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Paul smiled as she rustled away； and Yerba； entering the summer…
house； sat down and opened the letter。 The young man remained leaning
against the rustic archway； occasionally glancing at her and at the moving
figures in the gardens。 He was conscious of an odd excitement which he
could trace to no particular cause。 It was true that he had been annoyed at
not finding the young girl at the convent； and at having to justify himself
to the Lady Superior for what he conceived to be an act of gratuitous
kindness； nor was he blind to the fact that his persistence in following her
was more an act of aggression against the enemies of Pendleton than of
concern for Yerba。 She was certainly pretty； he could not remember her
mother sufficiently to trace any likeness； and he had never admired the
mother's pronounced beauty。 She had flashed out for an instant into what
seemed originality and feeling。 But it had passed； and she had asked no
further questions in regard to the colonel。
She had hurriedly skimmed through the letter； which seemed to be
composed of certain figures and accounts。 〃I suppose it's all right；〃 she
said； 〃at least you can say so if he asks you。 It's only an explanation why
he has transferred my money from the bank to Rothschild's agent years
ago。 I don't see why it should interest me NOW。〃
Paul made no doubt that it was the same transfer that had shipwrecked
the colonel's fortune and alienated his friends； and could not help replying
somewhat pointedly； 〃But I think it should； Miss Yerba。 I don't know what
the colonel explained to you doubtless； not the whole truth； for he is not
a man to praise himself； but； the fact is； the bank was in difficulties at the
time of that transfer； and； to make it； he sacrificed his personal fortune；
and； I think； awakened some of that ill…feeling you have just noticed。〃 He
checked himself too late： he had again lost not only his tact and self…
control； but had nearly betrayed himself。 He was surprised that the girl's
justifiable ignorance should have irritated him。 Yet she had evidently not
noticed； or misunderstood it； for she said； with a certain precision that was
almost studied：
〃Yes； I suppose it would have been a terrible thing to him to have been
suspected of misappropriating a Trust confided to him by parties who had
already paid him the high compliment of confiding to his care a secret and
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a fortune。〃
Paul glanced at her quickly with astonishment。 Was this ignorance； or
suspicion？ Her manner； however； suddenly changed； with the charming
capriciousness of youth and conscious beauty。 〃He speaks of you in this
letter；〃 she said； letting her dark eyes rest on him provokingly。
〃That accounts for your lack of interest then；〃 said Paul gayly； relieved
to turn a conversation fraught with so much danger。
〃But he speaks very flatteringly；〃 she went on。 〃He seems to be
another one of your admirers。 I'm sure； Mr。 Hathaway； after that scene in
the hotel parlor yesterday； YOU； at least； cannot complain of having been
misrepresented before ME。 To tell you the truth； I think I hated you a little
for it。〃
〃You were quite right；〃 returned Paul。 〃I must have been insufferable！
And I admit that I was slightly piqued against YOU for the idolatries
showered upon you at the same moment by your 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。〃
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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
neit