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Briones； of the adjacent Rancho of Los Pajaros； and his sister； the Dona
Anna。 Milly and Yerba had not yet appeared。 Don Caesar； a young man of
a toreador build； roundly bland in face and murky in eye； seemed to notice
their absence； and kept his glances towards the door； while Paul engaged
in conversation with Dona Annaif that word could convey an impression
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of a conventionality which that good…humored young lady converted into
an animated flirtation at the second sentence with a single glance and two
shakes of her fan。 And then Milly fluttered ina vision of school…girl
freshness and white tulle； and a moment laterwith a pause of
expectationa tall； graceful figure； that at first Paul scarcely recognized。
It is a popular conceit of our sex that we are superior to any effect of
feminine adornment； and that a pretty girl is equally pretty in the simplest
frock。 Yet there was not a man in the room who did not believe that Yerba
in her present attire was not only far prettier than before； but that she
indicated a new and more delicate form of beauty。 It was not the mere
revelation of contour and color of an ordinary decollete dress； it was a
perfect presentment of pure symmetry and carriage。 In this black
grenadine dress； trimmed with jet； not only was the delicate satin sheen of
her skin made clearer by contrast； but she looked every inch her full height；
with an ideal exaltation of breeding and culture。 She wore no jewelry
except a small necklace of pearlsso small it might have been a child's
that fitted her slender throat so tightly that it could scarcely be told from
the flesh that it clasped。 Paul did not know that it was the gift of the
mother to the child that she had forsworn only a few weeks before she
parted from her forever； but he had a vague feeling that； in that sable dress
that seemed like mourning； she walked at the funeral of her mother's past。
A few white flowers in her corsage； the companions of the solitary one in
his button…hole； were the only relief。
Their eyes met for a single moment； the look of admiration in Paul's
being answered by the naive consciousness in Yerba's of a woman looking
her best； but the next moment she appeared preoccupied with the others；
and the eager advances of Don Caesar。
〃Your brother seems to admire Miss Yerba；〃 said Paul。
〃Ah； yees；〃 returned Dona Anna。 〃And you？〃
〃Oh！〃 said Paul； gayly； 〃I？ I am her guardianwith me it is simple
egotism； you know。〃
〃Ah！〃 returned the arch Dona Anna； 〃you are then already SO certain
of her？ Good！ I shall warn him。〃
A precaution that did seem necessary； as later； when Paul； at a signal
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from his hostess； offered his arm to Yerba； the young Spaniard regarded
him with a look of startled curiosity。
〃I thank you for selecting me to wear your colors；〃 said Paul with a
glance at the flowers in her corsage； as they sat at table； 〃and I think I
deserve them； since； but for you； I should have been on my way to San
Francisco at this moment。 Shall I have an opportunity of talking to you a
few minutes later in the evening？〃 he added； in a lower tone。
〃Why not now？〃 returned Yerba； mischievously。 〃We are set here
expressly for that purpose。〃
〃Surely not to talk of our own businessI should say； of our FAMILY
affairs；〃 said Paul； looking at her with equal playfulness； 〃though I believe
your friend Don Caesar； opposite； would be more pleased if he were sure
that was all we did。〃
〃And you think his sister would share in that pleasure？〃 retorted Yerba。
〃I warn you； Mr。 Hathaway； that you have been quite justifying the
Reverend Mother's doubts about your venerable pretensions。 Everybody is
staring at you now。〃
Paul looked up mechanically。 It was true。 Whether from some occult
sympathy； from a human tendency to admire obvious fitness and
symmetry； or the innocent love with which the world regards innocent
lovers； they were all observing Yerba and himself with undisguised
attention。 A good talker； he quickly led the conversation to other topics。 It
was then that he discovered that Yerba was not only accomplished； but that
this convent…bred girl had acquired a singular breadth of knowledge apart
from the ordinary routine of the school curriculum。 She spoke and thought
with independent perceptions and clearness； yet without the tactlessness
and masculine abruptness that is apt to detract from feminine originality of
reflection。 By some tacit understanding that had the charm of mutual
confidence； they both exerted themselves to please the company rather
than each other； and Paul； in the interchange of sallies with Dona Anna；
had a certain pleasure in hearing Yerba converse in Spanish with Don
Caesar。 But in a few moments he observed； with some uneasiness； that
they were talking of the old Spanish occupation； and presently of the old
Spanish families。 Would she prematurely expose an ignorance that might
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be hereafter remembered against her； or invite some dreadful genealogical
reminiscence that would destroy her hopes and raze her Spanish castles？
Or was she simply collecting information？ He admired the dexterity with
which； without committing herself； she made Don Caesar openly and even
confidentially communicative。 And yet he was on thorns； at times it
seemed as if he himself were playing a part in this imposture of Yerba's。
He was aware that his wandering attention was noticed by the quick…
witted Dona Anna； when he regained his self…possession by what appeared
to be a happy diversion。 It was the voice of Mrs。 Judge Baker calling
across the table to Yerba。 By one of the peculiar accidents of general
conversation； it was the one apparently trivial remark that in a pause
challenged the ears of all。
〃We were admiring your necklace； Miss Yerba。〃
Every eye was turned upon the slender throat of the handsome girl。