lookingwoman，——evidentlyMrs。Woods，——andMilly。Thelattermanagedtoreachthesummer-housefirst，withapparentlyyouthfulalacrity，butreallytoexchange，inasingleglance，somemysteriousfemininesignalwithYerba。Thenshesaidwithbreathlessinfelicity:——
\"Beforeyoutwogetboredwitheachothernow，Imusttellyouthere\'sachanceofyouhavingmoretime。AuntyhaspromisedtosendoffanoteexcusingyoutotheReverendMother，ifshecanpersuadeMr。Hathawaytostayoverto-night。Butheretheyare。
[ToYerba]Auntyismostanxious，andwon\'thearofhisgoing。\"
Indeed，itseemedasifMrs。Woodswas，afterarefinedfashion，mostconcernedthatadistinguishedvisitorlikeMr。Hathawayshouldhavetouseherhouseasamereaccidentalmeeting-placewithhisward，withoutdeigningtoacceptherhospitality。ShewasreinforcedbyMr。Woods，whoenunciatedthesameideawithmoremasculinevigor；andbytheMayor，whoexpressedhisconvictionthataslightofthiskindtoRosariowouldbefeltintheSantaClaravalley。\"Afterdinner，mydearHathaway，\"concludedMr。
Woods，\"afewofourneighborsmaydropin，whowouldbegladtoshakeyoubythehand——noformalmeeting，myboy——but，hangit!
THEYexpectit。\"
PaullookedaroundforYerba。Therewasreallynoreasonwhyheshouldn\'taccept，althoughanhouragotheideahadneverenteredhismind。Yet，ifhedid，hewouldlikethegirltoknowthatitwasforHERsake。Unfortunately，farfromexhibitinganyconcerninthematter，sheseemedtobepreoccupiedwithMilly，andonlythecharmingbackofherheadwasvisiblebehindMrs。Woods。Heaccepted，however，withahesitationthattooksomeofthegraciousnessfromhisyielding，andasensethathewasgivingastrangeimportancetoatrivialcircumstance。
Thenecessityofattachinghimselftohishostess，andmakingamoreextendedtourofthegrounds，forawhiledivertedhimfromanuneasyconsiderationofhispastinterview。Mrs。WoodshadknownYerbathroughtheschoolfriendshipofMilly，and，asfarasthereligiousrulesoftheconventwouldallow，hadalwaysbeendelightedtoshowheranyhospitality。Shewasabeautifulgirl——
didnotMr。Hathawaythinkso?——andagirlofgreatcharacter。Itwasapity，ofcourse，thatshehadneverknownamother\'scare，andthatthepresentroutineofaboarding-schoolhadusurpedthetenderinfluencesofhome。Shebelieved，too，thatthesingularrotationofguardianshiphadleftthegirlpracticallywithoutacounselingfriendtorelyupon，except，perhaps，ColonelPendleton；
andwhileshe，Mrs。Woods，didnotforamomentdoubtthatthecolonelmightbeagoodfriendandapleasantcompanionofMEN，reallyhe，Mr。Hathaway，mustadmitthat，withhisreputationandhabits，hewashardlyafitassociateforayounglady。Indeed，Mr。WoodswouldhaveneverallowedMillytoinviteYerbahereifColonelPendletonwastohavebeenherescort。Ofcourse，thepoorgirlcouldnotchooseherownguardian，butMr。WoodssaidHEhadarighttochoosewhoshouldbehisniece\'scompany。PerhapsMr。
Woodswasprejudiced，——mostmenwere，——yetsurelyMr。Hathaway，althoughaloyalfriendofColonelPendleton\'s，mustadmitthatwhenitwasanopenscandalthatthecolonelhadfoughtaduelaboutanotoriouslycommonwoman，andevenblasphemouslydefendedherbeforeapartyofgentlemen，itwashightime，asMr。Woodssaid，thatheshouldberemandedtotheircompanyexclusively。No；
Mrs。Woodscouldnotadmitthatthiswasowingtotheinjusticeofherownsex!Menarereallytheoneswhomakethefussoverthosethings，justasthey，asMr。Hathawaywellknew，madethelaws!
No；itwasagreatpity，assheandherhusbandhadjustagreed，thatMr。Hathaway，ofalltheguardians，couldnothavebeenalwaysthehelpandcounselor——infact，theelderbrother——ofpoorYerba!
Paulwasconsciousthathewincedslightly，consistentlyandconscientiously，attherecollectionofcertainpassagesofhisyouth；inconsistentlyandmeanly，atthissuggestionofajointrelationshipwithYerba\'smother。
\"Ithink，too，\"continuedMrs。Woods，\"shehasworriedfoolishlyaboutthisridiculousmysteryofherparentage——asifitcouldmaketheslightestdifferencetoagirlwithaquarterofamillion，orasifthatdidn\'tshowquiteconclusivelythatsheWASsomebody!\"
\"Certainly，\"saidPaul，quickly，withareliefthatheneverthelessfeltwasridiculous。
\"And，ofcourse，Idaresayitwillallcomeoutwhensheisofage。Isupposeyouknowifanyofthefamilyarestillliving?\"
\"Ireallydonot。\"
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"saidMrs。Woods，withasmile。\"Iforgotit\'saprofoundsecretuntilthen。Buthereweareatthehouse；Iseethegirlshavewalkedovertoourneighbors\'。Perhapsyouwouldliketohaveafewmomentstoyourselfbeforeyoudressfordinner，andyourportmanteau，whichhasbeensentfor，comesfromyourhotel。Youmustbetiredofseeingsomanypeople。\"
Paulwasgladtoacceptanyexcuseforbeingalone，and，thankinghishostess，followedaservanttohisroom——alow-ceilingedbutluxuriouslyfurnishedapartmentonthefirstfloor。Herehethrewhimselfonacushionedloungethatfilledtheangleofthedeepembrasure——thethicknessoftheoldadobewalls——thatformedapartofthewooden-latticedwindow。ACapejessamineclimbingbesideitfilledtheroomwithitssubtle，intoxicatingperfume。Itwassostrong，andhefelthimselfsoirresistiblyoverpoweredandimpelledtowardsamerelyidlereverie，that，inordertothinkmoreclearlyandshutoutsomestrangeandunreasoningenthrallmentofhissenses，heroseandsharplyclosedthewindow。Thenhesatdownandreflected。
Whatwashedoinghere?andwhatwasthemeaningofallthis?Hehadcomesimplytofulfilladutytohispast，andpleaseahelplessandmisunderstoodoldacquaintance。Hehadperformedthatduty。Buthehadincidentallylearnedacertainfactthatmightbeimportanttothisfriend，andclearlyhisdutywassimplytogobackandreportit。Hewouldgainnothingmoreinthewayofcorroborationofitbystayingnow，iffurthercorroborationwererequired。ColonelPendletonhadalreadybeenuselesslyandabsurdlyperplexedaboutthepossiblediscoveryofthegirl\'sparentage，anditseffectuponherfortunesandherself。Shehadjustsettledthatofherownaccord，and，withoutcommittingherselforothers，hadsuggestedareallysensibleplanbywhichalltroublewouldbeavoidedinfuture。Thatwasthecommon-sensewayoflookingatit。Hewouldlaytheplanbeforethecolonel，havehimjudgeofitsexpediencyanditsethics——andeventhequestionwhethershealreadyknewtherealtruth，orwasself-
deceived。Thatdone，hewouldreturntohisownaffairsinSacramento。Therewasnothingdifficultinthis，orthatneedworryhim，onlyhecouldhavedoneitjustaswellanhourago。
Heopenedthewindowagain。Thescentofthejessaminecameinasbefore，butmingledwiththecoolerbreathoftheroses。Therewasnothingintoxicatingorunrealinitnow；ratheritseemedagentlearomaticstimulant——ofthought。Longshadowsofunseenpoplarsbeyondbarredthegardenlanesandalleyswithbandsofblackandyellow。Aslantingpencilofsunshinethroughthetreeswasforamomentfocussedonabedofwaxencallasbeforeahedgeofceanothus，andstruckintodazzlingreliefthecoldwhitechalicesoftheflowersandthevividshininggreenoftheirbackground。
Presentlyitslidbeyondtoatinyfountain，beforeinvisible，andwroughtablindingmiracleoutofitsflashingandleapingspray。
Yetevenashegazedthefountainseemedtovanishslowly，thesunbeamslippedon，andbeyonditmovedtheshimmerofwhiteandyellowdresses。ItwasYerbaandMillyreturningtothehouse。
Well，hewouldnotinterrupthisreflectionsbyidlywatchingthem；
hewould，probably，seeagreatdealofYerbathatevening，andbythattimehewouldhavecometosomeconclusioninregardtoher。
Buthehadnottakenintoconsiderationhervoice，which，alwaysmusicalinitsSouthernintonationandquiteaudibleinthequietgarden，struckhimnowasbeingfullofjoyoussweetness。Well，shewascertainlyveryhappy——orverythoughtless。ShewasactuallyrompingwithMilly，andwasnowevidentlybeingchaseddowntherose-alleybythatvolatileyoungwoman。ThentheseswiftCamillasapparentlynearedthehouse，therewastherapidrustleofskirts，theskurryingoflittlefeetontheveranda，astumble，amouse-likeshriekfromMilly，andHERvoice，exhausted，dying，happy，brokenwithhalf-hushedlaughter，rosetohimonthebreathofthejessamineandrose。
SurelysheWASachild，and，ifachild，howhehadmisjudgedher!
Whatifallthathehadbelievedwasmaturedeliberationwasonlytheinnocentimaginingsofaromanticgirl，allthathehadtakenseriouslyonlyaschool-girl\'sfoolishdream!Insteadofcombatingit，insteadofreasoningwithher，insteadoftryingtointerestherinotherthings，hehadevenhelpedonherillusions。Hehadtreatedherasifthetaintofhermother\'sworldlinessandknowledgeofevilwasinherpureyoungflesh。Hehadrecognizedherasthedaughterofanadventuress，andnotashisward，appealingtohischivalrythroughherveryignorance——itmightbeherverychildishvanity。Hehadbroughttoaquestionoftenderandpatheticinterestonlyhisselfishopinionoftheworldandtheweaknessesofmankind。Thebloodcametohischeeks——withallhisexperiencedself-control，hehadnotlosttheyouthfultrickofblushing——andheturnedawayfromthewindowasifithadbreathedareproach。
Butoughthehaveevencontentedhimselfwithdestroyingherillusions——oughthenothavegonefartherandtoldherthewholetruth?Oughthenotfirsthavewonherconfidence——herememberedbitterly，now，howshehadintimatedthatshehadnoonetoconfidein——and，afterrevealinghermother\'shistory，havestillpledgedhimselftokeepthesecretfromallothers，andassistedherinherplan?Itwouldnothavealteredthestateofaffairs，exceptsofarasshewasconcerned；theycouldhavecombinedtogether；hisreadywitwouldhavehelpedhim；andhissympathywouldhavesustainedher；but——
Howandinwhatwaycouldhehavetoldher?Leavingoutthedelicateanddifficultperiphrasebywhichhermother\'sshamewouldhavetobeexplainedtoaninnocentschool-girl——whatrightcouldhehaveassumedtotellit?Astheguardianwhohadnevercounseledorprotectedher?Asanacquaintanceofhardlyanhourago?Whowouldhavesucharight?Alover——onwhoselipsitwouldonlyseematacitappealtohergratitudeorherfears，andwhomnosensitivegirlcouldacceptthereafter?No。Ahusband?Yes!Heremembered，withasuddenstart，whatPendletonhadsaidtohim。
GoodHeavens!HadPendletonthatideainhismind?Andyet——itseemedtheonlysolution。
AknockathisdoorwasfollowedbytheappearanceofMr。Woods。
Mr。Hathaway\'sportmanteauhadcome，andMrs。Woodshadsentamessage，sayingthatinviewofthelimitedtimethatMr。Hathawaywouldhavewithhisward，Mrs。Woodswouldforegoherrighttokeephimathersideatdinner，andyieldherplacetoYerba。Paulthankedhimwithagraveinwardsmile。Whatifhemadehisdramaticdisclosuretoherconfidentiallyoverthesoupandfish?
Yet，inhisconstantlyrecurringconvictionofthegirl\'sindependence，hemadenodoubtshewouldhavemethisbrutalitywithunflinchingprideandself-possession。Hebegantodressslowly，attimesalmostforgettinghimselfinanewkindofpleasantapathy，whichheattributedtotheodoroftheflowers，andthesofterhushoftwilightthathadcomeonwiththedyingawayofthetradewinds，andtherestfulspiceofthebay-treesnearhiswindow。HepresentlyfoundhimselfnotsomuchthinkingofYerbaasofSEEINGher。Apictureofherinthesummer-housecaressinghercheekwiththerosesseemedtostandoutfromtheshadowsoftheblankwalloppositehim。Whenhepassedintothedressing-roombeyond，itwasnothisownfacehesawintheglass，buthers。Itwaswithastart，asifhehadheardHERvoice，thathefounduponhisdressing-tableasmallvasecontainingaflowerforhiscoat，withthepenciledwordsonacardinaschool-girl\'shand，\"FromYerba，withthanksforstaying。\"Itmusthavebeenplacedtherebyaservantwhilehewasmusingatthewindow。
Halfadozenpeoplewerealreadyinthedrawing-roomwhenPauldescended。ItappearedthatMr。Woodshadinvitedcertainofhisneighbors——amongthemaJudgeBakerandhiswife，andDonCaesarBriones，oftheadjacentRanchoofLosPajaros，andhissister，theDonaAnna。MillyandYerbahadnotyetappeared。DonCaesar，ayoungmanofatoreadorbuild，roundlyblandinfaceandmurkyineye，seemedtonoticetheirabsence，andkepthisglancestowardsthedoor，whilePaulengagedinconversationwithDonaAnna——ifthatwordcouldconveyanimpressionofaconventionalitywhichthatgood-humoredyoungladyconvertedintoananimatedflirtationatthesecondsentencewithasingleglanceandtwoshakesofherfan。AndthenMillyflutteredin——avisionofschool-girlfreshnessandwhitetulle，andamomentlater——withapauseofexpectation——atall，gracefulfigure，thatatfirstPaulscarcelyrecognized。
Itisapopularconceitofoursexthatwearesuperiortoanyeffectoffeminineadornment，andthataprettygirlisequallyprettyinthesimplestfrock。YettherewasnotamanintheroomwhodidnotbelievethatYerbainherpresentattirewasnotonlyfarprettierthanbefore，butthatsheindicatedanewandmoredelicateformofbeauty。Itwasnotthemererevelationofcontourandcolorofanordinarydecolletedress，itwasaperfectpresentmentofpuresymmetryandcarriage。Inthisblackgrenadinedress，trimmedwithjet，notonlywasthedelicatesatinsheenofherskinmadeclearerbycontrast，butshelookedeveryinchherfullheight，withanidealexaltationofbreedingandculture。Sheworenojewelryexceptasmallnecklaceofpearls——sosmallitmighthavebeenachild\'s——thatfittedherslenderthroatsotightlythatitcouldscarcelybetoldfromthefleshthatitclasped。Pauldidnotknowthatitwasthegiftofthemothertothechildthatshehadforswornonlyafewweeksbeforeshepartedfromherforever；buthehadavaguefeelingthat，inthatsabledressthatseemedlikemourning，shewalkedatthefuneralofhermother\'spast。Afewwhiteflowersinhercorsage，thecompanionsofthesolitaryoneinhisbutton-hole，weretheonlyrelief。
Theireyesmetforasinglemoment，thelookofadmirationinPaul\'sbeingansweredbythenaiveconsciousnessinYerba\'sofawomanlookingherbest；butthenextmomentsheappearedpreoccupiedwiththeothers，andtheeageradvancesofDonCaesar。
\"YourbrotherseemstoadmireMissYerba，\"saidPaul。
\"Ah，ye——es，\"returnedDonaAnna。\"Andyou?\"
\"Oh!\"saidPaul，gayly，\"I?Iamherguardian——withmeitissimpleegotism，youknow。\"
\"Ah!\"returnedthearchDonaAnna，\"youarethenalreadySOcertainofher?Good!Ishallwarnhim。\"
Aprecautionthatdidseemnecessary；aslater，whenPaul，atasignalfromhishostess，offeredhisarmtoYerba，theyoungSpaniardregardedhimwithalookofstartledcuriosity。
\"Ithankyouforselectingmetowearyourcolors，\"saidPaulwithaglanceattheflowersinhercorsage，astheysatattable，\"andIthinkIdeservethem，since，butforyou，IshouldhavebeenonmywaytoSanFranciscoatthismoment。ShallIhaveanopportunityoftalkingtoyouafewminuteslaterintheevening?\"
headded，inalowertone。
\"Whynotnow?\"returnedYerba，mischievously。\"Wearesethereexpresslyforthatpurpose。\"
\"Surelynottotalkofourownbusiness——Ishouldsay，ofourFAMILYaffairs，\"saidPaul，lookingatherwithequalplayfulness；
\"thoughIbelieveyourfriendDonCaesar，opposite，wouldbemorepleasedifheweresurethatwasallwedid。\"
\"Andyouthinkhissisterwouldshareinthatpleasure?\"retortedYerba。\"Iwarnyou，Mr。Hathaway，thatyouhavebeenquitejustifyingtheReverendMother\'sdoubtsaboutyourvenerablepretensions。Everybodyisstaringatyounow。\"
Paullookedupmechanically。Itwastrue。Whetherfromsomeoccultsympathy，fromahumantendencytoadmireobviousfitnessandsymmetry，ortheinnocentlovewithwhichtheworldregardsinnocentlovers，theywereallobservingYerbaandhimselfwithundisguisedattention。Agoodtalker，hequicklyledtheconversationtoothertopics。ItwasthenthathediscoveredthatYerbawasnotonlyaccomplished，butthatthisconvent-bredgirlhadacquiredasingularbreadthofknowledgeapartfromtheordinaryroutineoftheschoolcurriculum。Shespokeandthoughtwithindependentperceptionsandclearness，yetwithoutthetactlessnessandmasculineabruptnessthatisapttodetractfromfeminineoriginalityofreflection。
Bysometacitunderstandingthathadthecharmofmutualconfidence，theybothexertedthemselvestopleasethecompanyratherthaneachother，andPaul，intheinterchangeofsallieswithDonaAnna，hadacertainpleasureinhearingYerbaconverseinSpanishwithDonCaesar。Butinafewmomentsheobserved，withsomeuneasiness，thattheyweretalkingoftheoldSpanishoccupation，andpresentlyoftheoldSpanishfamilies。Wouldsheprematurelyexposeanignorancethatmightbehereafterrememberedagainsther，orinvitesomedreadfulgenealogicalreminiscencethatwoulddestroyherhopesandrazeherSpanishcastles?Orwasshesimplycollectinginformation?Headmiredthedexteritywithwhich，withoutcommittingherself，shemadeDonCaesaropenlyandevenconfidentiallycommunicative。Andyethewasonthorns；attimesitseemedasifhehimselfwereplayingapartinthisimpostureofYerba\'s。Hewasawarethathiswanderingattentionwasnoticedbythequick-wittedDonaAnna，whenheregainedhisself-possessionbywhatappearedtobeahappydiversion。ItwasthevoiceofMrs。JudgeBakercallingacrossthetabletoYerba。Byoneofthepeculiaraccidentsofgeneralconversation，itwastheoneapparentlytrivialremarkthatinapausechallengedtheearsofall。
\"Wewereadmiringyournecklace，MissYerba。\"
Everyeyewasturnedupontheslenderthroatofthehandsomegirl。
Theexcusewassonatural。
Yerbaputherhandtoherneckwithasmile。\"Youarejoking，Mrs。
Baker。Iknowitisridiculouslysmall，butitisachild\'snecklace，andIwearitbecauseitwasagiftfrommymother。\"
Paul\'sheartsankagainwithconsternation。Itwasthefirsttimehehadheardthegirldistinctlyconnectherselfwithheractualmother，andforaninstanthefeltasstartledasiftheforgottenOutcastherselfhadreturnedandtakenaseatattheboard。
\"Itoldyouitcouldn\'tbeso?\"remarkedMrs。Baker，toherhusband。
Everybodynaturallylookedinquiringlyuponthecouple，andMrs。
Bakerexplainedwithasmile:\"Bobthinkshe\'sseenitbefore；menaresoobstinate。\"
\"Pardonme，MissYerba，\"saidtheJudge，blandly，\"wouldyoumindshowingittome，ifitisnottoomuchtrouble?\"
\"Notatall，\"saidYerba，smiling，anddetachingthecircletfromherneck。\"I\'mafraidyou\'llfinditratherold-fashioned。\"
\"That\'sjustwhatIhopetofindit，\"saidJudgeBaker，withatriumphantglanceathiswife。\"ItwaseightyearsagowhenIsawitinTucker\'sjewelryshop。IwantedtobuyitformylittleMinnie，butasthepricewassteepIhesitated，andwhenIdidmakeupmymindhehaddisposedofittoanothercustomer。Yes，\"headded，examiningthenecklacewhichYerbahadhandedtohim。\"Iamcertainitisthesame:itwasunique，likethis。Odd，isn\'tit?\"
EverybodysaiditWASodd，andlookedupontheoccurrencewiththatunreasoningsatisfactionwithwhichaveragehumanityreceivesthemosttrivialandunmeaningcoincidences。ItwaslefttoDonCaesartogiveitagallantapplication。
\"Ihavenot-athepleasureofknowing-atheMissMinnie，butthejewelry，whenshearrives，tothethroat-aofMissYerba，shehasnotlostthevalue——thebeauty——thecharm。\"
\"No，\"saidWoods，cheerily。\"Thefactis，Baker，youweretooslow。MissYerba\'sfolksgobbledupthenecklacewhileyouwerethinking。Youwereanew-comer。Old\'forty-niners\'didnothesitateoverathingtheywanted。\"
\"Youneverknewwhowasyoursuccessfulrival，eh?\"saidDonaAnna，turningtoJudgeBakerwithacuriousglanceatPaul\'spalefaceinpassing。
\"No，\"saidBaker，\"but\"——hestoppedwithahesitatinglaughandsomelittleconfusion。\"No，I\'vemixeditupwithsomethingelse。
It\'ssolongago。Ineverknew，orifIdidI\'veforgotten。ButthenecklaceIremember。\"HehandeditbacktoYerbawithabow，andtheincidentended。
PaulhadnotlookedatYerbaduringthisconversation，anunreasoninginstinctthathemightconfuseher，anequallyunreasoningdreadthathemightseeherconfusedbyothers，possessinghim。Andwhenhedidglanceathercalm，untroubledface，thatseemedonlyalittlesurprisedathisownsingularcoldness，hewasbynomeansrelieved。Hewasonlyconvincedofonething。Inthelastfiveminuteshehadsettledupontheirrevocabledeterminationthathispresentrelationswiththegirlcouldexistnolonger。Hemusteithertellhereverything，orseehernomore。Therewasnomiddlecourse。Shewasonthebrinkofanexposureatanymoment，eitherthroughherignoranceorherunhappypretension。Inhisintolerableposition，hewasequallyunabletocontemplateherperil，acceptherdefense，orhimselfdefendher。
Asif，withsomefeminineinstinct，shehadattributedhissilencetosomejealousyofDonCaesar\'sattentions，shemorethanonceturnedfromtheSpaniardtoPaulwithanassuringsmile。Inhisanxiety，hehalfacceptedtheratherhumiliatingsuggestion，andmanagedtosaytoher，inalowertone:——
\"OnthislastvisitofyourAmericanguardian，onewouldthink，youneednotalreadyanticipateyourSpanishrelations。\"
Hewasthrilledwiththemischievousyetfaintlytenderpleasurethatsparkledinhereyesasshesaid，——
\"YouforgetitismyAmericanguardian\'sFIRSTvisit，aswellashislast。\"
\"Andasyourguardian，\"hewenton，withhalf-veiledseriousness，\"Iprotestagainstyourallowingyourtreasures，thepropertyoftheTrust，\"hegazeddirectlyintoherbeautifuleyes，\"beinghandledandcommenteduponbyeverybody。\"
Whentheladieshadleftthetable，hewas，foramoment，relieved。
Butonlyforamoment。JudgeBakerdrewhischairbesidePaul\'s，and，takinghiscigarfromhislips，said，withaperfunctorylaugh:——
\"Isay，Hathaway，Ipulledupjustintimetosavemyselffrommakinganawfulspeech，justnow，toyourward。\"
Paullookedathimwithcoldcuriosity。
\"Yes。Gad!DoyouknowWHOwasmyrivalinthatnecklacetransaction?\"
\"No，\"saidPaul，withfrigidcarelessness。
\"Why，KateHoward!Fact，sir。Sheboughtitrightundermynose——
andoverbidme，too。\"
Pauldidnotlosehisself-possession。ThankstothefactthatYerbawasnotpresent，andthatDonCaesar，whohadoverheardthespeech，movedforwardwithasuggestiveandunpleasantsmile，hisagitationcongealedintoacoldlyplacidfury。
\"AndIsuppose，\"hereturned，withperfectcalmness，\"that，aftertheusualhabitofthisclassofwomen，thenecklaceverysoonfounditswayback，throughthepawnbroker，tothejeweleragain。
It\'sacommonfate。\"
\"Yes，ofcourse，\"saidJudgeBaker，cheerfully。\"You\'requiteright。That\'sundoubtedlythesolutionofit。But，\"withalaugh，\"Ihadanarrowescapefromsayingsomething——eh?\"
\"Averynarrowescapefromanapparentlygratuitousinsult，\"saidPaul，gravely，butfixinghiseyes，nowmoreluminousthaneverwithanger，notonthespeakersbutonthefaceofDonCaesar，whowasstandingathisside。\"youwereabouttosay，\"——
\"Eh——oh——ah!thisKateHoward?So!Ihaveheardofher——yees!
AndMissYerba——ah——sheisofmycountry——Ithink。Yes——weshallclaimher——ofatruth——yes。\"
\"Yourcountrymen，Ibelieve，areinthehabitofmakingclaimsthataremoreoftenfoundedonprofitthanverity，\"saidPaul，withsmilelessandinsultingdeliberation。Heknewperfectlywhathewassaying，andtheresultheexpected。Onlytwenty-fourhoursbeforehehadsmiledatPendleton\'sideaofavertingscandalanddiscoverybyfighting，yethewasendeavoringtopickaquarrelwithaman，merelyonsuspicion，forthesamepurpose，andhesawnothingstrangeinit。Avagueidea，too，thatthiswouldirrevocablyconfirmhiminoppositiontoYerba\'sillusionsprobablydeterminedhim。
ButDonCaesar，albeitsmilinglividly，didnotseeminclinedtopickupthegauntlet，andWoodsinterferedhastily。\"DonCaesarmeansthatyourwardhassomeideaherselfthatsheisofSpanishorigin——atleast，Millysaysso。Butofcourse，asoneoftheoldesttrustees，YOUknowthefacts。\"
InanothermomentPaulwouldhavecommittedhimself。\"Ithinkwe\'llleaveMissYerbaoutofthequestion，\"hesaid，coldly。\"Myremarkwasageneralone，although，ofcourse，Iamresponsibleforanypersonalapplicationofit。\"
\"Spokenlikeapolitician，Hathaway，\"saidJudgeBaker，withaneffusiveenthusiasm，whichhehopedwouldatoneforthealarmingresultsofhisinfelicitousspeech。\"That\'sright，gentlemen!Youcan\'tgetthefactsfromhimbeforeheisreadytogivethem。Keepyoursecret，Mr。Hathaway，thecourtiswithyou。\"
Nevertheless，astheypassedoutoftheroomtojointheladies，theMayorlingeredalittlebehindwithWoods。\"It\'seasytoseetheinfluenceofthatPendletononouryoungfriend，\"hesaid，significantly。\"Somebodyoughttotellhimthatit\'splayedoutdownhere——asPendletonis。It\'squiteenoughtoruinhiscareer。\"
Paulwastooobservantnottonoticethis，butitbroughthimnosenseofremorse；andhisyouthfulbeliefinhimselfandhispowerkepthimfromconcern。Hefeltasifhehaddonesomething，ifonlytoshowDonCaesarthatthegirl\'sweaknessorignorancecouldnotbetradeduponwithimpunity。Buthewasstillundecidedastothecourseheshouldpursue。Butheshoulddeterminethatto-
night。Atpresentthereseemednochanceoftalkingtoheralone——
shewasunconcernedlyconversingwithMillyandMrs。Woods，andalreadythevisitorswhohadbeeninvitedtothishurriedleveeinhishonorwerearriving。Inviewofhislateindiscretion，henervouslyexertedhisfullestpowers，andinaveryfewminuteswassurroundedbyabreathlessandadmiringgroupofworshipers。A
ludicrousresemblancetothesceneintheGoldenGateHotelpassedthroughhismind；heinvoluntarilyturnedhiseyestoseekYerbainthehalf-fear，half-expectationofmeetinghermischievoussmile。
Theirglancesmet；tohissurpriseherswassmileless，andinstantlywithdrawn，butnotuntilhehadbeenthrilledbyanunconsciousprepossessioninitsluminousdepthsthathescarcelydaredtodwellupon。WhatmatterednowthispassagewithDonCaesarortheplauditsofhisfriends?SHEwasproudofhim!
Yet，afterthatglance，shewasshy，preoccupyingherselfwithMilly，orevenlisteningsweetlytoJudgeBaker\'ssomewhatpracticalandunromanticreminiscencesofthedeprivationsandthehardshipsofCaliforniaearlydays，asiftocondonehispastinfelicity。ShewaspleasantlyunaffectedwithDonCaesar，althoughshemanagedtodrawDonaAnnaintotheconversation；shewasunconventional，Paulfancied，toallbuthimself。Onceortwice，whenhehadartfullydrawnhertowardstheopenFrenchwindowthatledtothemoonlitgardenandshadowedveranda，shehadmanagedtolinkMilly\'sarminherown，andhewasconfidentthatasuggestiontostrollwithhimintheopenairwouldbefollowedbyherinvitationtoMillytoaccompanythem。Disappointedandmortifiedashewas，hefoundsomesolaceinhermanner，whichhestillbelievedsuggestedthehopethatshemightbemadeaccessibletohispersuasions。Persuasionstowhat?Hedidnotknow。
Thelastguesthaddeparted；helingeredontheverandawithacigar，begginghishostandhostessnottotroublethemselvestokeephimcompany。MillyandYerbahadretiredtotheformer\'sboudoir，but，astheyhadnotyetformallybadehimgoodnight，therewasachanceoftheirreturning。Hestillstayedoninthishopeforhalfanhour，andthen，acceptingYerba\'scontinuedabsenceasatacitrefusalofhisrequest，heturnedabruptlyaway。
Butasheglancedaroundthegardenbeforereenteringthehouse，hewasstruckbyasingularcircumstance——awhitepatch，likeaforgottenshawl，whichhehadobservedonthedistantceanothushedge，andwhichhadatfirstthrilledhimwithexpectation，hadcertainlyCHANGEDITSPOSITION。Before，itseemedtobenearthesummer-house；nowitwas，undoubtedly，fartheraway。Couldthey，orSHEalone，haveslippedfromthehouseandbeawaitinghimthere?Withamutteredexclamationathisstupidityhesteppedhastilyfromtheverandaandwalkedtowardsit。Buthehadscarcelyproceededadozenyardsbeforeitdisappeared。Hereachedthesummer-house——itwasempty；hefollowedthelineofhedge——noonewasthere。Itcouldnothavebeenher，orshewouldhavewaited，unlesshewerethevictimofapracticaljoke。Heturnedimpatientlybacktothehouse，reenteredthedrawing-roombytheFrenchwindow，andwascrossingthehalf-litapartment，whenheheardaslightrustleintheshadowofthewindow。Helookedaroundquickly，andsawthatitwasYerba，inawhite，loosegown，forwhichshehadalreadyexchangedherblackeveningdress，leaningbackcomposedlyonthesofa，herhandsclaspedbehindhershapelyhead。
\"IamwaitingforMilly，\"shesaid，withafaintsmileonherlips。
Hefancied，inthemoonlightthatstreameduponher，thatherbeautifulfacewaspale。\"Shehasgonetotheotherwingtoseeoneoftheservantswhoisill。WethoughtyouwereontheverandasmokingandIshouldhavecompany，untilIsawyoustartoff，andrushupanddownthehedgelikemad。\"
Paulfeltthathewaslosinghisself-possession，andbecomingnervousinherpresence。\"IthoughtitwasYOU，\"hestammered。
\"Me!Outinthegardenatthishour，alone，andinthebroadmoonlight?Whatareyouthinkingof，Mr。Hathaway?Doyouknowanythingofconventrules，oristhatyourideaofyourward\'seducation?\"
Hefanciedthat，thoughshesmiledfaintly，hervoicewasastremulousashisown。
\"Iwanttospeakwithyou，\"hesaid，withawkwarddirectness。\"I
eventhoughtofaskingyoutostrollwithmeinthegarden。\"
\"Whynottalkhere?\"shereturned，changingherposition，pointingtotheotherendofthesofa，anddrawingthewholeoverflowofherskirttooneside。\"Itisnotsoverylate，andMillywillreturninafewmoments。\"
Herfacewasinshadownow，buttherewasaglow-wormlightinherbeautifuleyesthatseemedfaintlytoilluminateherwholeface。
Hesankdownonthesofaatherside，nolongerthebrilliantandambitiouspolitician，but，itseemedtohim，ashopelesslyadreaming，inexperiencedboyaswhenhehadgivenherthenamethatnowwasallhecouldthinkof，andtheonlywordthatrosetohisfeverishlips。
\"Yerba!\"
\"Iliketohearyousayit，\"shesaidquickly，asiftoglossoverhisfirstomissionofherformalprefix，andleaningalittleforward，withhereyesonhis。\"Onewouldthinkyouhadcreatedit。Youalmostmakemeregrettoloseit。\"
Hestopped。Hefeltthatthelastsentencehadsavedhim。\"ItisofthatIwanttospeak，\"hebrokeoutsuddenlyandalmostrudely。
\"Areyousatisfiedthatitmeansnothing，andcanmeannothing，toyou?Doesitawakennomemoryinyourmind——recallnothingyoucaretoknow?Think!Ibegyou，Iimploreyoutobefrankwithme!\"
Shelookedathimwithsurprise。
\"Ihavetoldyoualreadythatmypresentnamemustbesomeabsurdblunder，orsomeintentionalconcealment。ButwhydoyouwanttoknowNOW?\"shecontinued，addingherfaintsmiletotheemphasis。
\"Tohelpyou!\"hesaid，eagerly。\"Forthatalone!TodoallIcantoassistyou，ifyoureallybelieve，andwanttobelieve，thatyouhaveanother。Toaskyoutoconfideinme；totellmeallyouhavebeentold，allthatyouknow，thinkyouknow，orWANTtoknowaboutyourrelationshiptotheArguellos——orto——anyone。Andthentodevotemyselfentirelytoprovingwhatyoushallsayisyourdesire。Yousee，Iamfrankwithyou，Yerba。Ionlyaskyoutobeasfrankwithme；toletmeknowyourdoubts，thatImaycounselyou；yourfears，thatImaygiveyoucourage。\"
\"Isthatallyoucameheretotellme?\"sheaskedquietly。
\"No，Yerba，\"hesaid，eagerly，takingherunresistingbutindifferenthand，\"notall；butallthatImustsay，allthatI
havetherighttosay，allthatyou，Yerba，wouldpermitmetotellyouNOW。ButletmehopethatthedayisnotfardistantwhenI
cantellyouALL，whenyouwillunderstandthatthissilencehasbeenthehardestsacrificeofthemanwhonowspeakstoyou。\"
\"Andyetnotunworthyofarisingpolitician，\"sheadded，quicklywithdrawingherhand。\"Iagree，\"shewenton，lookingtowardsthedoor，yetwithoutappearingtoavoidhiseagereyes，\"andwhenI
havesettledupon\'alocalhabitationandaname\'weshallrenewthisinterestingconversation。Untilthen，asmyfourthofficialguardianusedtosay——hewasalawyer，Mr。Hathaway，likeyourself——
whenhewaswindinguphisconjecturesonthesubject——allthathaspassedistobeconsidered\'withoutprejudice。\'\"
\"ButYerba\"——beganPaul，bitterly。
Sheslightlyraisedherhandasiftocheckhimwithawarninggesture。\"Yes，dear，\"shesaidsuddenly，liftinghermusicalvoice，withamischievousside-glanceatPaul，asiftoindicateherconceptionoftheironyofapossibleapplication，\"thisway。
Herewearewaitingforyou。\"HerlisteningearhaddetectedMilly\'sstepinthepassage，andinanothermomentthatcheerfulyoungwomandiscreetlystoppedonthethresholdoftheroom，witheveryexpressionofapologeticindiscretioninherface。
\"Wehavefinishedourtalk，andMr。Hathawayhasbeensoconcernedaboutmyhavingnorealnamethathehasbeenpromisingmeeverything，buthisown，forasuitableone。Haven\'tyou，Mr。
Hathaway?\"Sheroseslowlyand，goingovertoMilly，putherarmaroundherwaistandstoodforoneinstantgazingathimbetweenthecurtainsofthedoorway。\"Goodnight。Myveryproperchaperonisdreadfullyshockedatthismidnightinterview，andistakingmeaway。Onlythinkofit，Milly；heactuallyproposedtometowalkinthegardenwithhim!Goodnight，or，asmyancestors——don\'tforget，MYANCESTORS——usedtosay:\'Buenanoche——hastamanana!\'\"
ShelingeredovertheSpanishsyllableswithanimitationofDonaAnna\'slisp，andwithanothersmile，butmorefaintandmoreghostlikethanbefore；vanishedwithhercompanion。
Ateighto\'clockthenextmorningPaulwasstandingbesidehisportmanteauontheveranda。
\"Butthisisasuddenresolutionofyours，Hathaway，\"saidMr。
Woods。\"Canyounotpossiblywaitforthenexttrain?Thegirlswillbedownthen，andyoucanbreakfastcomfortably。\"
\"Ihavemuchtodo——morethanIimagined——inSanFranciscobeforeI
return，\"saidPaul，quickly。\"Youmustmakemyexcusestothemandtoyourwife。\"
\"Ihope，\"saidWoods，withanuneasylaugh，\"youhavehadnomorewordswithDonCaesar，orhewithyou?\"
\"No，\"saidPaul，withareassuringsmile，\"nothingmore，Iassureyou。\"
\"Foryouknowyou\'readevilishquickfellow，Hathaway，\"continuedWoods，\"quiteasquickasyourfriendPendleton。And，bytheway，Bakerisawfullycutupaboutthatabsurdspeechofhis，youknow。
Cametomelastnightandwonderedifanybodycouldthinkitwasintentional。Itoldhimitwasd——dstupid，thatwasall。Iguesshiswifehadbeenathim。Ha!ha!Yousee，herememberstheoldtimes，wheneverybodytalkedofthesethings，andthatwomanHowardwasquiteacharacter。I\'mtoldshewentofftotheStatesyearsago。\"
\"Possibly，\"saidPaul，carelessly。Afterapause，asthecarriagedroveuptothedoor，heturnedtohishost。\"Bytheway，Woods，haveyouaghosthere?\"
\"Thehouseisoldenoughforone。Butno。Why?\"
\"I\'llswearIsawafiguremovingyonder，intheshrubbery，latelastevening；andwhenIcameuptoit，itmostunaccountablydisappeared。\"
\"OneofDonCaesar\'sservants，Idaresay。Thereisoneofthem，anIndian，prowlingabouthere，I\'vebeentold，atallhours。I\'llputastoptoit。Well，youmustgothen?Dreadfullysorryyoucouldn\'tstoplonger!Good-by!\"
CHAPTERIV。
ItwastwomonthslaterthatMr。TonyShear，ofMarysville，butlatelyconfidentialclerktotheHon。PaulHathaway，enteredhisemployer\'schambersinSacramento，andhandedthelatteraletter。
\"IonlygotbackfromSanFranciscothismorning；butMr。SlatesaidIwastogiveyouthat，andifitsatisfiedyou，andwaswhatyouwanted，youwouldsenditbacktohim。\"