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friends。〃
Usually； when two young people have reached the point of
confidingly exchanging their first impressions of each other； some
progress has been made in first acquaintance。 But it did not
strike Paul in that way； and Yerba's next remark was discouraging。
〃But I'm rather disappointed； for all that。 Colonel Pendleton
tells me you know nothing of my family or of the secret。〃
Paul was this time quite prepared； and withstood the girl's
scrutiny calmly。 〃Do you think；〃 he asked lightly； 〃that even HE
knows？〃
〃Of course he does；〃 she returned quickly。 〃Do you suppose he
would have taken all that trouble you have just talked about if he
didn't know it？ And feared the consequences； perhaps？〃 she added；
with a slight return of her previous expressive manner。
Again Paul was puzzled and irritated； he knew not why。 But he only
said pleasantly； 〃I differ from you there。 I am afraid that such a
thing as fear never entered into Colonel Pendleton's calculations
on any subject。 I think he would act the same towards the highest
and the lowest； the powerful or the most weak。〃 As she glanced at
him quickly and mischievously； he added； 〃I am quite willing to
believe that his knowledge of you made his duty pleasanter。〃
He was again quite sincere； and his slight sympathy had that
irresistible quality of tone and look which made him so dangerous。
For he was struck with the pretty； soothed self…complacency that
had shone in her face since he had spoken of Pendleton's equal
disinterestedness。 It seemed； too； as if what he had taken for
passion or petulance in her manner had been only a resistance to
some continual aggression of condition。 With that remainder held
in check； a certain latent nobility was apparent； as of her true
self。 In this moment of pleased abstraction she had drawn through
the lattice…work of one of the windows a spray of roses clinging to
the vine； and with her graceful head a little on one side； was
softly caressing her cheek with it。 She certainly was very pretty。
From the crown of her dark little head to the narrow rosetted
slippers that had been idly tapping the ground； but now seemed to
press it more proudly； with arched insteps and small ankles； she
was pleasant to look upon。
〃But you surely have something else to think about； Miss Yerba？〃
said the young man； with conviction。 〃In a few months you will be
of age； and rid of those dreadfully stupid guardians； with your〃
The loosened rose…spray flew from her hand out of the window as she
made a gesture； half real； half assumed； of imploring supplication。
〃Oh； please； Mr。 Hathaway； for Heaven's sake don't YOU begin too！
You are going to say that； with my wealth； my accomplishments； my
beauty； my friends； what more can I want？ What do I care about a
secret that can neither add to them nor take them away？ Yes； you
were！ It's the regular thing to sayeverybody says it。 Why； I
should have thought 'the youngest senator' could afford to have
been more original。〃
〃I plead guilty to ALL the weaknesses of humanity；〃 said Paul；
warmly； again beginning to believe that he had been most unjust to
her independence。
〃Well； I forgive you； because you have forgotten to say that； if I
don't like the name of Yerba Buena； I could SO easily change that
too。〃
〃But you DO like it；〃 said Paul； touched with this first hearing of
her name in her own musical accents； 〃or would like it if you heard
yourself pronounce it。〃 It suddenly recurred to him； with a
strange thrill of pleasure； that he himself had given it to her。
It was as if he had created some musical instrument to which she
had just given voice。 In his enthusiasm he had thrown himself on
the bench beside her in an attitude that； I fear； was not as
dignified as became his elderly office。
〃But you don't think that is my NAME；〃 said the girl； quickly。
〃I beg your pardon？〃 said Paul； hesitatingly。
〃You don't think that anybody would have been so utterly idiotic as
to call me after a ground…vinea vegetable？〃 she continued
petulantly。
〃Eh？〃 stammered Paul。
〃A name that could be so easily translated；〃 she went on； half
scornfully； 〃and when translated； was no possible title for
anybody？ Think of itMiss Good Herb！ It is too ridiculous for
anything。〃
Paul was not usually wanting in self…possession in an emergency； or
in skill to meet attack。 But he was so convinced of the truth of
the girl's accusation； and now recalled so vividly his own
consternation on hearing the result of his youthful and romantic
sponsorship for the first time from Pendleton； that he was struck
with confusion。
〃But what do you suppose it was intended for？〃 he said at last；
vaguely。 〃It was certainly 'Yerba Buena' in the Trust。 At least；
I suppose so；〃 he corrected himself hurriedly。
〃It is only a supposition；〃 she said quietly； 〃for you know it
cannot be proved。 The Trust was never recorded； and the only copy
could not be found among Mr。 Hammersley's papers。 It is only part
of the name； of which the first is lost。〃
〃Part of the name？〃 repeated Paul； uneasily。
〃Part of it。 It is a corruption of de la Yerba Buena；of the
Yerba Buena；and refers to the island of Yerba Buena in the bay；
and not to the plant。 That island was part of the property of my
familythe Arguellosyou will find it so recorded in the Spanish
grants。 My name is Arguello de la Yerba Buena。〃
It is impossible to describe the timid yet triumphant； the half…
appealing yet complacent； conviction of the girl's utterance。 A
moment before； Paul would have believed it impossible for him to
have kept his gravity and his respect for his companion under this
egregious illusion。 But he kept both。 For a sudden conviction
that she suspected the truth； and had taken this audacious and
original plan of crushing it； overpowered all other sense。 The
Arguellos； it flashed upon him； were an old Spanish family； former
owners of Yerba Buena Island； who had in the last years become
extinct。 There had been a story that one of them had eloped with
an American ship captain's wife at Monterey。 The legendary history
of early Spanish California was filled with more remarkable
incidents； corroborated with little difficulty from Spanish
authorities； who； it was alleged； lent themselves readily to any
fabrication or forgery。 There was no racial pride： on the
contrary； they had shown an eager alacrity to ally themselves with
their conquerors。 The friends of the Arguellos would be proud to
recognize and remember in the American heiress the descendant of
their countrymen。 All this passed rapidly through his mind after
the first moment of surprise； all this must have been the
deliberate reasoning of this girl of seventeen； whose dark eyes
were bent upon him。 Whether she was seeking corroboration or
complicity he could not tell。
〃Have you found this out yourself？〃 he asked； after a pause。
〃Yes。 One of my friends at the convent was Josita Castro； she knew
all the history of the Arguellos。 She is perfectly satisfied。〃
For an instant Paul wondered if it was a joint conception of the
two schoolgirls。 But； on reflection； he was persuaded that Yerba
woul