第8章

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。