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Americans are full of those low conceits； it was their national vulgarity。
He had the letter in his angry hand。 He could break it open if he
wished and satisfy himself； but it was not addressed to HIM； and the
instinct of honor； strong even in his rage； was the instinct of an adversary
as well。 No； Slinn should open the letter before him。 Slinn should
explain everything； and answer for it。 If it was nothinga mere accident…
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…it would lead to some general explanation； and perhaps even news of
Mamie。 But he would arraign Slinn； and at once。 He put the letter in
his pocket； quickly retraced his steps to his horse； and； putting spurs to the
animal； followed the high road to the gate of Mulrady's pioneer cabin。
He remembered it well enough。 To a cultivated taste； it was superior
to the more pretentious 〃new house。〃 During the first year of Mulrady's
tenancy； the plain square log…cabin had received those additions and
attractions which only a tenant can conceive and actual experience suggest；
and in this way the hideous right angles were broken with sheds； 〃lean…to〃
extensions； until a certain picturesqueness was given to the irregularity of
outline； and a home…like security and companionship to the congregated
buildings。 It typified the former life of the great capitalist； as the tall new
house illustrated the loneliness and isolation that wealth had given him。
But the real points of vantage were the years of cultivation and habitation
that had warmed and enriched the soil； and evoked the climbing vines and
roses that already hid its unpainted boards； rounded its hard outlines； and
gave projection and shadow from the pitiless glare of a summer's long sun；
or broke the steady beating of the winter rains。 It was true that pea and
bean poles surrounded it on one side； and the only access to the house was
through the cabbage rows that once were the pride and sustenance of the
Mulradys。 It was this fact； more than any other； that had impelled Mrs。
Mulrady to abandon its site； she did not like to read the history of their
humble origin reflected in the faces of their visitors as they entered。
Don Caesar tied his horse to the fence； and hurriedly approached the
house。 The door； however； hospitably opened when he was a few paces
from it； and when he reached the threshold he found himself unexpectedly
in the presence of two pretty girls。 They were evidently Slinn's sisters；
whom he had neither thought of nor included in the meeting he had
prepared。 In spite of his preoccupation； he felt himself suddenly
embarrassed； not only by the actual distinction of their beauty； but by a
kind of likeness that they seemed to bear to Mamie。
〃We saw you coming；〃 said the elder； unaffectedly。 〃You are Don
Caesar Alvarado。 My brother has spoken of you。〃
The words recalled Don Caesar to himself and a sense of courtesy。 He
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was not here to quarrel with these fair strangers at their first meeting； he
must seek Slinn elsewhere； and at another time。 The frankness of his
reception and the allusion to their brother made it appear impossible that
they should be either a party to his disappointment； or even aware of it。
His excitement melted away before a certain lazy ease； which the
consciousness of their beauty seemed to give them。 He was able to put a
few courteous inquiries； and； thanks to the paragraph in the 〃Record；〃 to
congratulate them upon their father's improvement。
〃Oh； pa is a great deal better in his health； and has picked up even in
the last few days； so that he is able to walk round with crutches；〃 said the
elder sister。 〃The air here seems to invigorate him wonderfully。〃
〃And you know； Esther；〃 said the younger； 〃I think he begins to take
more notice of things； especially when he is out…of…doors。 He looks
around on the scenery； and his eye brightens； as if he knew all about it；
and sometimes he knits his brows； and looks down so； as if he was trying
to remember。〃
〃You know； I suppose；〃 exclaimed Esther； 〃that since his seizure his
memory has been a blankthat is； three or four years of his life seem to
have been dropped out of his recollection。〃
〃It might be a mercy sometimes； Senora；〃 said Don Caesar； with a
grave sigh； as he looked at the delicate features before him； which recalled
the face of the absent Mamie。
〃That's not very complimentary；〃 said the younger girl； laughingly；
〃for pa didn't recognize us； and only remembered us as little girls。〃
〃Vashti！〃 interrupted Esther； rebukingly； then； turning to Don Caesar；
she added； 〃My sister； Vashti； means that father remembers more what
happened before he came to California； when we were quite young； than
he does of the interval that elapsed。 Dr。 Duchesne says it's a singular
case。 He thinks that； with his present progress； he will recover the
perfect use of his limbs； though his memory may never come back again。〃
〃Unless You forget what the doctor told us this morning；〃
interrupted Vashti again； briskly。
〃I was going to say it；〃 said Esther； a little curtly。 〃UNLESS he has
another stroke。 Then he will either die or recover his mind entirely。〃
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Don Caesar glanced at the bright faces； a trifle heightened in color by
their eager recital and the slight rivalry of narration； and looked grave。
He was a little shocked at a certain lack of sympathy and tenderness
towards their unhappy parent。 They seemed to him not only to have
caught that dry； curious toleration of helplessness which characterizes
even relationship in its attendance upon chronic suffering and weakness；
but to have acquired an unconscious habit of turning it to account。 In his
present sensitive condition； he even fancied that they flirted mildly over
their parent's infirmity。
〃My brother Harry has gone to Red Dog；〃 continued