\"Hisownidea——entirely。And，byJove!heprovestoberight。Youcan\'tdoanythingherewithoutauniform。Andtheytellmehe\'sgoteverythingcorrect，downtothecrestonthebuttons。\"
Theywalkedoninsilenceforafewmoments，PendletonretainingacertainrigidityofstepandbearingwhichPaulhadcometorecognizeasindicatingsomeuneasinessormentaldisturbanceonhispart。Hathawayhadnointentionofprecipitatingtheconfidenceofhiscompanion。Perhapsexperiencehadtoldhimitwouldcomesoonenough。Sohespokecarelesslyofhimself。Howtheneedofayear\'srelaxationandchangehadbroughthimabroad，hisjourneyings，and，finally，howhehadbeenadvisedbyhisGermanphysiciantospendafewweeksatStrudleBadpreparatorytothevoyagehome。Yethewasperfectlyawarethatthecolonelfromtimetotimecastafurtiveglanceathisface。\"AndYOU，\"hesaidinconclusion——\"whendoyouintendtoreturntoCalifornia?\"
Thecolonelhesitatedslightly。\"IshallremaininEuropeuntilMissArguelloissettled——Imean，\"headdedhurriedly，\"untilshehas——ahem!——completedhereducationinforeignwaysandcustoms。
Yousee，Hathaway，Ihaveconstitutedmyself，afteracertainfashion，Imaysay——still，herguardian。Iamanoldman，withneitherkithnorkinmyself，sir——I\'malittletooold-fashionedfortheboysoverthere\"——withavaguegesturetowardsthewest，which，however，toldPaulhownearitstillwastohim。\"Butthen，amongtheoldfogyshere——blankitall!——itisn\'tnoticed。SoI
lookafterher，yousee，orrathermakemyselfresponsibleforhergenerally——although，ofcourse，shehasotherfriendsandassociates，youunderstand，moreofherownageandtastes。\"
\"AndI\'venodoubtshe\'sperfectlysatisfied，\"saidPaulinatoneofconviction。
\"Well，yes，sir，Ipresumeso，\"saidthecolonelslowly；\"butI\'vesometimesthought，Mr。Hathaway，thatitwouldhavebeenbetterifshe\'dhavehadawoman\'scare——theprotectionyouunderstand，ofanelderlywomanofsociety。Thatseemstobethestylehere，youknow——achaperon，theycallit。Now，MillyWoods，yousee，isaboutthesameage，andtheDonaAnna，ofcourse，isolder，but——
blankit!——she\'sasbigaflirtastherest——Imean，\"headded，correctinghimselfsharply，\"shelacksbalance，sir，and——whatshallIcallit?——self-abnegation。\"
\"ThenDonaAnnaisstillofyourparty?\"askedPaul。
\"Sheis，sir，andherbrother，DonCaesar。Ihavethoughtitadvisable，onYerba\'saccount，tokeepupasmuchaspossiblethesuggestionofherSpanishrelationship——althoughbyreasonoftheirabsurdignoranceofgeographyandpoliticaldivisionsouthere，thereisaprevailingimpressionthatsheisaSouthAmerican。A
fact，sir。IhavemyselfbeenmistakenfortheDictatorofoneoftheseinfernalRepublics，andIhavebeenpointedoutasrulingoveramillionortwoofniggerslikeGeorge!\"
Therewasnotraceofanyconceptionofhumorinthecolonel\'sface，althoughheutteredashortlaugh，asifinpoliteacceptanceofthepossibilitythatPaulmighthaveone。Farfromthat，hiscompanion，lookingatthestrikingprofileanderectfigureathisside——atthelongwhitemoustachewhichdroopedfromhisdarkcheeks，andrememberinghisownsensationsatfirstseeingGeorge——
thoughtthepopularbeliefnotsowonderful。Hewasevenforcedtoadmitthattheperfectunconsciousnessonthepartofmasterandmanofanyincongruityorpeculiarityinthemselvesassistedthepublicmisconception。Anditwas，Ifear，withafeelingofwickeddelightthat，onenteringthehotel，hehailedtheevidentconsternationofthosecorrectfellow-countrymenfromwhomhehadlatelyfled，atwhattheyapparentlyregardedasanationalscandal。HeoverheardtheirhurriedassurancetotheirEnglishfriendsthathiscompanionswereNOTfromBoston，andenjoyedtheirmortificationthatthisexplanationdidnotseemtodetractfromtheinterestandreliefwithwhichtheBritonssurveyedthem，ortheopenadmirationoftheGermans。
AlthoughPendletonsomewhatunbentduringsupper，hedidnotalludetothesecretofYerba\'sparentage，norofanytardyconfidenceofhers。Toallappearancethesituationremainedasitwasthreeyearsago。Hespokeofhergreatpopularityasanheiressandabeautifulwoman，andthemarkedattentionsshereceived。Hedoubtednotthatshehadrejectedverydistinguishedoffers，butshekeptthattoherself。Shewasperfectlycompetenttodoso。
Shewasnogiddygirl，tobeflatteredordeceived；onthecontrary，hehadneverknownacoolerormoresensiblewoman。Sheknewherownworth。Whenshemetthemanwhosatisfiedherambitionandunderstanding，shewouldmarry，andnotbefore。Hedidnotknowwhatthatambitionwas；itwassomethingexalted，ofcourse。Hecouldonlysay，ofhisownknowledge，thatlastyear，whentheywereontheItalianlakes，therewasacertainprince——
Mr。Hathawaywouldunderstandwhyhedidnotmentionnames——whowasnotonlyattentivetoher，butattentivetoHIM，sir，byJove!andmostsignificantinhisinquiries。Itwastheonlyoccasionwhenhe，thecolonel，hadeverspokentoheronsuchsubjects；and，knowingthatshewasnotindifferenttothefellow，whowasnotbadofhiskind，hehadaskedherwhyshehadnotencouragedhissuit。
Shehadsaid，withalaugh，thathecouldn\'tmarryherunlesshegaveuphisclaimofsuccessiontoacertainreigninghouse；andshewouldn\'taccepthimWITHOUTIT。Thosewereherwords，sir，andhecouldonlysaythattheprinceleftafewdaysafterwards，andtheyhadneverseenhimsince。Astotheprincelingsandcountsandbarons，sheknewtoadaythedateoftheirpatentsofnobility，andwhatprivilegestheywereentitledto；shecouldtelltoadotthevalueoftheirestates，theamountoftheirdebts，and，byJove!sir，theamountofmortgagesshewasexpectedtopayoffbeforeshemarriedthem。SheknewtheamountofincomeshehadtobringtothePrussianArmy，fromthegeneraltothelieutenant。
Sheunderstoodherownvalueandherrights。TherewasayoungEnglishlordlingshemetontheRhine，whoseboyishwaysandsimplicityseemedtopleaseher。Theyweregreatfriends；buthewantedhim——thecolonel——toinducehertoacceptaninvitationforbothtovisithismother\'shomeinEngland，thathispeoplemightseeher。Butshedeclined，sir!Shedeclinedtopassinreviewbeforehismother。ShesaiditwasforHIMtopassinreviewbeforeHERmother。
\"Didshesaythat?\"interruptedPaul，fixinghisbrighteyesuponthecolonel。
\"Ifshehadone，ifshehadone，\"correctedthecolonel，hastily。
\"Ofcourseitwasonlyanillustration。Thatsheisanorphanisgenerallyknown，sir。\"
Therewasadeadsilenceforafewmoments。Thecolonelleanedbackinhischairandpulledhismoustache。Paulturnedawayhiseyes，andseemedabsorbedinreflection。Afteramomentthecolonelcoughed，pushedasidehisglass，and，leaningacrossthetable，said，\"Ihaveafavortoaskofyou，Mr。Hathaway。\"
Therewassuchasingularchangeinthetoneofhisvoice，anunexpectedrelaxationofsomeartificialtension，——arelaxationwhichstruckPaulsopatheticallyasbeingasmuchphysicalasmental，asifhehadsuddenlybeenovertakeninsomeexertionbytheweaknessofage，——thathelookedupquickly。Certainly，althoughstillerectandlightlygraspinghismoustache，thecolonellookedolder。
\"Byallmeans，mydearcolonel，\"saidPaulwarmly。
\"DuringthetimeyouremainhereyoucanhardlyhelpmeetingMissArguello，perhapsfrequently。Itwouldbestrangeifyoudidnot；
itwouldappeartoeverybodystillstranger。Givemeyourwordasagentlemanthatyouwillnotmaketheleastallusiontoherofthepast——norreopenthesubject。\"
Paullookedfixedlyatthecolonel。\"Icertainlyhadnointentionofdoingso，\"hesaidafterapause，\"forIthoughtitwasalreadysettledbyyoubeyonddisturbanceordiscussion。ButdoI
understandyou，thatSHEhasshownanyuneasinessregardingit?
Fromwhatyouhavejusttoldmeofherplansandambition，Icanscarcelyimaginethatshehasanysuspicionoftherealfacts。\"
\"Certainlynot，\"saidthecolonelhurriedly。\"ButIhaveyourpromise。\"
\"Ipromiseyou，\"saidPaul，afterapause，\"thatIshallneitherintroducenorrefertothesubjectmyself，andthatifSHEshouldquestionmeagainregardingit，whichishardlypossible，Iwillrevealnothingwithoutyourconsent。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidPendleton，without，however，exhibitingmuchreliefinhisface。\"Shewillreturnhereto-morrow。\"
\"Ithoughtyousaidshewasabsentforsomedays，\"saidPaul。
\"Yes；butsheiscomingbacktosaygood-bytoDonaAnna，whoarrivesherewithherbrotherthesameday，ontheirwaytoParis。\"
ItflashedthroughPaul\'smindthatthelasttimehehadseenherwasinthecompanyoftheBriones。Itwasnotapleasantcoincidence。Yethewasnotawarethatithadaffectedhim，untilhesawthecolonelwatchinghim。
\"Ibelieveyoudon\'tfancythebrother，\"saidPendleton。
ForaninstantPaulwasstronglytemptedtoavowhisoldvaguesuspicionsofDonCaesar，buttheutterhopelessnessofreopeningthewholesubjectagain，andhisrecollectionofthepassageinPendleton\'sletterthatpurportedtobeYerba\'sowntheoryofhisdislike，checkedhimintime。Heonlysaid，\"Idon\'trememberwhetherIhadanycausefordislikingDonCaesar；IcantellbetterwhenIseehimagain，\"andchangedthesubject。AfewmomentslaterthecolonelsummonedGeorgefromsomelowerregionofthehotel，androsetotakehisleave。\"MissArguello，withhermaidandcourier，willoccupyheroldsuiteofroomshere，\"heremarked，withareturnofhisoldimperiousness。\"Georgehasgiventheordersforher。Ishallnotchangemypresentlodgings，butofcoursewillcalleveryday。Goodnight!\"
CHAPTERVI。
ThenextmorningPaulcouldnothelpnoticinganincreasedandevenexaggeratedrespectpaidhimbythehotelattendants。HewasaskedifhisEXCELLENCYwouldheservedwithbreakfastinaprivateroom，andhiscondescensioninselectingthepubliccoffee-roomstrucktheobsequiouschamberlain，butdidnotpreventhimfromprecedingPaulbackwardstothetable，andsummoningawaitertoattendspeciallyupon\"milor。\"SurmisingthatGeorgeandthecolonelmightbeinsomewayconnectedwiththisextravagance，hepostponedaninvestigationtillheshouldhaveseenthemagain。And，althoughhehardlydaredtoconfessittohimself，theunexpectedprospectofmeetingYerbaagainfullypreoccupiedhisthoughts。HehadbelievedthathewouldeventuallyseeherinEurope，insomevagueandindefinitewayandhour:ithadbeeninhismindwhenhestartedfromCalifornia。Thatitwouldbesosoon，andinsuchasimpleandnaturalmanner，hehadneverconceived。
\"HehadreturnedfromhismorningwalktotheBrunnen，andwassittingidlyinhisroom，whentherewasaknockatthedoor。Itopenedtoaservantbearingasalverwithacard。Paullifteditwithaslighttremor，notattheengravednameof\"MariaConcepciondeArguellosdelaYerbaBuena，\"butattherememberedschool-girlhandthathadpenciledunderneaththewords，\"wishesthefavorofanaudiencewithhisExcellencytheLordLieutenant-GovernoroftheCalifornias。\"
Paullookedinquiringlyattheservant。\"ThegnadigeFrauleinwasinherownsalon。WouldEXCELLENCYwalkthatway?Itwasbutastep；ineffect，thenextapartment。\"
Paulfollowedhimintothehallwithwonderingsteps。Thedoorofthenextroomwasopen，anddisclosedahandsomelyfurnishedsalon。
Atallgracefulfigurerosequicklyfrombehindawriting-table，andadvancedwithoutstretchedhandsandafrankyetmischievoussmile。ItwasYerba。
Standingthereinagrayishhat，mantle，andtravelingdress，allofonesubduedyetalluringtone，shelookedasbeautifulaswhenhehadlastseenher——andyet——unlike。Forabriefbittermomenthisinstinctsrevoltedatthisfamiliaryieldingupinhisfaircountrywomenofallthatwasdistinctivelyoriginalinthemtoalientastesandhabits，andheresentedtheplasticyetcharacterlessmobilitywhichmadeYerba\'sParisiandressandEuropeanmannerfithersocharminglyandyetexpresssolittle。
Forabriefcriticalmomentherememberedtheplacid，unchangingsimplicityofGerman，andtheinflexibleandingrainedreserveofEnglish，girlhood，inoppositiontothisindistinctivecosmopolitangrace。Butonlyforamoment。Assoonasshespoke，acertainflavorofindividualityseemedtoreturntoherspeech。
\"Confess，\"shesaid，\"itwasacourageousthingformetodo。Youmighthavebeensomebodyelse——arealExcellency——orheavenknowswhat!Or，whatisworseinyournewmagnificence，youmighthaveforgottenoneofyouroldest，mosthumble，butfaithfulsubjects。\"
Shedrewbackandmadehimamockceremoniouscurtsy，thateveninitscharmingexaggerationsuggestedtoPaul，however，thatshehadalreadymadeitsomewhereseriously。
\"Butwhatdoesitallmean?\"heasked，smiling，feelingnotonlyhisdoubtsanduneasinessvanish，buteventheyearsofseparationmeltawayinherpresence。\"IknowIwenttobedlastnightaveryhumbleindividual，andyetIseemtoawakenthismorningaveryexaltedpersonage。AmIreallyCommanderoftheFaithful，oramI
dreaming?MightItroubleyou，asmypredecessorAbouHassandidSweetlips，tobitemylittlefinger?\"
\"Doyoumeantosayyouhavenotseenthe\'Auzeiger?\'\"shereturned，takingasmallGermanprintedsheetfromthetableandpointingtoaparagraph。Paultookthepaper。Certainlytherewastheplainannouncementamongthearrivalsof\"HisExcellencyPaulHathaway，LordLieutenant-GovernoroftheCalifornias。\"Alightflasheduponhim。
\"ThisisGeorge\'swork。HeandColonelPendletonwereherewithmelastnight。\"
\"Thenyouhaveseenthecolonelalready?\"shesaid，withascarcelyperceptiblealterationofexpression，which，however，struckPaul。
\"Yes。Imethimatthetheatrelastevening。\"Hewasabouttoplungeintoananimateddescriptionofthecolonel\'sindignation，butcheckedhimself，heknewnotwhy。Buthewasthankfulthenextmomentthathehad。
\"Thataccountsforeverything，\"shesaid，liftingherprettyshoulderswithaslightshrugofweariness。\"IhadtoputasteptoGeorge\'stalkingaboutMEthreemonthsago，——hisextravaganceissomethingTOOawful。Andthecolonel，whoiscompletelyinhishands，——trustinghimforeverything，eventhelanguage，——doesn\'tseeit。\"
\"Butheisextravagantinthepraiseofhisfriendsonly，andyoucertainlyjustifyallhecansay。\"
Shewastakingoffherhat，andstoppedforamomenttolookathimthoughtfully，withthesofttendrilsofherhairclingingtoherforehead。\"Didthecoloneltalkmuchaboutme?\"
\"Agreatdeal。Infact，Ithinkwetalkedofnothingelse。Hehastoldmeofyourtriumphsandyourvictims；ofyourvariouscampaignsandyourconquests。AndyetIdaresayhehasnottoldmeall——andIamdyingtohearmore。\"
Shehadlaiddownherhatandunloosedalargebowofhermantle，butstoppedsuddenlyinthemidstofitandsatdownagain。
\"Iwishyou\'ddosomethingforme。\"
\"Youhaveonlytonameit。\"
\"Well，dropallthiskindoftalk!TrytothinkofmeasifIhadjustcomefromCalifornia——or，better，asifyouhadneverknownanythingofmeatall——andwemetforthefirsttime。Youcould，I
daresay，makeyourselfveryagreeabletosuchayoungladywhowaswillingtobepleased——whynottome?Iventuretosayyouhavenotevertroubledyourselfaboutmesincewelastmet。No——hearmethrough——why，then，shouldyouwishtotalkoverwhatdidn\'tconcernyouatthetime?Promisemeyouwillstopthisreminiscentgossip，andIpromiseyouIwillnotonlynotboreyouwithit，buttakecarethatitisnotintrudeduponyoubyothers。Makeyourselfpleasanttomebytalkingaboutyourselfandyourprospects——anythingbutME——andIwillthrowoverthoseprincesandbaronsthatthecolonelhasravedaboutanddevotemyselftoyouwhileyouarehere。DoesthatsuityourExcellency?\"Shehadcrossedherknees，and，withherhandsclaspedoverthem，andthetoeofhersmallbootadvancedbeyondherskirt，leanedforwardintheattitudeherememberedtohaveseenhertakeinthesummer-
houseatRosario。
\"Perfectly，\"hesaid。
\"Howlongwillyoubehere?\"
\"Aboutthreeweeks:that，Ibelieve，isthetimeallottedformycure。\"
\"Areyoureallyill，\"shesaidquietly，\"orimagineyourselfso?\"
\"Itamountstoaboutthesamething。Butmycuremaynottakesolong，\"headded，fixinghisbrighteyesuponher。
Shereturnedhisgazethoughtfully，andtheyremainedlookingateachothersilently。
\"Thenyouarestrongerthanyougiveyourselfcreditfor。Thatisveryoftenthecase，\"shesaidquietly。\"There，\"sheaddedinanothertone，\"itissettled。Youwillcomeandgoasyoulike，usingthissalonasyourown。Stay，wecandosomethingtoday。
Whatdoyousaytoarideintheforestthisafternoon?Millyisn\'thereyet，butitwillbequiteproperforyoutoaccompanymeonhorseback，though，ofcourse，wecouldn\'twalkahundredyardsdowntheAlleetogetherunlesswewereverlobt。\"
\"But，\"saidPaul，\"youareexpectingcompanythisafternoon。DonCaesar——ImeanMissBrionesandherbrotherarecomingheretosaygood-by。\"
Sheregardedhimcuriously，butwithoutemotion。
\"ColonelPendletonshouldhaveaddedthattheyweretoremainhereovernightasmyguests，\"shesaidcomposedly。Andofcourseweshallbebackintimefordinner。Butthatisnothingtoyou。Youhaveonlytobereadyatthreeo\'clock。Iwillseethatthehorsesareordered。Ioftenridehere，andthepeopleknowmytastesandhabits。Wewillhaveapleasantrideandagoodlongtalktogether，andI\'llshowyouaruinandadistantviewofthevillawhereIhavebeenstaying。\"Sheheldoutherhandwithafrankgirlishsmile，andevenagirlishanticipationofpleasureinherbrowneyes。Hebentoverherslimfingersforamoment，andwithdrew。
Whenhewasinhisownroomagain，hewasconsciousonlyofastrongdesiretoavoidthecoloneluntilafterhisridewithYerba。
Hewouldkeephiswordsofarastoabstainfromallusiontoherfamilyorherpast:indeed，hehadhisownopinionofitsfutility。
Butitwouldbestrangeif，withhispastexperience，hecouldnotfindsomeotherwaytodetermineherconvictionsorwinherconfidenceduringthosetwohoursofcompanionship。Hewouldaccepthertermsfairly；ifshehadanyulteriordesigninheradvances，hewoulddetectit；ifshehadtheleastconcernforhim，shecouldnotcontinuelonganartificialfriendship。Buthemustnotthinkofthat!
ByabsentinghimselffromthehotelhemanagedtokeepclearofPendletonuntilthehourarrived。HewasgratifiedtofindYerbainthesimplestandmostsensibleofhabits，asifshehadalreadydivinedhistastesandhadwishedtoavoidattractingundueattention。Nevertheless，itveryprettilyaccentedhertallgracefulfigure，andPaul，albeit，likemostartisticadmirersofthesex，notrecognizingawomanonahorseasaparticularlyharmoniousspectacle，wasforcedtoadmireher。Bothrodewell，andnaturally——havingbeenbroughtupinthesameWesternschool——
thehorsesrecognizedit，andinstinctivelyobeyedthem，andtheirconversationhadtheeasydeliberationandinflectionofatete-a-
tete。Paul，inviewofherprevioushint，talkedtoherofhimselfandhisfortunes，ofwhichsheappeared，however，tohavesomeknowledge。Hishealthhadobligedhimlatelytoabandonpoliticsandoffice；hehadbeensuccessfulinsomeventures，andhadbecomeajuniorpartnerinabankwithforeigncorrespondence。Shelistenedtohimforsometimewithinterestandattention，butatlastherfacebecameabstractedandthoughtful。\"IwishIwereaman!\"shesaidsuddenly。
Paullookedatherquickly。Forthefirsttimehedetectedintheringofhervoicesomethingofthepassionatequalityhefanciedhehadalwaysseeninherface。
\"Exceptthatitmightgiveyoubettercontrolofyourhorse，I
don\'tseewhy，\"saidPaul。\"AndIdon\'tentirelybelieveyou。\"
\"Why?\"
\"Becausenowomanreallywishestobeamanunlesssheisconsciousofherfailureasawoman。\"
\"AndhowdoyouknowI\'mnot?\"shesaid，checkingherhorseandlookinginhisface。Aquickconvictionthatshewasonthepointofsomeconfessionsprangintohismind，butunfortunatelyshowedinhisface。Shebeatbackhiseagerlookwithashortlaugh。
\"There，don\'tspeak，anddon\'tlooklikethat。Thatremarkwasworthytheusualartlessmaiden\'sinvitationtoacompliment，wasn\'tit?Letuskeeptothesubjectofyourself。Why，withyourpoliticalinfluence，don\'tyougetyourselfappointedtosomediplomaticpositionoverhere?\"
\"Therearenoneinourservice。Youwouldn\'twantmetosinkmyselfinsomeabsurdsocialfunctions，whicharecalledbythatname，merelytobecometheenvyandhatredofafewrichrepublicans，likeyourfriendswhohauntforeigncourts?\"
\"That\'snotaprettyspeech——butIsupposeIinvitedTHATtoo。
Don\'tapologize。I\'dratherseeyouflareoutlikethatthanpaycompliments。YetIfancyyou\'readiplomatist，forallthat。\"
\"YoudidmethehonortobelieveIwasoneonce，whenIwassimplythemostpalpableassandbunglerliving，\"saidPaulbitterly。
Shewasstillsweetlysilent，apparentlypreoccupiedinsmoothingoutthemaneofherwalkinghorse。\"DidI?\"shesaidsoftly。Hedrewclosebesideher。
\"Howdifferentthevegetationisherefromwhatitiswithus!\"shesaidwithnervousquickness，directinghisattentiontothegrassroadbeneaththem，withoutliftinghereyes。\"Idon\'tmeanwhatiscultivated，——forIsupposeittakescenturiestomakethelawnstheyhaveinEngland，——butevenherethebladesofgrassseemtopressclosertogether，asiftheywerecrowdedoroverpopulated，likethecountry；andthisforest，whichhasbeenalwayswildandwasahuntingpark，hasablaselook，asifitwasalreadytiredoftheunchangingtraditionsandmonotonyaroundit。IthinkoverthereNatureaffectsandinfluencesus:here，Ifancy，itisitselfaffectedbythepeople。\"
\"IthinkagooddealofNaturecomesoverfromAmericaforthatpurpose，\"hesaiddryly。
\"AndIthinkyouarebreakingyourpromise——besidesbeingagoose!\"
sheretortedsmartly。Nevertheless，forsomeoccultreasontheybothseemedrelievedbythisexquisitewitticism，andtrottedonamicablytogether。WhenPaulliftedhiseyestohershecouldseethattheyweresuffusedwithatendermischief，asofareprovingyetsecretlyadmiringsister，andherstrangelydelicatecomplexionhadtakenonitselfthatfaintAlpineglowthatwasmoreofanilluminationthanacolor。\"There，\"shesaidgayly，pointingwithherwhipasthewoodopeneduponagladethroughwhichthepartedtreesshowedalongbluecurvatureofdistanthills，\"youseethatwhitethinglyinglikeasnowdriftonthehills?\"
\"Orthefamilywashingonahedge。\"
\"Asyouplease。Well，thatisthevilla。\"
\"Andyouwereveryhappythere?\"saidPaul，watchinghergirlishlyanimatedface。
\"Yes；andasyoudon\'taskquestions，I\'lltellyouwhy。ThereisoneofthesweetestoldladiestherethatIevermet——theperfectionofold-timecourtlinesswithallthemotherishnessofaGermanwoman。Shewasverykindtome，and，asshehadnodaughterofherown，IthinkshetreatedmeasifIwasone。Atleast，I
canimaginehowonewouldfeeltoher，andwhatawomanlikethatcouldmakeofanygirl。Youlaugh，Mr。Hathaway，youdon\'tunderstand——butyoudon\'tknowwhatanadvantageitwouldbetoagirltohaveamotherlikethat，andknowthatshecouldfallbackonherandholdherownagainstanybody。She\'sequippedfromthestart，insteadofbeinghandicapped。It\'sallverywelltotalkaboutthevalueofmoney。Itcangiveyoueverythingbutonething——thepowertodowithoutit。\"
\"IthinkitspurchasingvaluewouldincludeeventhegnadigeFrau，\"
saidPaul，whohadlaughedonlytohidetheuneasinessthatYerba\'sapproachtothetabooedsubjecthadrevivedinhim。Sheshookherhead；then，recoveringhertoneofgentlebanter，said，\"There——
I\'vemadeaconfession。Ifthecoloneltalkstoyouagainaboutmyconquests，youwillknowthatatpresentmyaffectionsarecentredontheBaron\'smother。Iadmitit\'sastrongpointinhis——inANYBODY\'S——favor，whocanshowanunblemishedmaternalpedigree。
Whatapityitisyouareanorphan，likemyself，Mr。Hathaway!
ForIfancyyourmothermusthavebeenaveryperfectwoman。A
greatdealofhertactandproprietyhasdescendedtoyou。Onlyitwouldhavebeennicerifshehadgivenittoyou，likepocketmoney，asoccasionrequired——whichyoumighthavesharedwithme——
thanleavingittoyouinonethumpinglegacy。\"
Itwasimpossibletotellhowfartheplayfulnessofherbrowneyessuggestedanyulteriormeaning，forasPaulagaineagerlydrewtowardsher，shesentherhorseintoarapidcanterbeforehim。
Whenhewasathersideagain，shesaid，\"Thereisstilltheruintoseeonourwayhome。Itisjustoffheretotheright。Butifyouwishtogooveritwewillhavetodismountatthefootoftheslopeandwalkup。Ithasn\'tanystoryorlegendthatIknowof；I
lookedovertheguide-booktocramforitbeforeyoucame，buttherewasnothing。Soyoucaninventwhatyoulike。\"
Theydismountedatthebeginningofagentleacclivity，whereanancientwagon-road，nowgrass-grown，rosesmoothasaglacis。
Tyingtheirhorsestotwomoplikebushes，theyclimbedtheslopehandinhandlikechildren。Therewereafewwindingbrokensteps，partofafallenarchway，afewfeetofvaultedcorridor，asuddenbreach——theskybeyond——andthatwasall!Notall；forbeforethem，overlookedatfirst，layachasmcoveringhalfanacre，inwhichthewholeoftheoriginaledifice——towerturrets，walls，andbattlements——hadbeenapparentlycast，inextricablymixedandmingledatdifferentdepthsandangles，withhereandthere，likemushroomsfromadust-heap，ascoreoftreesupspringing。
\"ThisisnotTime——butgunpowder，\"saidPaul，leaningoveraparapetofthewallandgazingattheabyss，withaslightgrimace。
\"Itdon\'tlookveryromantic，certainly，\"saidYerba。\"Ionlysawitfromtheroadbefore。I\'mdreadfullysorry，\"sheadded，withmockpenitence。\"Isuppose，however，SOMETHINGmusthavehappenedhere。\"
\"Theremayhavebeennobodyinthehouseatthetime，\"saidPaulgravely。\"Thefamilymayhavebeenatthebaths。\"
Theystoodclosetogether，theirelbowsrestinguponthebrokenwall，andalmosttouching。Beyondtheabyssanddarkerforesttheycouldseethemorevividgreenandregularlinesoftheplane-treesofStrudleBad，theglitterofaspire，ortheflashofadome。
Fromtheabyssitselfaroseacoolodorofmoistgreenleaves，thescentofsomeunseenblossoms，andaroundthebakingvinesonthehotwallthehumofapparentlytasklessanddisappointedbees。
Therewasnobodyinsightintheforestroad，nooneworkingintheborderingfields，andnosuggestionofthepresent。TheremighthavebeenthreeorfourcenturiesbetweenthemandStrudleBad。
\"Thelegendofthisplace，\"saidPaul，glancingatthelongbrownlashesandovaloutlineofthecheeksonearhisown，\"issimple，yetaffecting。Acruel，remorseless，butfascinatingHexiewasoncelovedbyasimpleshepherd。Hehadneverdaredtosyllablehishopelessaffection，orclaimfromherasyllabled——perhapsI
shouldsayaone-syllabled——reply。Hehadfollowedherfromremotelands，dumblyworshipingher，buildinginhisfoolishbrainanair-
castleofhappiness，whichbyreasonofhermagicpowershecouldalwaysseeplainlyinhiseyes。Andoneday，beguilinghiminthedepthsoftheforest，sheledhimtoafair-seemingcastle，and，biddinghimenteritsportals，offeredtoshowhimarealizationofhisdream。But，lo!evenasheenteredthestatelycorridoritseemedtocrumbleawaybeforehim，anddisclosedahideousabyssbeyond，inwhichthewholeofthatgoodlypalacelayinheapedandtangledruins——thefittingsymbolofhiswreckedandshatteredhopes。\"
Shedrewbackalittlewayfromhim，butstillholdingontothetopofthebrokenwallwithoneslimgauntletedhand，andswungherselftooneside，whileshesurveyedhimwithsmiling，partedlipsandconsciouseyelids。Hepromptlycoveredherhandwithhisown，butshedidnotseemtonoticeit。
\"Thatisnotthestory，\"shesaid，inafaintvoicethatevenherstrugglingsaucinesscouldnotmakesteadier。\"Thetruestoryiscalled\'TheLegendoftheGoose-GirlofStrudleBad，andtheenterprisingGosling。\'Therewasonceagoose-girloftheplainwhotriedhonestlytodrivehergeesetomarket，butoneeccentricandwillfulgosling——Mr。Hathaway!Stop——please——Ibegyouletmego!\"
Hehadcaughtherinhisarms——theoneencirclingherwaist，theotherhandstillgraspinghers。Shestruggled，halflaughing；
yieldedforabreathlessmomentashislipsbrushedhercheek，and——
threwhimoff。\"There!\"shesaid，\"thatwilldo:thestorywasnotillustrated。\"
\"But，Yerba，\"hesaid，withpassionateeagerness，\"hearme——itisallGod\'struth——Iloveyou!\"
Shedrewbackfarther，shakingthedustofthewallfromthefoldsofherhabit。Then，withalowervoiceandapalercheek，asifhislipshadsentherbloodandutterancebacktoherheart，shesaid，\"Come，letusgo。\"
\"Butnotuntilyou\'veheardme，Yerba。\"
\"Well，then——Ibelieveyou——there!\"shesaid，lookingathim。
\"Youbelieveme?\"herepeatedeagerly，attemptingtotakeherhandagain。
Shedrewbackstillfarther。\"Yes，\"shesaid，\"orIshouldn\'tbeherenow。There!thatmustsufficeyou。Andifyouwishmestilltobelieveyou，youwillnotspeakofthisagainwhileweareouttogether。Come，letusgobacktothehorses。\"
Helookedatherwithallhissoul。Shewaspale，butcomposed，and——hecouldsee——determined。Hefollowedherwithoutaword。
Sheacceptedhishandtosupportheragaindowntheslopewithoutembarrassmentorreminiscentemotion。Thewholescenethroughwhichshehadjustpassedmighthavebeenburiedintheabyssandruinsbehindher。Assheplacedherfootinhishandtoremount，andforamomentrestedherweightonhisshoulder，herbrowneyesmethisfranklyandwithoutatremor。
Norwasshecontentwiththis。AsPaulatfirstrodeonsilently，hisheartfilledwithunsatisfiedyearning，sheralliedhimmischievously。Wasitkindinhimonthis，theirfirstdaytogether，tosulkinthisfashion?Wasitapromisefortheirfutureexcursions?DidheintendtocarrythislugubriousvisagethroughtheAlleeanduptothecourtyardofthehoteltoproclaimhissentimentalconditiontotheworld?Atleast，shetrustedhewouldnotshowittoMilly，whomightrememberthatthiswasonlytheSECONDTIMEtheyhadmeteachother。Therewassomethingsosweetlyreasonableinthis，andwithalnotwithoutacertainhopefulnessforthefuture，tosaynothingofthehalf-mischievous，half-reproachfulsmilethataccompaniedit，thatPaulexertedhimself，andeventuallyrecoveredhislostgayety。Whentheyatlastdrewupinthecourtyard，withtheflushofyouthandexerciseintheirfaces，Paulfelthewastheobjectofenvytotheloungers，andoffreshgossiptoStrudleBad。Itstruckhimlesspleasantlythattwodarkfaces，whichhadbeenpreviouslyregardinghiminthegloomofthecorridorandvanishedasheapproached，reappearedsomemomentslaterinYerba\'ssalonasDonCaesarandDonaAnna，withabenignlydifferentexpression。DonaAnnaespeciallygreetedhimwithsomuchoftheostentatiousarchnessofaconfidentandforgivingwomantoamomentarilyrecreantlover，thathefeltabsurdlyembarrassedinYerba\'spresence。Hewasthinkinghowhecouldexcusehimself，whenhenoticedabeautifulbasketofflowersonthetableandatinynotebearingabaron\'screst。Yerbahadputitasidewith——asitseemedtohimatthemoment——analmosttoopronouncedindifference——andanindifferencethatwasstronglycontrastedtoDonaAnna\'seagerlyexpressedenthusiasmovertheoffering，andherultimatesupplicationstoPaulandherbrothertoadmireitsbeautiesandthewonderfultasteofthedonor。
AllthisseemedsoincongruouswithPaul\'sfeelings，andaboveallwiththerecollectionofhisscenewithYerba，thatheexcusedhimselffromdiningwiththeparty，alleginganengagementwithhisoldfellow-travelertheGermanofficer，whoseacquaintancehehadrenewed。Yerbadidnotpresshim；heevenfanciedshelookedrelieved。ColonelPendletonwascoming；Paulwasnotloath，inhispresentframeofmind，todispensewithhiscompany。Aconvictionthatthecolonel\'scounselwasnotthebestguideforYerba，andthatinsomevaguewaytheirinterestswereantagonistic，hadbeguntoforceitselfuponhim。Hehadnointentionofbeingdisloyaltoheroldguardian，buthefeltthatPendletonhadnotbeenfrankwithhimsincehisreturnfromRosario。HadheeverbeensowithHER?Hesometimesdoubtedhisdisclaimer。
HewasluckyinfindingtheGeneraldisengaged，andtogethertheydinedatarestaurantandspenttheeveningattheKursaal。Later，attheResidenzClub，theGeneralleanedoverhisbeer-glassandsmilinglyaddressedhiscompanion。
\"SoIhearyou，too，areaconquestofthebeautifulSouthAmerican。\"
ForaninstantPaul，recognizingonlyDonaAnnaunderthatepithet，lookedpuzzled。
\"Come，myfriend，\"saidtheGeneralregardinghimwithsomeamusement，\"Iamanoldermanthanyou，yetIhardlythinkIcouldhaveriddenoutwithsuchagoddesswithoutbecomingherslave。\"
Paulfelthisfaceflushinspiteofhimself。\"Ah!youmeanMissArguello，\"hesaidhurriedly，hiscolorincreasingathisownmentionofthatnameasifhewereimposingituponhishonestcompanion。\"Sheisanoldacquaintanceofmine——frommyownState——
California。\"
\"Ah，so，\"saidtheGeneral，liftinghiseyebrowsinprofoundapology。\"Athousandpardons。\"
\"Surely，\"saidPaul，withadesperateattempttorecoverhisequanimity，\"YOUoughttoknowourgeographybetter。\"
\"So，Iamwrong。Butstillthename——Arguello——surelythatisnotAmerican?Still，theysayshehasnoaccent，anddoesnotlooklikeaMexican。\"
ForaninstantPaulwassuperstitiouslystruckwiththefatalinfelicityofYerba\'sselectionofaforeignname，thatnowseemedonlytoinvitethatcommentandcriticismwhichsheshouldhaveavoided。NorcouldheexplainitatlengthtotheGeneralwithoutassistingandaccentingthedeception，whichhewasalwayshopinginsomevaguewaytobringtoanend。HewassorryhehadcorrectedtheGeneral；hewasfuriousthathehadallowedhimselftobeconfused。
Happilyhiscompanionhadmisinterpretedhisannoyance，andwithimpulsiveGermanfriendshipthrewhimselfintowhathebelievedtobePaul\'sfeelings。\"Donnerwetter!Yourbeautifulcountrywomanismadethesubjectofcuriosityjustbecausethatstupidbaronispersistentinhisseriousattentions。Thatisquiteenough，mygoodfriend，tomakeKlatschenhereamongthoseanimalswhodonotunderstandthefreedomofanAmericangirl，orthatanheiressmayhavesomethingelsetodowithhermoneythantoexpenditontheBaron\'smortgages。But\"——hestopped，andhissimple，honestfaceassumedanairofprofoundandsagaciouscunning——\"Iamgladtotalkaboutitwithyou，whoofcourseareperfectlyfamiliarwiththeaffair。Ishallnowbeabletoknowwhattosay。Myword，myfriend，hassomeweighthere，andIshalluseit。AndnowyoushalltellmeWHOisourlovelyfriend，andWHOwereherparentsandherkindredinherownhome。Herassociateshere，youpossiblyknow，areanimpossiblecolonelandhisnever-before-approachedvalet，withsomeSouthAmericanIndianplanters，and，Ibelieve，apork-butcher\'sdaughter。ButofTHEM——itmakesnothing。TellmeofHERpeople。\"
WithhiskindlyseriousfacewithinafewinchesofPaul\'s，andsympathizingcuriositybeamingfromhispince-nez，heobligedthewretchedandconscience-strickenHathawaytorespondwithadetailedaccountofYerba\'sparentageasprojectedbyherselfandindorsedbyColonelPendleton。HedweltsomewhatparticularlyontheromanticcharacteroftheTrust，hopingtodrawtheGeneral\'sattentionawayfromthequestionofrelationship，buthewaschagrinedtofindthatthehonestwarriorevidentlyconfoundedtheTrustwithsomeeleemosynaryinstitutionandsympatheticallyglosseditover。\"Ofcourse，\"hesaid，\"theMexicanMinisteratBerlinwouldknowallabouttheArguellofamily:sotherewouldbenoquestionthere。\"
