Paulwasnotsorrywhenthetimecametotakeleaveofhisfriend；
butonceagainintheclearmoonlightandfresh，balmyairoftheAllee，heforgottheunpleasantnessoftheinterview。HefoundhimselfthinkingonlyofhisridewithYerba。Well!hehadtoldherthathelovedher。Sheknewitnow，andalthoughshehadforbiddenhimtospeakfurther，shehadnotwhollyrejectedit。Itmustbehermorbidconsciousnessofthemysteryofherbirththatwithheldareturnofheraffections，——somehalf-knowledge，perhaps，thatshewouldnotdivulge，yetthatkeptherundulysensitiveofacceptinghislove。Hewassatisfiedtherewasnoentanglement；
herheartwasvirgin。HeevendaredtohopethatshehadALWAYS
caredforhim。ItwasforHIMtoremoveallobstacles——toprevailuponhertoleavethisplaceandreturntoAmericawithhimasherhusband，theguardianofhergoodname，andthecustodianofhersecret。AttimesthestrainsofadreamyGermanwaltz，playedinthedistance，broughtbacktohimthebriefmomentthathisarmhadencircledherwaistbythecrumblingwall，andhispulsesgrewlanguid，onlytoleapfirmerthenextmomentwithmoredesperateresolve。Hewouldwinher，comewhatmay!Hecouldneverhavebeeninearnestbefore:heloathedandhatedhimselfforhispreviouspassiveacquiescencetoherfate。Hehadbeenaweaktoolofthecolonel\'sfromthefirst:hewasevennowhandicappedbyapreposterouspromisehehadgivenhim!Yes，shewasrighttohesitate——toquestionhisabilitytomakeherhappy!Hehadfoundherhere，surroundedbystupidityandcupidity——togiveitnoothername——sopatentthatshewasthecommongossip，andhadofferednothingbutaboyishdeclaration!Ashestrodeintothehotelthatnightitwaswellthathedidnotmeettheunfortunatecolonelonthestaircase!
Itwasverylate，althoughtherewasstillvisiblealightinYerba\'ssalon，shiningonherbalcony，whichextendedbeforeandincludedhisownwindow。Fromtimetotimehecouldhearthemurmurofvoices。
Itwastoolatetoavailhimselfoftheinvitationtojointhem，evenifhisframeofmindhadpermittedit。Hewastoonervousandexcitedtogotobed，and，withoutlightinghiscandle，heopenedtheFrenchwindowthatgaveuponthebalcony，drewachairintherecessbehindthecurtain，andgazeduponthenight。Itwasveryquiet；themoonwashigh，thesquarewassleepinginatranceofcheckeredshadows，likeagiganticchessboard，withblackforeshortenedtreesforpawns。Theclickofacavalrysabre，thesoundofafootfallonthepavementofthedistantKonigsstrasse，weredistinctlyaudible；afar-offrailwaywhistlewasstartlinginitsabruptness。Inthemidstofthiscalmtheopeningofthedoorofthesalon，withthesuddenupliftingofvoicesinthehall，toldPaulthatYerba\'sguestswereleaving。HeheardDonaAnna\'sarchaccents——archeventoColonelPendleton\'smonotonousbaritone!——Milly\'shigh，rapidutterances，thesuavefalsettoofDonCaesar，andHERvoice，hethoughtatriflewearied，——thesoundofretiringfootsteps，andallwasstillagain。
Sostillthattherhythmicbeatofthedistantwaltzreturnedtohim，withadistinctivenessthathecouldidlyfollow。HethoughtofRosarioandtherose-breathoftheopenwindowswithastrangelonging，andrememberedthehalf-stifledsweetnessofherhappyvoicerisingwithitfromtheveranda。Whyhadheeverletitpassfromhimthenandwaftitsfragranceelsewhere?Why——Whatwasthat?
Theslightturningofalatch!ThecreakingoftheFrenchwindowofthesalon，andsomebodyhadslippedsoftlyhalfoutonthebalcony。Hisheartstoppedbeating。Fromhispositionintherecessofhisownwindow，withhisbacktothepartitionofthesalon，hecouldseenothing。Yethedidnotdaretomove。ForwiththequickenedsensesofaloverhefeltthediffusedandperfumedauraofHERpresence，ofHERgarments，ofHERflesh，flowinuponhimthroughtheopenwindow，andpossesshiswholebreathlessbeing!ItwasSHE!Likehim，perhaps，longingtoenjoytheperfectnight——likehim，perhaps，thinkingof——
\"Soyouar-rangetogetridofme——ha!likthees?Totur-rnmeofffromyourheelslikeadogwhohavefollowyou——butwithoutaword——
withouta——a——thanks——withouta\'ope!Ah!——wehaveser-rvedyou——
meandmysister；wearetheor-rangedry——nowwecango!Liketheoldshoe，wearetobeflungaway!Good!ButIamhereagain——yousee。Ishallspeak，andyoushallhear-r。\"
DonCaesar\'svoice——alonewithher!Paulgrippedhischairandsatupright。
\"Stop!Staywhereyouare!Howdaredyoureturnhere?\"ItwasYerba\'svoice，onthebalcony，lowanddistinct。
\"Shutthewindow!Ishallspeakwithyouwhatyouwillnottheworldtohear。\"
\"IprefertokeepwhereIam，sinceyouhavecreptintothisroomlikeathief!\"
\"Athief!Good!\"HebrokeoutinSpanish，and，asifnolongerfearfulofbeingoverheard，hadevidentlydrawnnearertothewindow。\"Athief。Ha!muybueno——butitisnotI，youunderstand——
I，CaesarBriones，whoamthethief!No!Itisthatswaggeringespadachin——thatfanfarronofaColonelPendleton——thatpatternofanofficial，Mr。Hathaway——thatmostbeautifulheiressoftheCalifornias，MissARGUELLO——thatarethieves!Yes——ofaNAME——MissArguello——ofaNAME!ThenameofArguello!\"
Paulrosetohisfeet。
\"Ah，so!Youstart——youturnpale——youflashyoureyes，senora，butyouthinkyouhavedeceivedmealltheseyears。YouthinkI
didnotseeyourgameatRosario——yes，evenwhenthatfoolishCastromuchachafirstputthatideainyourhead。Whofurnishedyouthefactsyouwanted?I——MotherofGod!SUCHFACTS!——I，whoknewtheArguellopedigree——I，whoknowitwasasimpossibleforyoutobeadaughterofthemas——what?letmethink——as——asitisimpossibleforyoutobethewifeofthatbaronwhomyouwoulddeceivewiththerest!Ah，yes；itwasahighflightforyou，Mees——Mees——DonaFulana——anoblegameforyoutobringdown!\"
Whydidshenotspeak?Whatwasshedoing?Ifshehadbututteredasinglewordofprotest，ofangrydismissal，Paulwouldhaveflowntoherside。Itcouldnotbetheparalysisofpersonalfear:thebalconywaswide；shecouldeasilypasstotheend；shecouldevenseehisopenwindow。
\"WhydidIdothis?BecauseIlovedyou，senora——andyouknewit!
Ah!youcanturnyourfaceawaynow；youcanpretendtomisunderstandme，asyoudidamomentago；youcanpartfrommenowlikeamereacquaintance——butitwasnotalwaysso!No，itwasYOU
whobroughtmehere；youreyesthatsmiledintomine——anddrovehomethecolonel\'srequestthatIandmysistershouldaccompanyyou。God!Iwasweakthen!Yousmile，senora；youthinkyouhavesucceeded——youandyourpompouscolonelandyourclevergovernor!
Youthinkyouhavecompromisedme，andperjuredME，becauseofthis。Youarewrong!YouthinkIdarenotspeaktothispuppetofabaron，andthatIhavenoproofs。Youarewrong!\"
\"Andevenifyoucanproducethem，whatcareI?\"saidYerbaunexpectedly，yetinavoicesofreefromexcitementandpassionthatthewearinesswhichPaulhadatfirstnoticedseemedtobetheonlydominanttone。\"SupposeyouprovethatIamnotanArguello。
Good!youhaveyettoshowthataconnectionwithanyofyourracewouldbeanythingbutadisgrace。\"
\"Ah!youdefyme，littleone!Caramba!Listen，then!Youdonotknowall!WhenyouthoughtIwasonlyhelpingyoutofabricateyourclaimtotheArguellos\'name，IwasfindingoutWHOYOUREALLY
WERE!Ah!Itwasnotsodifficultasyoufondlyhope，senora。Wewerenotallbrutesandfoolsintheearlydays，thoughwestoodasidetoletyourpeopleruntheirvulgarcourse。Itwasyourhiredbully——yourrespectedguardian——thisdogofanespadachin，wholetoutahintofthesecret——withaprickofhisblade——andascandal。Oneofmypeonwomenwasaservantattheconventwhenyouwereachild，andrecognizedthewomanwhoputyouthereandcametoseeyouasafriend。SheoverheardtheMotherSuperiorsayitwasyourmother，andsawanecklacethatwasleftforyoutowear。Ah!youbegintobelieve!WhenIhadputthisandthattogetherIfoundthatPepitacouldnotidentifyyouwiththechildthatshehadseen。Butyou，senora，youYOURSELFsuppliedthemissingproof!Yes!yousupplieditwiththeNECKLACEthatyouworethateveningatRosario，whenyouwishedtodohonortothisyoungHathaway——theguardianwhohadalwaysthrownyouoff!Ah!——
younowsuspectwhy，perhaps!Itwasyourmother\'snecklacethatyouwore，andyousaidso!ThatnightIsentthegoodPepitatoidentifyit；towatchthroughthewindowfromthegardenwhenyouwerewearingit；tomakeitsureastheCreed。Isenthertoyourroomlatethatnightwhenyouhadchangedyourdress，thatshemightexamineitamongyourjewels。Andshedidandwillswear——
lookyou!——SWEARthatitistheonegivenyouasachildbythewomanattheconvent，whowasyourmother!Andwhowasthatwoman——
eh?WhowasthemotheroftheArguellodelaYerbaBuena?——whothisnobleancestress?\"
\"Excuseme——butperhapsyouarenotawarethatyouareraisingyourvoiceinalady\'sdrawing-room，andthatalthoughyouarespeakingalanguagenoonehereunderstands，youaredisturbingthehotel。\"
ItwasPaul，quiet，paleinthemoonlight，erectonthebalconybeforethewindow。AsYerba，withastart，retreatedquicklyintotheroom，DonCaesarsteppedforwardangrilyandsuspiciouslytowardsthewindow。Hehadhishandreachedforwardtowardsthehandleasiftoclosetheswingingsashagainsttheintruder，wheninaninstanthewasseizedbyPaul，tightlylockedinadesperategrip，andwhirledoutonthebalcony。Beforehecouldgainbreathtoutteracry，HathawayhadpassedhisrightarmaroundtheMexican\'sthroat，effectivelystoppinghisutterance，and，withasupremeeffortofstrength，draggedhimalongthewall，fallingwithhimintotheopenwindowofhisownroom。Ashedidso，tohisinexpressiblereliefheheardthesashclosedandtheboltdrawnofthesalonwindow，andregainedhisfeet，collected，quiet，andtriumphant。
\"Iamsorry，\"hesaid，coollydustinghisclothes，\"tohavebeenobligedtochangethesceneofthisdiscussionsoroughly，butyouwillobservethatyoucanspeakmorefreelyHERE，andthatanyaltercationWEmayhaveinthisroomwillbelesslikelytoattractcomment。\"
\"Assassin!\"saidDonCaesarchokingly，ashestruggledtohisfeet。
\"Thankyou。Relieveyourfeelingsasmuchasyoulikehere；infact，ifyouwouldspeakalittlelouderyouwouldobligeme。Theguestsarebeginningtobeawake，\"continuedPaul，withawickedsmile，indicatingthenoiseofanopeningdoorandfootstepsinthepassage，\"andarenowabletolocatewithoutdifficultythesceneofthedisturbance。\"
Brionesapparentlyunderstoodhismeaningandthesuccessofhisstratagem。\"YouthinkyouhavesavedHERfromdisgrace，\"hesaid，withalividsmile，inalowertoneandadesperateattempttoimitatePaul\'scoolness。\"Forthepresent——ah——yees!perhapsinthishotelandthisevening。Butyouhavenotstopmymouthfor——
a——to-morrow——andthewholeworld，Mr。Hathaway。\"
\"Well，\"saidPaul，lookingathimcritically，\"Idon\'tknowaboutthat。Ofcourse，there\'stheequalchancethatyoumaykillme——
butthat\'saquestionforto-morrow，too。\"
TheMexicancastaquickglanceatthedoorandwindow。Paul，asifcarelessly，changedthekeyoftheformerfromonepockettotheother，andsteppedbeforethewindow。
\"Sothisisaplottomurderme!Haveacare!YouarenotinyourownbrigandCalifornia!\"
\"Ifyouthinkso，alarmthehouse。Theywillfindusquarreling，andyouwillonlyprecipitatemattersbyreceivingtheinsultthatwillmakeyoufight——beforethem。\"
\"Iamr-ready，sir，whenandwhereyouwill，\"saidBriones，withaswaggeringairbutashifting，furtiveeye。\"Open——a——thedoor。\"
\"Pardonme。WewillleavethisroomTOGETHERinanhourforthestation。Wewillboardthenightexpressthatwilltakeusinthreehoursbeyondthefrontier，wherewecaneachfindafriend。\"
\"Butmyaffairshere——mysister——Imustseeher。\"
\"Youshallwriteanotetoheratthattable，sayingthatimportantbusiness——adispatch——hascalledyouaway，andwewillleaveitwiththeportertobedeliveredINTHEMORNING。Or——Idonotrestrictyou——youcansaywhatyoulike，providedshedon\'tgetituntilwehaveleft。\"
\"Andyoumakeofmeaprisoner，sir?\"
\"No；avisitor，DonCaesar——avisitorwhoseconversationissointerestingthatIamforcedtodetainhimtohearmore。YoucanpassthetimepleasantlybyfinishingthestoryIwasobligedtointerruptamomentago。DoyouknowthismotherofMissYerba，ofwhomyouspoke?\"
\"That\'sm——myaffair。\"
\"Thatmeansyoudon\'tknowher。Ifyoudid，you\'dhavehadherwithincall。And，assheistheonlypersonwhoisabletosaythatMissYerbaisNOTanArguello，youhavebeenveryremiss。\"
\"Ah，bah!Iamnotoneofyour——a——lawyers。\"
\"No；oryouwouldknowthat，withnobetterevidencethanyouhave，youmightbesuedforslander。\"
\"Ah!WhydoesnotMissYerbasue，then?\"
\"Becausesheprobablyexpectsthatsomebodywillshootyou。\"
\"AsYOUforinstance?\"
\"Perhaps。\"
\"AndifyoudoNOT——eh?——youhavenotstopmymouth，butyourown。
AndifyouDO，youhelphertomarrytheBaron，yourrival。Youarenotwise，friendHathaway。\"
\"MayIremindyouthatyouhavenotyetwrittentoyoursister，andyoumayprefertodoitcarefullyanddeliberately?\"
DonCaesararosewithavindictiveglanceatPaul，andpulledachairbeforethetable，asthelatterplacedpen，ink，andpaperbeforehim。\"Takeyourtime，\"headded，foldinghisarmsandwalkingtowardsthewindow。\"Saywhatyoulike，anddon\'tletmypresencerestrainyou。\"
TheMexicanbegantowritefuriously，thenspasmodically，thenslowlyandreluctantly。\"Iwar-r-nyou，Ishallexposeall，\"hesaidsuddenly。
\"Asyouplease。\"
\"AndshallsaythatifIdisappear，youaremymurderer——youunderstand——myMURDERER!\"
\"Don\'tconsultmeonaquestionofepithets，butgoon。\"
DonCaesarrecommencedhiswritingwithamalignsmile。Therewasasuddensharprapatthedoor。
DonCaesarleapedtohisfeet，graspedhispapers，andrushedtothedoor；butPaulwasbeforehim。\"Whoisthere?\"hedemanded。
\"Pendleton。\"
Atthesoundofthecolonel\'svoiceDonCaesarfellback。Paulopenedthedoor，admittedthetallfigureofthecolonel，andwasabouttoturnthekeyagain。ButPendletonliftedhishandingrimdeprecation。
\"Thatwilldo，Mr。Hathaway。Iknowall。ButIwishtospeakwithBrioneselsewhere，alone。\"
\"Excuseme，ColonelPendleton，\"saidPaulfirmly，\"butIhavethepriorclaim。Wordshavepassedbetweenthisgentlemanandmyselfwhichwearenowonourwaytothestationandthefrontiertosettle。Ifyouarewillingtoaccompanyus，Ishallgiveyoueveryopportunitytoconversewithhimalone，andarrangewhateverbusinessyoumayhavewithhim，provideditdoesnotinterferewithmine。\"
\"Mybusiness，\"saidPendleton，\"isofapersonalnature，thatwillnotinterferewithanyclaimofyoursthatMr。Brionesmaychoosetoadmit，butisofaprivatequalitythatmustbetransactedbetweenusnow。\"Hisfacewaspale，andhisvoice，althoughsteadyandself-controlled，hadthatsamestrangesuggestionofsuddenageinitwhichPaulhadbeforenoticed。WhetherDonCaesardetectedit，orwhetherhehadsomeotherinstinctiveappreciationofgreatersecurity，Paulcouldnottell。Heseemedtorecoverhisswaggeragain，ashesaid，——
\"IshallhearwhatColonelPendletonhastosayfirst。ButIshallholdmyselfinreadinesstomeetyouafterwards——youshallnotfear，sir!\"
Paulremainedlookingfromtheonetotheotherwithoutspeaking。
ItwasDonCaesarwhoreturnedhisglanceboldlyanddefiantly，ColonelPendletonwho，withthinwhitefingerspullinghismoustache，evadedit。ThenPaulunlockedthedoor，andsaidslowly，\"InfiveminutesIleavethishouseforthestation。I
shallwaitthereuntilthetrainarrives。Ifthisgentlemandoesnotjoinme，Ishallbebetterabletounderstandallthisandtakemeasuresaccordingly。\"
\"AndItelltoyou，MeesterHathaway，sir，\"saidDonCaesar，strikinganattitudeinthedoorway，\"youshalldoasIplease——
Caramba!——andshallbeg\"——
\"Holdyourtongue，sir——or，bytheEternal!\"——burstoutPendletonsuddenly，bringingdownhisthinhandontheMexican\'sshoulder。
Hestoppedassuddenly。\"Gentlemen，thisischildish。Go，sir!\"
toDonCaesar，pointingwithagauntwhitefingerintothedarkenedhall。\"Iwillfollowyou。Mr。Hathaway，asanolderman，andonewhohasseenagooddealoffoolishaltercation，Iregret，sir，deeplyregret，tobeawitnesstothisbelligerentqualityinalaw-makerandapublicman；andImustdeprecate，sir——deprecate，yourdemandonthatgentlemanforwhat，inthefollyofyouth，youarepleasedtocallpersonalsatisfaction。\"
Ashemovedwithdignityoutoftheroom，Paulremainedblanklystaringafterhim。Wasitalladream?——orwasthisColonelPendletontheduelist?Hadtheoldmangonecrazy，orwashemerelyactingtoveilsomewildpurpose?HissuddenarrivalshowedthatYerbamusthavesentforhimandtoldhimofDonCaesar\'sthreats；wouldhebewildenoughtoattempttostranglethemaninsomeremoteroomorinthedarknessofthepassage?Hesteppedsoftlyintothehall:hecouldstillhearthedoubletreadofthetwomen:theyhadreachedthestaircase——theywereDESCENDING!Heheardthedrowsyaccentsofthenightporterandtheswingingofthedoor——theywereinthestreet!
Wherevertheyweregoing，orforwhatpurpose，HEmustbeatthestation，ashehadwarnedthemhewouldbe。Hehastilythrewafewthingsintohisvalise，andpreparedtofollowthem。Whenhewentdownstairsheinformedtheporterthatowingtoanurgentcallofbusinessheshouldtrytocatchthethroughexpressatthreeo\'clock，buttheymustretainhisroomandluggageuntiltheyheardfromhim。HerememberedDonCaesar\'sletter。Hadeitherofthegentlemen，hisfriendswhohadjustgoneout，leftaletterormessage?No，Excellency；thegentlemenweretalkingearnestly——hebelieved，intheSouthAmericanlanguage——andhadnotspokentohim。
PerhapsitwasthisthatremindedPaul，ashecrossedthesquareagain，thathehadmadenopreparationforanypossiblefatalissuetohimselfinthisadventure。SHEwouldknowit，however，andwhyhehadundertakenit。Hetriedtothinkthatperhapssomeinterestinhimselfhadpromptedhertosendthecoloneltohim。Yet，mingledwiththiswasanoddsenseofacertainridiculousnessinhisposition:therewastheabsurdityofhisprospectiveantagonistbeingevennowinconfidentialconsultationwithhisownfriendandally，whosefunctionshehadusurped，andinwhoseinterestshewasabouttoriskhislife。Andashewalkedawaythroughthesilentstreets，theconvictionmorethanoncewasforceduponhimthathewasgoingtoanappointmentthatwouldnotbekept。
Hereachedthestationsometenminutesbeforethetrainwasdue。
Twoorthreehalf-drowsy，wrapped-uppassengerswerealreadyontheplatform；butneitherDonCaesarnorColonelPendletonwasamongthem。Heexploredthewaiting-roomsandeventhehalf-litbuffet，butwithnobettersuccess。TellingtheBahnhofInspectorthathispassagewasonlycontingentuponthearrivalofoneortwocompanions，anddescribingthemminutelytopreventmistakes，hebegangloomilytopacebeforetheticket-office。Fiveminutespassed——thenumberofpassengersdidnotincrease；tenminutes；adistantshriek——thehoarseinquiryoftheinspector——hadtheHerr\'scompanionsyetgekommt?thesuddenglareofaCyclopeaneyeinthedarkness，theonglidingofthelong-jointedandgleamingspottedserpent，thetrain——ahurriedglancearoundtheplatform，oneortwogutturalorders，theslammingofdoors，theremountingofblackuniformedfigureslikecaryatidesalongthemarchepieds，apuffofvapor，andthetrainhadcomeandgonewithoutthem。
Yethewouldgivehisadversaryfifteenminutesmoretoallowforaccidentordelay，orthepossiblearrivalofthecolonelwithanexplanation，andrecommencedhisgloomypacing，astheBahnhofsankbackintohalf-litrepose。Attheendoffiveminutestherewasanothershriek。Paulturnedquicklytotheinspector。Ah，then，therewasanothertrain?No；itwasonlytheupexpressforBasle，goingtheotherwayandstoppingattheNordStation，halfamileaway。Itwouldnotstophere，buttheHerrwouldseeitpassinafewmomentsatfullspeed。
Itcamepresently，withaprolongeddespairingshriek，outofthedarkness；aflash，arushandroarathisside，aplungeintothedarknessagainwiththesamedespairingcry；aflutterofsomethingwhitefromoneofthewindows，likealoosenedcurtain，thatatlastseemedtodetachitself，and，afterawildattempttofollow，suddenlysoaredaloft，whirledoverandover，dropped，anddriftedslowly，slantwise，totheground。
Theinspectorhadseenit，randowntheline，andpickeditup。
ThenhereturnedwithittoPaulwithalookofsympathizingconcern。Itwasalady\'shandkerchief，evidentlysomesignalwavedtothewell-bornHerr，whowastheonlypassengerontheplatform。
So，possibly，itmightbefromhisfriends，whobysomestupidmischancehadgonetothewrongstation，and——GottimHimmel!——itwashideouslystupid，yetpossible，gotonthewrongtrain!
TheHerr，alittlepale，butcomposed，thoughtitWASpossible。
No；hewouldnottelegraphtothenextstation——notyet——hewouldinquire。
Hewalkedquicklyaway，reachingthehotelbreathlessly，yetinaspacethatseemedalltoobriefforhisdisconnectedthought。
Thereweresignsofanimationinthehall，andanemptycarriagewasjustreenteringthecourtyard。Thehall-portermethimwithdemonstrativeconcernandapology。Ah!ifhehadonlyunderstoodhisExcellencybetter，hecouldhavesavedhimallthistrouble。
EvidentlyhisExcellencywasgoingwiththeArguelloparty，whohadorderedacarriage，doubtless，forthesameimportantjourney，anhourbefore，yethadleftonlyafewmomentsafterhisExcellency，andhisExcellency，itwouldappear，hadgonetothewrongstation。
Paulpushedhurriedlypastthemanandascendedtohisroom。Bothwindowswereopen，andinthefaintmoonlighthecouldseethatsomethingwhitewaspinnedtohispillow。Withnervousfingersherelithiscandles，andfounditwasanoteinYerba\'shandwriting。
Asheopenedit，atinysprayofthevinethathadgrownonthecrumblingwallfellathisfeet。Hepickeditup，pressedittohislips，andread，withdimeyes，asfollows:——
\"YouknownowwhyIspoketoyouasIdidto-day，andwhytheotherhalfofthisprecioussprayistheonlymemoryIcaretocarrywithmeoutofthiscrumblingruinofallmyhopes。Youwereright，Paul:mytakingyouthereWASANOMEN——nottoyou，whocanneverbeanythingbutproud，beloved，andtrue——buttoMEofalltheshameandmisery。Thankyouforallyouhavedone——forallyouwoulddo，myfriend，anddon\'tthinkmeungrateful，onlybecauseIamunworthyofit。Trytoforgiveme，butdon\'tforgetme，evenifyoumusthateme。Perhaps，ifyouknewall——youmightstilllovealittlethepoorgirltowhomyouhavealreadygiventheonlynameshecanevertakefromyou——YERBABUENA!
CHAPTERVII。
Itwasalreadyautumn，andinthecityofNewYorkanearlySundaymorningbreezewassweepinguptheleavesthathadfallenfromtheregularlyplantedailantustreesbeforethebrown-stonefrontageofarowofmonotonouslyalikefive-storiedhousesononeoftheprincipalavenues。ThePastoroftheThirdPresbyterianChurch，thatuplifteditsdoubletowersonthecorner，stoppedbeforeoneofthesedwellings，ranupthedozenbroadsteps，andrangthebell。Hewaspresentlyadmitttedtothesombrerichnessofahallanddrawing-roomwithhigh-backedfurnitureofdarkcarvedwoods，likecathedralstalls，and，hatinhand，somewhatimpatientlyawaitedthearrivalofhishostessandparishioner。Thedooropenedtoatall，white-hairedwomaninlustrelessblacksilk。Shewasregularandresoluteinfeatures，offinebutunbendingpresence，and，thoughsomewhatpastmiddleage，showednosignsofeithertheweaknessormellownessofyears。
\"IamsorrytodisturbyourSabbathmorningmeditations，SisterArgalls，norwouldIifitwerenotinthelineofChristianduty；
butSisterRobbinsisunabletodaytomakeherusualSabbathhospitalvisit，andIthoughtifyouwereexcusedfromtheForeignMissionaryclassandBibleinstructionatthreeyoumightundertakeherfunctions。Iknow，mydearoldfriend，\"hecontinued，withblanddeprecationofherhard-seteyes，\"howdistastefulthispromiscuousminglingwiththeroughandungodlyhasalwaysbeentoyou，andhowreluctantyouaretobeplacedinthepositionofbeingliabletohearcoarse，vulgar，orirreverentspeech。I
think，too，inourlongandpleasantpastoralrelations，youhavealwaysfoundmemindfulofit。IadmitIhavesometimesregrettedthatyourlatehusbandhadnotmoregenerallyfamiliarizedyouwiththewaysoftheworld。Butsoitis——weallhaveourweaknesses。
Ifnotonething，another。AndasEnvyandUncharitablenesssometimesfindtheirwayinevenChristianhearts，Ishouldlikeyoutoundertakethisofficeforthesakeofexample。Therearesome，dearSisterArgalls，whothinkthattherichwidowwhoismostliberalintheendowmentofthegoodsthatProvidencehasintrustedtoherhandsclaimsthereforetobeexemptfromlaborintheChristianvineyard。Letusteachthemhowunjusttheyare。\"
\"Iamwilling，\"saidthelady，withadry，determinedair。\"I
supposethesepatientsarenotprofessedlybadcharacters?\"
\"Bynomeans。Afew，perhaps；butthemajorityareunfortunates——
dependenteitheruponpubliccharityorsomesmallprovisionmadebytheirfriends。\"
\"Verywell。\"
\"AndyouunderstandthatthoughtheyhavetheprivilegeofrejectingyourChristianministrations，dearSisterArgalls，youarefreetojudgewhenyoumaybepatientorimportunatewiththem?\"
\"Iunderstand。\"
ThePastorwasnotanunkindlyman，and，asheglancedattheuncompromisinglookinMrs。Argalls\'seyes，feltforamomentsomeinconsistencybetweenhishumaneinstinctsandhisChristianduty。
\"Someofthemmayrequire，andbebenefitedby，asternmonitress，andSisterRobbins，Ifear，wasweak，\"hesaidconsolinglytohimself，ashedescendedthestepsagain。
Atthreeo\'clockMrs。Argalls，withareticuleandafewtracts，wasatthedoorofSt。John\'sHospital。AsshedisplayedhertestimonialsandannouncedthatshehadtakenMrs。Robbins\'splace，theofficialsreceivedherrespectfully，andgavesomeinstructionstotheattendants，which，however，didnotstopsomeindividualcomments。
\"Isay，Jim，itdoesn\'tseemthesquarethingtoletthatgrimoldgirllooseamongthempoorconvalescents。\"
\"Well，Idon\'tknow:theysayshe\'srichandgivesaloto\'moneyaway，butifshetacklesthatswearingoldKentuckianinNo。3，she\'llhaveherhandsfull。\"
However，thecriticismwasscarcelyfair，forMrs。Argalls，althoughmovingrigidlyalongfrombedtobedoftheward，equippedwithacertainformulaofphrases，neverthelessdroppedfromtimetotimesomepracticalcommon-sensequestionsthatshowedanalmostmasculineintuitionofthepatients\'needsandrequirements。Nordidshebetrayanyofthatover-sensitiveshrinkingfromcoarsenesswhichthegoodPastorhadfeared，albeitshewasquicktocorrectitsexhibition。Thelanguidmenlistenedtoherwithhalf-
aggressive，half-amusedinterest，andsomeofthesatisfactionoftakingabitterbutwholesometonic。Itwasnotuntilshereachedthebedatthefartherendofthewardthatsheseemedtomeetwithanycheck。
Itwasoccupiedbyahaggardman，withalongwhitemoustacheandfeaturesthatseemedwastedbyinwardstruggleandfever。Atthefirstsoundofhervoiceheturnedquicklytowardsher，liftedhimselfonhiselbow，andgazedfixedlyinherface。
\"KateHoward——bytheEternal!\"hesaid，inalowvoice。
Despiteherrigidself-possessionthewomanstarted，glancedhurriedlyaround，anddrewnearertohim。
\"Pendleton!\"shesaid，inanequallysuppressedvoice，\"What，inGod\'sname，areyoudoinghere?\"
\"Dying，Ireckon——soonerorlater，\"hesaidgrimly，\"that\'swhattheydohere。\"
\"But——what，\"shewentonhurriedly，stillglancingoverhershoulderasifshesuspectedsometrick——\"whathasbroughtyoutothis?\"
\"YOU!\"saidthecolonel，droppingbackexhaustedlyonhispillow。
\"Youandyourdaughter。\"
\"Idon\'tunderstandyou，\"shesaidquickly，yetregardinghimwithsternrigidity。\"YouknowperfectlywellIhaveNOdaughter。YouknowperfectlywellthatI\'vekeptthewordIgaveyoutenyearsago，andthatIhavebeendeadtoherasshehasbeentome。\"
\"Iknow，\"saidthecolonel，\"thatwithinthelastthreemonthsI
havepaidawaymylastcenttokeepthemouthofaninfernalscoundrelshutwhoKNOWSthatyouarehermother，andthreatenstoexposehertoherfriends。IknowthatI\'mdyinghereofanoldwoundthatIgotwhenIshutthemouthofanotherhoundwhowasreadytobarkathertwoyearsafteryoudisappeared。IknowthatbetweenyouandherI\'veletmyoldniggerdieofabrokenheart，becauseIcouldn\'tkeephimtosufferwithme，andIknowthatI\'mhereapauperontheState。Iknowthat，Kate，andwhenIsayitI
don\'tregretit。I\'vekeptmywordtoYOU，and，bytheEternal，yourdaughter\'sworthit!Forifthereeverwasafairandpeerlesscreature——it\'syourchild!\"
\"Andshe——arichwoman——unlessshesquanderedthefortuneIgaveher——letsyouliehere!\"saidthewomangrimly。
\"Shedon\'tknowit。\"
\"SheSHOULDknowit!Haveyouquarreled?\"Shewaslookingathimkeenly。
\"Shedistrustsme，becauseshehalfsuspectsthesecret，andI
hadn\'tthehearttotellherall。\"
\"All?Whatdoessheknow?Whatdoesthismanknow?Whathasbeentoldher?\"shesaidrapidly。
\"Sheonlyknowsthatthenameshehastakenshehasnorightto。\"
\"Rightto?Why，itwaswrittenontheTrust——YerbaBuena。\"
\"No，notthat。Shethoughtitwasamistake。ShetookthenameofArguello。\"
\"What?\"saidMrs。Argalls，suddenlygraspingtheinvalid\'swristwithbothhands。\"Whatname?\"hereyeswerestartledfromtheirrigidcoldness，herlipswerecolorless。
\"Arguello!Itwassomefoolishschoolgirlfancywhichthathoundhelpedtofosterinher。Why——what\'sthematter，Kate?\"
Thewomandroppedthehelplessman\'swrist，then，withaneffort，recoveredherselfsufficientlytorise，and，withanairofincreaseddecorum，asifthespiritualcharacteroftheirinterviewexcludedworldlyintrusion，adjustedthescreenaroundhisbed，soaspartlytohideherownfaceandPendleton\'s。Then，droppingintothechairbesidehim，shesaid，inheroldvoice，fromwhichtheburdenoftenlongyearsseemedtohavebeenlifted，——
\"Harry，what\'sthatyou\'replayingonme?\"
\"Idon\'tunderstandyou，\"saidPendletonamazedly。
\"Doyoumeantosayyoudon\'tknowit，anddidn\'ttellheryourself?\"shesaidcurtly。
\"What?Tellherwhat?\"herepeatedimpatiently。
\"ThatArguelloWASherfather!\"
\"Herfather?\"Hetriedtostruggletohiselbowagain，butshelaidherhandmasterfullyuponhisshoulderandforcedhimback。
\"Herfather!\"herepeatedhurriedly。\"JoseArguello!GreatGod!——
areyousure?\"
Quietlyandyetmechanicallygatheringthescatteredtractsfromthecoverlet，andputtingthemback，onebyoneinherreticule，shecloseditandherlipswithasnapassheuttered——\"Yes。\"
Pendletonremainedstaringathersilently，\"Yes，\"hemuttered，\"itmayhavebeensomeinstinctofthechild\'s，orsomediabolicalfancyofBriones\'。But，\"hesaidbitterly，\"trueornot，shehasnorighttohisname。\"
\"AndIsaysheHAS。\"
Shehadrisentoherfeet，withherarmsfoldedacrossherbreast，inanattitudeofsuchPuritancomposurethatthedistantspectatorsmighthavethoughtshewasdeliveringanexordiumtotheprostrateman。
\"ImetJoseArguello，forthesecondtime，inNewOrleans，\"shesaidslowly，\"eightyearsago。Hewasstillrich，butruinedinhealthbydissipation。Iwastiredofmywayoflife。HeproposedthatIshouldmarryhimtotakecareofhimandlegitimatizeourchild。IwasforcedtotellhimwhatIhaddonewithher，andthattheTrustcouldnotbedisturbeduntilshewasofageandherownmistress。Heassented。Wemarried，buthediedwithinayear。Hedied，leavingwithmehisacknowledgmentofherashischild，andtherighttoclaimherifIchose。\"
\"And?\"——interruptedthecolonelwithsparklingeyes。
\"IDON\'TCHOOSE。
\"Hearme!\"shecontinuedfirmly。\"Withhisnameandmyownmistress，andthegirl，asIbelieved，properlyprovidedforandignorantofmyexistence，Isawnonecessityforreopeningthepast。Iresolvedtoleadanewlifeashiswidow。Icamenorth。
InthelittleNewEnglandtownwhereIfirststopped，thecountrypeoplecontractedmynametoMrs。Argalls。Iletitstandso。I