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remembered； with a sudden start； what Pendleton had said to him。
Good Heavens！ Had Pendleton that idea in his mind？ And yetit
seemed the only solution。
A knock at his door was followed by the appearance of Mr。 Woods。
Mr。 Hathaway's portmanteau had come； and Mrs。 Woods had sent a
message； saying that in view of the limited time that Mr。 Hathaway
would have with his ward； Mrs。 Woods would forego her right to keep
him at her side at dinner； and yield her place to Yerba。 Paul
thanked him with a grave inward smile。 What if he made his
dramatic disclosure to her confidentially over the soup and fish？
Yet； in his constantly recurring conviction of the girl's
independence； he made no doubt she would have met his brutality
with unflinching pride and self…possession。 He began to dress
slowly； at times almost forgetting himself in a new kind of
pleasant apathy； which he attributed to the odor of the flowers；
and the softer hush of twilight that had come on with the dying
away of the trade winds； and the restful spice of the bay…trees
near his window。 He presently found himself not so much thinking
of Yerba as of SEEING her。 A picture of her in the summer…house
caressing her cheek with the roses seemed to stand out from the
shadows of the blank wall opposite him。 When he passed into the
dressing…room beyond； it was not his own face he saw in the glass；
but hers。 It was with a start； as if he had heard HER voice； that
he found upon his dressing…table a small vase containing a flower
for his coat； with the penciled words on a card in a school…girl's
hand； 〃From Yerba； with thanks for staying。〃 It must have been
placed there by a servant while he was musing at the window。
Half a dozen people were already in the drawing…room when Paul
descended。 It appeared that Mr。 Woods had invited certain of his
neighborsamong them a Judge Baker and his wife； and Don Caesar
Briones； of the adjacent Rancho of Los Pajaros； and his sister； the
Dona Anna。 Milly and Yerba had not yet appeared。 Don Caesar； a
young man of a toreador build； roundly bland in face and murky in
eye； seemed to notice their absence； and kept his glances towards
the door； while Paul engaged in conversation with Dona Annaif
that word could convey an impression of a conventionality which
that good…humored young lady converted into an animated flirtation
at the second sentence with a single glance and two shakes of her
fan。 And then Milly fluttered ina vision of school…girl
freshness and white tulle； and a moment laterwith a pause of
expectationa tall； graceful figure； that at first Paul scarcely
recognized。
It is a popular conceit of our sex that we are superior to any
effect of feminine adornment； and that a pretty girl is equally
pretty in the simplest frock。 Yet there was not a man in the room
who did not believe that Yerba in her present attire was not only
far prettier than before； but that she indicated a new and more
delicate form of beauty。 It was not the mere revelation of contour
and color of an ordinary decollete dress； it was a perfect
presentment of pure symmetry and carriage。 In this black grenadine
dress； trimmed with jet； not only was the delicate satin sheen of
her skin made clearer by contrast； but she looked every inch her
full height； with an ideal exaltation of breeding and culture。 She
wore no jewelry except a small necklace of pearlsso small it
might have been a child'sthat fitted her slender throat so
tightly that it could scarcely be told from the flesh that it
clasped。 Paul did not know that it was the gift of the mother to
the child that she had forsworn only a few weeks before she parted
from her forever； but he had a vague feeling that； in that sable
dress that seemed like mourning； she walked at the funeral of her
mother's past。 A few white flowers in her corsage； the companions
of the solitary one in his button…hole； were the only relief。
Their eyes met for a single moment； the look of admiration in
Paul's being answered by the naive consciousness in Yerba's of a
woman looking her best； but the next moment she appeared
preoccupied with the others； and the eager advances of Don Caesar。
〃Your brother seems to admire Miss Yerba；〃 said Paul。
〃Ah； yees；〃 returned Dona Anna。 〃And you？〃
〃Oh！〃 said Paul； gayly； 〃I？ I am her guardianwith me it is
simple egotism； you know。〃
〃Ah！〃 returned the arch Dona Anna； 〃you are then already SO certain
of her？ Good！ I shall warn him。〃
A precaution that did seem necessary； as later； when Paul； at a
signal from his hostess； offered his arm to Yerba； the young
Spaniard regarded him with a look of startled curiosity。
〃I thank you for selecting me to wear your colors；〃 said Paul with
a glance at the flowers in her corsage； as they sat at table； 〃and
I think I deserve them； since； but for you； I should have been on
my way to San Francisco at this moment。 Shall I have an
opportunity of talking to you a few minutes later in the evening？〃
he added； in a lower tone。
〃Why not now？〃 returned Yerba； mischievously。 〃We are set here
expressly for that purpose。〃
〃Surely not to talk of our own businessI should say； of our
FAMILY affairs；〃 said Paul； looking at her with equal playfulness；
〃though I believe your friend Don Caesar； opposite； would be more
pleased if he were sure that was all we did。〃
〃And you think his sister would share in that pleasure？〃 retorted
Yerba。 〃I warn you； Mr。 Hathaway； that you have been quite
justifying the Reverend Mother's doubts about your venerable
pretensions。 Everybody is staring at you now。〃
Paul looked up mechanically。 It was true。 Whether from some
occult sympathy； from a human tendency to admire obvious fitness
and symmetry； or the innocent love with which the world regards
innocent lovers； they were all observing Yerba and himself with
undisguised attention。 A good talker； he quickly led the
conversation to other topics。 It was then that he discovered that
Yerba was not only accomplished； but that this convent…bred girl
had acquired a singular breadth of knowledge apart from the
ordinary routine of the school curriculum。 She spoke and thought
with independent perceptions and clearness； yet without the
tactlessness and masculine abruptness that is apt to detract from
feminine originality of reflection。 By some tacit understanding
that had the charm of mutual confidence； they both exerted
themselves to please the company rather than each other； and Paul；
in the interchange of sallies with Dona Anna； had a certain
pleasure in hearing Yerba converse in Spanish with Don Caesar。 But
in a few moments he observed； with some uneasiness； that they were
talking of the old Spanish occupation； and presently of the old
Spanish families。 Would she prematurely expose an ignorance that
might be hereafter remembered against her； or invite some dreadful
genealogical reminiscence that would destroy her hopes and raze her
Spanish castles？ Or was she simply collecting information？ He
admired the dexterity with which； without committing herself； she
made Don Caesar openly and even confidentially communicative。 And
yet he was on thorns； at times it seemed as if he himself were
playing a part in this imposture of Yerba's。 He was aware that his
wandering attention was noticed by the quick…witted Dona Anna； when
he regained his self…possession by what appeared to be a happy
diversion。 It was the voice of Mrs。 Judge Baker calling across the
table to Yerba。 By one of the peculiar accidents of general
conversation； it was the one apparently trivial remark that in a
pause challenged the ears of all。
〃We were admiring your necklace； Miss Yerba。〃
Every eye was turned upon the slender throat of the handsome girl。
The excuse was so natural。
Yerba put her hand to her neck with a smile。 〃You are joking； Mrs。
Baker。 I know it is ridiculously small； but it is a child's
necklace； and I wear it because it was a gift from my mother。〃
Paul's heart sank again with consternation。 It was the first time
he had heard the girl distinctly connect herself with her actual
mother； and for an instant he felt as startled as if the forgotten
Outcast herself had returned and taken a seat at the board。
〃I told you it couldn't be so？〃 remarked Mrs。 Baker； to her
husband。
Everybody naturally looked inquiringly upon the couple； and Mrs。
Baker explained with a smile： 〃Bob thinks he's seen it before； men
are so obstinate。〃
〃Pardon me； Miss Yerba；〃 said the Judge； blandly； 〃would you mind
showing it to me； if it is not too much trouble？〃
〃Not at all；〃 said Yerba； smiling； and detaching the circlet from
her neck。 〃I'm afraid you'll find it rather old…fashioned。〃
〃That's just what I hope to find it；〃 said Judge Baker； with a
triumphant glance at his wife。 〃It was eight years ago when I saw
it in Tucker's jewelry shop。 I wanted to buy it for my little
Minnie； but as the price was steep I hesitated； and when I did make
up my mind he had disposed of it to another customer。 Yes；〃 he
added； examining the necklace which Yerba had handed to him。 〃I am
certain it is the same： it was unique； like this。 Odd； isn't it？〃
Everybody said it WAS odd； and l