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habits。 We will have a pleasant ride and a good long talk
together； and I'll show you a ruin and a distant view of the villa
where I have been staying。〃 She held out her hand with a frank
girlish smile； and even a girlish anticipation of pleasure in her
brown eyes。 He bent over her slim fingers for a moment； and
withdrew。
When he was in his own room again； he was conscious only of a
strong desire to avoid the colonel until after his ride with Yerba。
He would keep his word so far as to abstain from allusion to her
family or her past： indeed； he had his own opinion of its futility。
But it would be strange if； with his past experience； he could not
find some other way to determine her convictions or win her
confidence during those two hours of companionship。 He would
accept her terms fairly； if she had any ulterior design in her
advances； he would detect it； if she had the least concern for him；
she could not continue long an artificial friendship。 But he must
not think of that！
By absenting himself from the hotel he managed to keep clear of
Pendleton until the hour arrived。 He was gratified to find Yerba
in the simplest and most sensible of habits； as if she had already
divined his tastes and had wished to avoid attracting undue
attention。 Nevertheless； it very prettily accented her tall
graceful figure； and Paul； albeit； like most artistic admirers of
the sex； not recognizing a woman on a horse as a particularly
harmonious spectacle； was forced to admire her。 Both rode well；
and naturallyhaving been brought up in the same Western school
the horses recognized it； and instinctively obeyed them； and their
conversation had the easy deliberation and inflection of a tete…a…
tete。 Paul； in view of her previous hint； talked to her of himself
and his fortunes； of which she appeared； however； to have some
knowledge。 His health had obliged him lately to abandon politics
and office； he had been successful in some ventures； and had become
a junior partner in a bank with foreign correspondence。 She
listened to him for some time with interest and attention； but at
last her face became abstracted and thoughtful。 〃I wish I were a
man！〃 she said suddenly。
Paul looked at her quickly。 For the first time he detected in the
ring of her voice something of the passionate quality he fancied he
had always seen in her face。
〃Except that it might give you better control of your horse； I
don't see why；〃 said Paul。 〃And I don't entirely believe you。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because no woman really wishes to be a man unless she is conscious
of her failure as a woman。〃
〃And how do you know I'm not？〃 she said； checking her horse and
looking in his face。 A quick conviction that she was on the point
of some confession sprang into his mind； but unfortunately showed
in his face。 She beat back his eager look with a short laugh。
〃There； don't speak； and don't look like that。 That remark was
worthy the usual artless maiden's invitation to a compliment；
wasn't it？ Let us keep to the subject of yourself。 Why； with your
political influence； don't you get yourself appointed to some
diplomatic position over here？〃
〃There are none in our service。 You wouldn't want me to sink
myself in some absurd social functions； which are called by that
name； merely to become the envy and hatred of a few rich
republicans； like your friends who haunt foreign courts？〃
〃That's not a pretty speechbut I suppose I invited THAT too。
Don't apologize。 I'd rather see you flare out like that than pay
compliments。 Yet I fancy you're a diplomatist； for all that。〃
〃You did me the honor to believe I was one once； when I was simply
the most palpable ass and bungler living；〃 said Paul bitterly。
She was still sweetly silent； apparently preoccupied in smoothing
out the mane of her walking horse。 〃Did I？〃 she said softly。 He
drew close beside her。
〃How different the vegetation is here from what it is with us！〃 she
said with nervous quickness； directing his attention to the grass
road beneath them； without lifting her eyes。 〃I don't mean what is
cultivated；for I suppose it takes centuries to make the lawns
they have in England；but even here the blades of grass seem to
press closer together； as if they were crowded or overpopulated；
like the country； and this forest； which has been always wild and
was a hunting park； has a blase look； as if it was already tired of
the unchanging traditions and monotony around it。 I think over
there Nature affects and influences us： here； I fancy； it is itself
affected by the people。〃
〃I think a good deal of Nature comes over from America for that
purpose；〃 he said dryly。
〃And I think you are breaking your promisebesides being a goose！〃
she retorted smartly。 Nevertheless； for some occult reason they
both seemed relieved by this exquisite witticism； and trotted on
amicably together。 When Paul lifted his eyes to hers he could see
that they were suffused with a tender mischief； as of a reproving
yet secretly admiring sister； and her strangely delicate complexion
had taken on itself that faint Alpine glow that was more of an
illumination than a color。 〃There；〃 she said gayly； pointing with
her whip as the wood opened upon a glade through which the parted
trees showed a long blue curvature of distant hills； 〃you see that
white thing lying like a snowdrift on the hills？〃
〃Or the family washing on a hedge。〃
〃As you please。 Well； that is the villa。〃
〃And you were very happy there？〃 said Paul； watching her girlishly
animated face。
〃Yes； and as you don't ask questions； I'll tell you why。 There is
one of the sweetest old ladies there that I ever metthe
perfection of old…time courtliness with all the motherishness of a
German woman。 She was very kind to me； and； as she had no daughter
of her own； I think she treated me as if I was one。 At least； I
can imagine how one would feel to her； and what a woman like that
could make of any girl。 You laugh； Mr。 Hathaway； you don't
understandbut you don't know what an advantage it would be to a
girl to have a mother like that； and know that she could fall back
on her and hold her own against anybody。 She's equipped from the
start； instead of being handicapped。 It's all very well to talk
about the value of money。 It can give you everything but one
thingthe power to do without it。〃
〃I think its purchasing value would include even the gnadige Frau；〃
said Paul； who had laughed only to hide the uneasiness that Yerba's
approach to the tabooed subject had revived in him。 She shook her
head； then； recovering her tone of gentle banter； said； 〃There
I've made a confession。 If the colonel talks to you again about my
conquests； you will know that at present my affections are centred
on the Baron's mother。 I admit it's a strong point in hisin
ANYBODY'Sfavor； who can show an unblemished maternal pedigree。
What a pity it is you are an orphan； like myself； Mr。 Hathaway！
For I fancy your mother must have been a very perfect woman。 A
great deal of her tact and propriety has descended to you。 Only it
would have been nicer if she had given it to you； like pocket
money； as occasion requiredwhich