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。