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thought〃have been familiar with The Huguenots；〃 he finished； making a
slight bow。
Villere took his under…meaning。 〃I come from New Orleans；〃 he returned；
〃and in New Orleans there live many of us who can recognize awho can
recognize good music wherever we hear it。〃 And he made a slight bow in
his turn。
The Padre laughed outright with pleasure and laid his hand upon the young
man's arm。 〃You have no intention of going away to…morrow； I trust？〃
〃With your leave；〃 answered Gaston； 〃I will have such an intention no
longer。〃
It was with the air and gait of mutual understanding that the two now
walked on together toward the Padre's door。 The guest was twenty…five；
the host sixty。
〃And have you been in America long？〃 inquired Gaston。
〃Twenty years。〃
〃And at Santa Ysabel how long？〃
〃Twenty years。〃
〃I should have thought；〃 said Gaston； looking lightly at the desert and
unpeopIed mountains； 〃that now and again you might have wished to
travel。〃
〃Were I your age；〃 murmured Padre Ignacio； 〃it might be so。〃
The evening had now ripened to the long after…glow of sunset。 The sea was
the purple of grapes； and wine…colored hues flowed among the high
shoulders of the mountains。
〃I have seen a sight like this；〃 said Gaston； 〃between Granada and
Malaga。〃
〃So you know Spain！〃 said the Padre。
Often he had thought of this resemblance； but never till now met any one
to share his thought。 The courtly proprietor of San Fernando and the
other patriarchal rancheros with whom he occasionally exchanged visits
across the wilderness knew hospitality and inherited gentle manners；
sending to Europe for silks and laces to give their daughters； but their
eyes had not looked upon Granada； and their ears had never listened to
William Tell。
〃It is quite singular；〃 pursued Gaston； 〃how one nook in the world will
suddenly remind you of another nook that may be thousands of miles away。
One morning； behind the Quai Voltaire； an old； yellow house with rusty
balconies made me almost homesick for New Orleans。〃
〃The Quai Voltaire！〃 said the Padre。
〃I heard Rachel in Valerie that night；〃 the young man went on。 〃Did you
know that she could sing； too。 She sang several verses by an astonishing
little Jew violon…cellist that is come up over there。〃
The Padre gazed down at his blithe guest。 〃To see somebody； somebody；
once again； is very pleasant to a hermit！〃
〃It cannot be more pleasant than arriving at an oasis；〃 returned Gaston。
They had delayed on the threshold to look at the beauty of the evening；
and now the priest watched his parishioners come and go。 〃How can one
make companions〃 he began； then； checking himself； he said： 〃Their
souls are as sacred and immortal as mine； and God helps me to help them。
But in this world it is not immortal souls that we choose for companions；
it is kindred tastes； intelligences； andand so I and my books are
growing old together； you see；〃 he added； more lightly。 〃You will find my
volumes as behind the times as myself。〃
He had fallen into talk more intimate than he wished； and while the guest
was uttering something polite about the nobility of missionary work； he
placed him in an easy…chair and sought aguardiente for his immediate
refreshment。 Since the year's beginning there had been no guest for him
to bring into his rooms； or to sit beside him in the high seats at table；
set apart for the gente fina。
Such another library was not then in California； and though Gaston
Villere； in leaving Harvard College； had shut Horace and Sophocles for
ever at the earliest instant possible under academic requirements； he
knew the Greek and Latin names that he now saw as well as he knew those
of Shakspere； Dante； Moliere； and Cervantes。 These were here also； but it
could not be precisely said of them； either； that they made a part of the
young man's daily reading。 As he surveyed the Padre's august shelves； it
was with a touch of the histrionic Southern gravity which his Northern
education had not wholly schooled out of him that he said：
〃I fear I am no scholar； sir。 But I know what writers every gentleman
ought to respect。〃
The polished Padre bowed gravely to this compliment。
It was when his eyes caught sight of the music that the young man felt
again at ease； and his vivacity returned to him。 Leaving his chair； he
began enthusiastically to examine the tall piles that filled one side of
the room。 The volumes lay piled and scattered everywhere； making a
pleasant disorder； and； as perfume comes from a flower； memories of
singers and chandeliers rose bright from the printed names。 Norma；
Tancredi； Don Pasquale； La Vestale； dim lights in the fashions of to…day；
sparkled upon the exploring Gaston； conjuring the radiant halls of Europe
before him。 〃The Barber of Seville！〃 he presently exclaimed。 〃And I
happened to hear it in Seville。〃
But Seville's name brought over the Padre a new rush of home thoughts。
〃Is not Andalusia beautiful？〃 he said。 〃Did you see it in April； when the
flowers come？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Gaston； among the music。 〃I was at Cordova then。〃
〃Ah； Cordova！〃 murmured the Padre。
〃Semiramide！〃 cried Gaston； lighting upon that opera。 〃That was a week！〃
I should like to live it over； every day and night of it！〃
〃Did you reach Malaga from Marseilles or Gibraltar？〃 asked the Padre；
wistfully。
〃From Marseilles。 Down from Paris through the Rhone Valley； you know。〃
〃Then you saw Provence！ And did you go； perhaps； from Avignon to Nismes
by the Pont du Gard？ There is a place I have made herea little； little
placewith olive…trees。 And now they have grown； and it looks something
like that country； if you stand in a particular position。 I will take you
there to…morrow。 I think you will understand what I mean。〃
〃Another resemblance！〃 said the volatile and happy Gaston。 〃We both seem
to have an eye for them。 But； believe me； Padre； I could never stay here
planting olives。 I should go back and see the original onesand then I'd
hasten on to Paris。〃
And； with a volume of Meyerbeer open in his hand； Gaston hummed：
〃'Robert； Robert； toi que j'aime。' Why； Padre； I think that your library
contains none of the masses and all of the operas in the world！〃
〃I will make you a little confession；〃 said Padre Ignacio； 〃and then you
shall give me a little absolution。〃
〃For a penance；〃 said Gaston； 〃you must play over some of these things to
me。〃
〃I suppose I could not permit myself this luxury；〃 began the Padre；
pointing to his operas； 〃and teach these to my choir； if the people had
any worldly associations with the music。 But I have reasoned that the
music cannot do them harm〃
The ringing of a bell here interrupted him。 〃In fifteen minutes；〃 he
said； 〃our poor meal will be ready for you。〃 The good Padre was not quite
sincere when he spoke of a 〃poor meal。〃 While getting the aguardiente for
his guest he