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 looked upon the occurrence with that
unreasoning satisfaction with which average humanity receives the
most trivial and unmeaning coincidences。 It was left to Don Caesar
to give it a gallant application。
〃I have not…a the pleasure of knowing…a the Miss Minnie； but the
jewelry； when she arrives； to the throat…a of Miss Yerba； she has
not lost the valuethe beautythe charm。〃
〃No；〃 said Woods； cheerily。 〃The fact is； Baker； you were too
slow。 Miss Yerba's folks gobbled up the necklace while you were
thinking。 You were a new…comer。 Old 'forty…niners' did not
hesitate over a thing they wanted。〃
〃You never knew who was your successful rival； eh？〃 said Dona Anna；
turning to Judge Baker with a curious glance at Paul's pale face in
passing。
〃No；〃 said Baker； 〃but〃he stopped with a hesitating laugh and
some little confusion。 〃No； I've mixed it up with something else。
It's so long ago。 I never knew； or if I did I've forgotten。 But
the necklace I remember。〃 He handed it back to Yerba with a bow；
and the incident ended。
Paul had not looked at Yerba during this conversation； an
unreasoning instinct that he might confuse her； an equally
unreasoning dread that he might see her confused by others；
possessing him。 And when he did glance at her calm； untroubled
face； that seemed only a little surprised at his own singular
coldness； he was by no means relieved。 He was only convinced of
one thing。 In the last five minutes he had settled upon the
irrevocable determination that his present relations with the girl
could exist no longer。 He must either tell her everything； or see
her no more。 There was no middle course。 She was on the brink of
an exposure at any moment； either through her ignorance or her
unhappy pretension。 In his intolerable position； he was equally
unable to contemplate her peril； accept her defense； or himself
defend her。
As if； with some feminine instinct； she had attributed his silence
to some jealousy of Don Caesar's attentions； she more than once
turned from the Spaniard to Paul with an assuring smile。 In his
anxiety； he half accepted the rather humiliating suggestion； and
managed to say to her； in a lower tone：
〃On this last visit of your American guardian； one would think； you
need not already anticipate your Spanish relations。〃
He was thrilled with the mischievous yet faintly tender pleasure
that sparkled in her eyes as she said；
〃You forget it is my American guardian's FIRST visit； as well as
his last。〃
〃And as your guardian；〃 he went on； with half…veiled seriousness；
〃I protest against your allowing your treasures； the property of
the Trust；〃 he gazed directly into her beautiful eyes； 〃being
handled and commented upon by everybody。〃
When the ladies had left the table； he was； for a moment； relieved。
But only for a moment。 Judge Baker drew his chair beside Paul's；
and； taking his cigar from his lips； said； with a perfunctory
laugh：
〃I say； Hathaway； I pulled up just in time to save myself from
making an awful speech； just now； to