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resented in its own texture。 But she turned impatiently away
perhaps not before she had allowed this passing vision to impress
the mind of her devoted adherentand said； 〃Come along； or that
dreadful man will be out on the veranda again。〃
〃But； if you dislike him so； why did you accept the invitation to
meet him here at luncheon？〃 said the curious Milly。
〃I didn't accept； the Mother Superior did for me； because he's the
Mayor of San Francisco visiting your uncle； and she's always
anxious to placate the powers that be。 And I thought he might have
some information that I could get out of him。 And it was better
than being in the convent all day。 And I thought I could stand HIM
if you were here。〃
Milly gratefully accepted this doubtful proof of affection by
squeezing her companion's arm。 〃And you didn't get any
information； dear？〃
〃Of course not！ The idiot knows only the old tradition of his
officethat I was a mysterious Trust left in Mayor Hammersley's
hands。 He actually informed me that 'Buena' meant 'Good'； that it
was likely the name of the captain of some whaler； that put into
San Francisco in the early days； whose child I was； and that； if I
chose to call myself 'Miss Good；' he would allow it； and get a bill
passed in the Legislature to legalize it。 Think of it； my dear！
'Miss Good；' like one of Mrs。 Barbauld's stories； or a moral
governess in the 'Primary Reader。'〃
〃'Miss Good；'〃 repeated Milly； innocently。 〃Yes； you might put an
e at the endG…double…o…d…e。 There are Goodes in Philadelphia。
And then you won't have to sacrifice that sweet pretty 'Yerba；'
that's so stylish and musical； for you'd still be 'Yerba Good。'
But；〃 she added； as Yerba made an impatient gesture； 〃why do you
worry yourself about THAT？ You wouldn't keep your own name long；
whatever it was。 An heiress like you； dear；lovely and
accomplished；would have the best names as well as the best men in
America to choose from。〃
〃Now please don't repeat that idiot's words。 That's what HE says；
that's what they ALL say！〃 returned Yerba； pettishly。 〃One would
really think it was necessary for me to get married to become
anybody at all； or have any standing whatever。 And； whatever you
do； don't go talking of me as if I were named after a vegetable。
'Yerba Buena' is the name of an island in the bay just off San
Francisco。 I'm named after that。〃
〃But I don't see the difference； dear。 The island was named after
the vine that grows on it。〃
〃YOU don't see the difference？〃 said Yerba； darkly。 〃Well； I do。
But what are you looking at？〃
Her companion had caught her arm； and was gazing intently at the
house。
〃Yerba；〃 she said quickly； 〃there's the Mayor； and uncle； and a
strange gentleman coming down the walk。 They're looking for us。
And； as I live； Yerb！ the strange gentleman is that young senator；
Mr。 Hathaway！〃
〃Mr。 Hathaway？ Nonsense！〃
〃Look for yourself。〃
Yerba glanced at the three gentlemen； who； a hundred yards distant；
were slowly advancing in the direction of the ceanothus…hedge；
behind which the girls had instinctively strayed during their
conversation。
〃What are you going to do？〃 said Milly； eagerly。 〃They're coming
straight this way。 Shall we stay here and let them pass； or make a
run for the house？〃
〃No；〃 said Yerba； to Milly's great surprise。 〃That would look as
if we cared。 Besides； I don't know that Mr。 Hathaway has come to
see ME。 We'll stroll out and meet them accidentally。〃
Milly was still more astonished。 However； she said； 〃Wait a
moment； dear！〃 and； with the instinctive deftness of her sex； in
three small tugs and a gentle hitch； shook Yerba's gown into
perfect folds； passed her fingers across her forehead and over her
ears； securing； however； with a hairpin on their passage three of
the rose petals where they had fallen。 Then； discharging their
faces of any previous expression； these two charming hypocrites
sallied out innocently into the walk。 Nothing could be more
natural than their manner： if a criticism might be ventured upon；
it was that their elbows were slightly drawn inwards and before
them； leaving their hands gracefully advanced in the line of their
figures； an attitude accepted throughout the civilized world of
deportment as indicating fastidious refinement not unmingled with
permissible hauteur。
The three gentlemen lifted their hats at this ravishing apparition；
and halted。 The Mayor advanced with great politeness。
〃I feared you didn't hear me call you； Miss Yerba； so we ventured
to seek you。 As the two girls exchanged almost infantile glances
of surprise； he continued： 〃Mr。 Paul Hathaway has done us the honor
of seeking you here； as he did not find you at the convent。 You
may have forgotten that Mr。 Hathaway is the third one of your
trustees。〃
〃And so inefficient and worthless that I fear he doesn't count；〃
said Paul； 〃but；〃 raising his eyes to Yerba's； 〃I fancy that I have
already had the pleasure of seeing you； and； I fear； the
mortification of having disturbed you and your friends in the
parlor of the Golden Gate Hotel yesterday。〃
The two girls looked at each other with the same childlike
surprise。 Yerba broke the silence by suddenly turning to Milly。
〃Certainly； you remember how greatly interested we were in the
conversation of a party of gentlemen who were there when we came
in。 I am afraid our foolish prattle must have disturbed YOU。 I
know that we were struck with the intelligent and eloquent devotion
of your friends。〃
〃Oh； perfectly；〃 chimed in the loyal but somewhat infelix Milly；
〃and it was so kind and thoughtful of Mr。 Hathaway to take them
away as he did。〃
〃I felt the more embarrassed；〃 continued Hathaway； smiling； but
still critically examining Yerba for an indication of something
characteristic； beyond this palpable conventionality； 〃as I
unfortunately must present my credentials from a gentleman as much
of a stranger as myselfColonel Pendleton。〃
The trade…wind was evidently making itself felt even in this
pastoral retreat； for the two gentlemen appeared to shrink slightly
within themselves； and a chill seemed to have passed over the
group。 The Mayor coughed。 The avuncular Woods gazed abstractedly
at a large cactus。 Even Paul； prepared by previous experience；
stopped short。
〃Colonel Pendleton！ Oh； do tell me all about him！〃 flashed out
Yerba； suddenly； with clasped hands and eager girlish breath。
Paul cast a quick grateful glance at the girl。 Whether assumed or
not； her enthusiastic outburst was effective。 The Mayor looked
uneasily at Woods； and turned to Paul。
〃Ah； yes！ You and he are original co…trustees。 I believe
Pendleton is in reduced circumstances。 Never quite got over that
bank trouble。〃
〃That is only a question of legislative investigation and relief；〃
said Paul lightly； yet with purposely vague official mystery of
manner。 Then； turning quickly to Yerba； as if replying to the only
real question at issue； he continued pointedly； 〃I am sorry to say
the colonel's health is so poor that it keeps him quite a recluse。
I have a letter from him and a message for you。〃 His bright eyes
added plainly〃as soon as we ca