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〃But really； Yerba； I thought that he looked and acted〃
〃You thought of nothing at all； Milly；〃 returned Yerba； with authority。
〃I tell you he's a mass of conceit。 What else can you expect of a Man
toadied and fawned upon to that extent？ It made me sick！ I could have just
shaken them！〃
As if to emphasize her statement； she grasped one of the long willowy
branches of the enormous rose…bush where she stood； and shook it lightly。
The action detached a few of the maturer blossoms； and sent down a
shower of faded pink petals on her dark hair and yellow dress。 〃I can't bear
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conceit；〃 she added。
〃Oh； Yerba； just stand as you are！ I do wish the girls could see you。
You make the LOVELIEST picture！〃
She certainly did look very pretty as she stood therea few leaves
lodged in her hair； clinging to her dress； and suggesting by reflection the
color that her delicate satin skin would have 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 office
that 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。〃
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〃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
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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