，"continuedthegirl，hervoicequiveringwithastrangejoy，"doyousaythatyou——YOUyourself，carenothingforthis?"
　　"Nothing，"heanswered，gazingathertransfiguredfacewithadmiringwonder。
　　"And"——moretimidly，asafaintaurorakindledinherchecks——"thatyoudon'tcare——that——that——IamcomingtoyouWITHANAME，togiveyouin——exchange?"
　　Hestarted。
　　"Yerba，youarenotmockingme?Youwillbemywife?"
　　Shesmiled，yetmovingsoftlybackwardswiththegravestatelinessofavanishingyetbeckoninggoddess，untilshereachedthesumach-
　　bushfromwhichshehademerged。Hefollowed。Anotherbackwardstep，andityieldedtoletherthrough；butevenasitdidsoshecaughthiminherarms，andforasinglemomentitcloseduponthemboth，andhidtheminitsglory。Astilllingeringsong-bird，possiblyconvincedthathehadmistakentheseason，andthatspringhadreallycome，flewoutwithalittlecrytocarrythemessagesouth；buteventhenPaulandYerbaemergedwithsuchinnocent，childlikegravity，and，sidebyside，walkedsocomposedlytowardsthehouse，thathethoughtbetterofit。
　　CHAPTERIX。
　　ItwasonlytheTHIRDtimetheyhadevermet——didPaulconsiderthatwhenhethoughthercold?DidheknownowwhyshehadnotunderstoodhimatRosario?Didheunderstandnowhowcalculatingandselfishhehadseemedtoherthatnight?Couldhelookherinthefacenow——no，hemustbequiet——theyweresonearthehouse，andeverybodycouldseethem!——andsaythathehadeverbelievedhercapableofmakingupthatstoryoftheArguellos?Couldhenothaveguessedthatshehadsomememoryofthatnameinherchildishrecollections，howorwheresheknewnot?Wasitstrangethatadaughtershouldhaveaninstinctofherfather?Wasitkindtohertoknowallthishimselfandyetrevealnothing?Becausehermotherandfatherhadquarreled，andhermotherhadrunawaywithsomebodyandleftherawardtostrangers——wasthattobeconcealedfromher，andsheleftwithoutaname?This，andmuchmore，tenderlyreproachful，bewilderingandsweetlyillogical，yetinexpressiblydeartoPaul，astheywalkedoninthegloaming。
　　Moretothepurpose，however，thefactthatBriones，asfarassheknew，didnotknowhermother，andneverbeforethenightatStrudleBadhadeverspokenofher。Stillmoretothepurpose，thathehaddisappearedafteraninterviewwiththecolonelthatnight，andthatshebelievedalwaysthatthecolonelhadboughthimoff。ItwasnotwithHERmoney。Shehadsometimesthoughtthatthecolonelandhewereinconfidence，andthatwaswhyshehadlatelydistrustedPendleton。ButshehadrefusedtotakethenameofArguelloagainafterthatscene，andhadcalledherselfonlybythenamehehadgivenher——wouldheforgiveherforeverspeakingofitasshehad?——YerbaBuena。Butonshipboard，atMilly'ssuggestion，andtokeepawayfromBriones，hernamehadappearedonthepassengerlistasMissGood，andtheyhadcome，nottoNewYork，butBoston。
　　ItwaspossiblethatthecolonelhadextractedtheinformationhesentherFROMBriones。TheyhadpartedfromPendletoninLondon，ashewasgrumpyandqueer，and，asMillythought，becomingverymiserlyandavariciousashegrewolder，forhewasalwaysquarrelingoverthehotelbills。ButhehadMrs。Woods'sNewYorkaddressatUnderCliff，and，ofcourse，guessedwhereshewas。
　　Therewasnoaddressonhisletter:hehadsaidhewouldwriteagain。
　　Thusmuchuntiltheyreachedthestepsoftheveranda，andMilly，flyingdown，wasostentatiouslyoverwhelmedwiththeunexpectedappearanceofMr。PaulHathawayandYerba，whomshehadbeenwatchingfromthewindowforthelasttenminutes。ThentheappearanceofMr。Woods，Californianandreminiscent，andMrs。
　　Woods，metropolitan，languid，andforgetful，andthesuddenandformalretirementofthegirls。AnarchandindefinablemysteryintheairwheneverPaulandYerbaappearedtogether——ofwhicheventheservantswerediscreetlyconscious。
　　AtdinnerMr。WoodsagainbecameretrospectiveandCalifornian，anddweltuponthechangeshehadnoticed。Itappearedtheoldpioneershadinfewcasesattainedacomfortablefortunefortheiroldage。"Iknow，"headded，"thatyourfriendColonelPendletonhasdroppedagooddealofmoneyoverinEurope。Somebodytoldmethatheactuallywasreducedtotakeasteeragepassagehome。Itlooksasifhemightgamble——it'sanoldCaliforniancomplaint。"
　　AsPaul，whohadbecomesuddenlygraveagain，didnotspeak，Mrs。
　　Woodsremindedthemthatshehadalwaysdoubtedthecolonel'smoralprinciples。Oldashewas，hehadnevergotoverthatfreedomoflifeandsocialopinionwhichhehadimbibedinearlydays。Forherpart，shewasverygladhehadnotreturnedfromEuropewiththegirls，though，ofcourse，thepresenceofDonCaesarandhissisterduringtheirEuropeansojournwasacorrective。AsPaul'sfacegrewdarkerduringthislanguidcriticism，Yerba，whohadbeenwatchingitwithanewandabsorbingsympathy，seizedthefirstmomentwhentheyleftthetabletointerrogatehimwithheartbreakingeyes。
　　"Youdon'tthink，Paul，thatthecolonelisreallypoor?"
　　"Godonlyknows，"saidPaul。"Itrembletothinkhowthatscoundrelmayhavebledhim。"
　　"Andallforme!Paul，dear，youknowyouweresayinginthewoodsthatyouwouldnever，nevertouchmymoney。What"——exultingly——"ifwegaveittohim?"
　　WhatanswerPaulmadedidnottranspire，foritseemedtohavebeenindicatedbyanintervalofprofoundsilence。
　　Butthenextmorning，asheandMr。Woodswereclosetedinthelibrary，Yerbabrokeinuponthemwithapatheticfaceandatelegraminherhand。"Oh，Paul——Mr。Hathaway——IT'STRUE!"
　　Paulseizedthetelegramquickly:ithadnosignature，onlytheline:"ColonelPendletonisdangerouslyillatSt。John'sHospital。"
　　"Imustgoatonce，"saidPaul，rising。
　　"Oh，Paul"——imploringly——"letmegowithyou!Ishouldneverforgivemyselfif——ANDIT'SADDRESSEDTOME，andwhatwouldhethinkifIdidn'tcome?"
　　Paulhesitated。"Mrs。WoodswillletMillygowithusandshecanstayatthehotel。Sayyes，"shecontinued，seekinghiseyeseagerly。
　　Heconsented，andinhalfanhourtheywereinthetrainforNewYork。LeavingMillyatthehotel，ostensiblyindeferencetotheWoods'sprejudices，butreallytosavethepresenceofathirdpartyatthismeeting，PauldrovewithYerbarapidlytothehospital。Theywereadmittedtoananteroom。Thehousesurgeonreceivedthemrespectfully，butdoubtingly。Thepatientwasalittlebetterthismorning，butveryweak。Therewasaladynowwithhim——amemberofareligiousandcharitableguild，whohadtakenthegreatestinterestinhim——indeed，shehadwishedtotakehimtoherownhome——buthehaddeclinedatfirst，andnowhewastooweaktoberemoved。
　　"ButIreceivedthistelegram:itmusthavebeensentathisrequest，"protestedYerba。
　　Thehousesurgeonlookedatthebeautifulface。Hewasmortal。Hewouldseeifthepatientwasabletostandanotherinterview；
　　possiblytheregularvisitormightwithdraw。
　　Whenhehadgone，anattendantvolunteeredtheinformationthattheoldgentlemanwasperhapsalittleexcitedattimes。Hewasawonderfulman；hehadseenagreatdeal；hetalkedmuchofCaliforniaandtheearlydays；hewasveryinteresting。Ah，itwouldbeallrightnowifthedoctorfoundhimwellenough，fortheladywasalreadygoing——thatwasshe，comingthroughthehall。
　　Shecameslowlytowardsthem——erect，gray，grim——astillhandsomeapparition。Paulstarted。Tohishorror，Yerbaranimpulsivelyforward，andsaideagerly:"Ishebetter?Canheseeusnow?"
　　Thewomanhaltedaninstant，seemedtogathertheprayer-bookandreticuleshewascarryingclosertoherbreast，butwasotherwiseunchanged。ReplyingtoPaulratherthantheyounggirl，shesaidrigidly:"ThepatientisabletoseeMr。HathawayandMissYerbaBuena，"andpassedslowlyon。Butasshereachedthedoorsheunloosedherblackmourningveilfromherbonnet，andseemedtodropitacrossherfacewiththegesturethatPaulrememberedshehadusedtwelveyearsago。
　　"Shefrightensme!"saidYerba，turningasuddenlystartledfaceonPaul。"Oh，Paul，Ihopeitisn'tanomen，butshelookedlikesomeonefromthegrave!"
　　"Hush!"saidPaul，turningawayafacethatwaswhiterthanherown。"Theyarecomingnow。"
　　Thehousesurgeonhadreturnedatriflegraver。Theymightseehimnow，buttheymustbewarnedthathewanderedattimesalittle；
　　and，ifhemightsuggest，ifitwasanythingoffamilyimportance，theyhadbettermakethemostoftheirtimeandhislucidintervals。Perhapsiftheywereoldfriends——VERYoldfriends——hewouldrecognizethem。Hewaswanderingmuchinthepast——alwaysinthepast。
　　Theyfoundhimintheendoftheward，butsocarefullyprotectedandpartitionedoffbyscreensthatthespacearoundhiscothadalltheprivacyandsecurityofanapartment。Hewasverymuchchanged；theywouldscarcelyhaveknownhim，butforthedelicatelycurvedaquilineprofileandthelongwhitemoustache——nowsofaintandetherealizedastoseemamerespiritwingthatrestedonhispillow。Totheirsurpriseheopenedhiseyeswithasmileofperfectrecognition，and，withthinfingersbeyondthecoverlid，beckonedtothemtoapproach。YettherewasstillashadowofhisoldreserveinhisreceptionofPaul，and，althoughonehandinterlockedthefingersofYerba——whohadatfirstrushedimpulsivelyforwardandfallenonherkneesbesidethebed——andtheothersoftlyplaceditselfuponherhead，hiseyeswerefixedupontheyoungman'swiththeceremoniousnessduetoastranger。
　　"Iamgladtosee，sir，"hebeganinaslow，broken，butperfectlyaudiblevoice，"thatnowyouare——satisfiedwiththeright——ofthisyounglady——tobearthenameof——Arguello——andherrelationship——
　　sir——tooneoftheoldest"——
　　"But，mydearoldfriend，"brokeoutPaul，earnestly，"INEVER
　　caredforthat——Ibegyoutobelieve"——
　　"Henever——never——caredforit——dear，dearcolonel，"sobbedYerba，passionately:"itwasallmyfault——hethoughtonlyofme——youwronghim!"
　　"Ithinkotherwise，"saidthecolonel，withgrimandrelentlessdeliberation。"Ihaveavivid——impression——sir——ofan——interviewI
　　hadwithyou——attheSt。Charles——whereyousaid"——Hewassilentforamoment，andtheninaquitedifferentvoicecalledfaintly——
　　"George!"
　　PaulandYerbaglancedquicklyateachother。
　　"George，setoutsomerefreshmentfortheHonorablePaulHathaway。
　　Thebest，sir——youunderstand……Agoodnigger，sir——agoodboy；andheneverleavesme，sir。Only，bygad!sir，hewillstarvehimselfandhisfamilytobewithme。IbroughthimwithmetoCaliforniaawaybackinthefallof'forty-nine。Thoseweretheearlydays，sir——theearlydays。"
　　Hisheadhadfallenbackquiteeasilyonthepillownow；butaslightfilmseemedtobeclosingoverhisdarkeyes，liketheinnerlidofaneaglewhenitgazesuponthesun。
　　"Theyweretheolddays，sir——thedaysofMen——whenaman'sWORD
　　wasenoughforanything，andhistrigger-fingersettledanydoubt。
　　WhentheTrustthathetookfromMan，Woman，orChildwasneverbroken。Whenthetide，sir，thatsweptthroughtheGoldenGatecameupasfarasMontgomeryStreet。"
　　Hedidnotspeakagain。ButtheywhostoodbesidehimknewthatthetidehadoncemorecomeuptoMontgomeryStreet，andwascarryingHarryPendletonawaywithit。