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apology。 Ah！ if he had only understood his Excellency better； he could
have saved him all this trouble。 Evidently his Excellency was going with
the Arguello party； who had ordered a carriage； doubtless； for the same
important journey； an hour before； yet had left only a few moments after
his Excellency； and his Excellency； it would appear； had gone to the wrong
station。
Paul pushed hurriedly past the man and ascended to his room。 Both
windows were open； and in the faint moonlight he could see that
something white was pinned to his pillow。 With nervous fingers he relit his
candles； and found it was a note in Yerba's handwriting。 As he opened it； a
tiny spray of the vine that had grown on the crumbling wall fell at his feet。
He picked it up； pressed it to his lips； and read； with dim eyes； as follows：…
…
〃You know now why I spoke to you as I did to…day； and why the
other half of this precious spray is the only memory I care to carry with
me out of this crumbling ruin of all my hopes。 You were right； Paul： my
taking you there WAS AN OMENnot to you； who can never be anything
but proud； beloved； and truebut to ME of all the shame and misery。
Thank you for all you have donefor all you would do； my friend； and
don't think me ungrateful； only because I am unworthy of it。 Try to forgive
me； but don't forget me； even if you must hate me。 Perhaps； if you knew
allyou might still love a little the poor girl to whom you have already
given the only name she can ever take from youYERBA BUENA！
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CHAPTER VII。
It was already autumn； and in the city of New York an early Sunday
morning breeze was sweeping up the leaves that had fallen from the
regularly planted ailantus trees before the brown…stone frontage of a row
of monotonously alike five…storied houses on one of the principal avenues。
The Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church； that uplifted its double
towers on the corner； stopped before one of these dwellings； ran up the
dozen broad steps； and rang the bell。 He was presently admittted to the
sombre richness of a hall and drawing…room with high…backed furniture of
dark carved woods； like cathedral stalls； and； hat in hand； somewhat
impatiently awaited the arrival of his hostess and parishioner。 The door
opened to a tall； white…haired woman in lustreless black silk。 She was
regular and resolute in features； of fine but unbending presence； and；
though somewhat past middle age； showed no signs of either the weakness
or mellowness of years。
〃I am sorry to disturb your Sabbath morning meditations； Sister
Argalls； nor would I if it were not in the line of Christian duty； but Sister
Robbins is unable today to make her usual Sabbath hospital visit； and I
thought if you were excused from the Foreign Missionary class and Bible
instruction at three you might undertake her functions。 I know； my dear
old friend；〃 he continued； with bland deprecation of her hard…set eyes；
〃how distasteful this promiscuous mingling with the rough and ungodly
has always been to you； and how reluctant you are to be placed in the
position of being liable to hear coarse； vulgar； or irreverent speech。 I think；
too； in our long and pleasant pastoral relations； you have always found me
mindful of it。 I admit I have sometimes regretted that your late husband
had not more generally familiarized you with the ways of the world。 But
so it iswe all have our weaknesses。 If not one thing； another。 And as
Envy and Uncharitableness sometimes find their way in even Christian
hearts； I should like you to undertake this office for the sake of example。
There are some； dear Sister Argalls； who think that the rich widow who is
most liberal in the endowment of the goods that Providence has intrusted
to her hands claims therefore to be exempt from labor in the Christian
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vineyard。 Let us teach them how unjust they are。〃
〃I am willing；〃 said the lady； with a dry； determined air。 〃I suppose
these patients are not professedly bad characters？〃
〃By no means。 A few； perhaps； but the majority are unfortunates
dependent either upon public charity or some small provision made by
their friends。〃
〃Very well。〃
〃And you understand that though they have the privilege of rejecting
your Christian ministrations； dear Sister Argalls； you are free to judge
when you may be patient or importunate with them？〃
〃I understand。〃
The Pastor was not an unkindly man； and； as he glanced at the
uncompromising look in Mrs。 Argalls's eyes； felt for a moment some
inconsistency between his humane instincts and his Christian duty。 〃Some
of them may require； and be benefited by； a stern monitress； and Sister
Robbins； I fear； was weak；〃 he said consolingly to himself； as he
descended the steps again。
At three o'clock Mrs。 Argalls； with a reticule and a few tracts； was at
the door of St。 John's Hospital。 As she displayed her testimonials and
announced that she had taken Mrs。 Robbins's place； the officials received
her respectfully； and gave some instructions to the attendants； which；
however； did not stop some individual comments。
〃I say； Jim； it doesn't seem the square thing to let that grim old girl
loose among them poor convalescents。〃
〃Well； I don't know： they say she's rich and gives a lot o' money away；
but if she tackles that swearing old Kentuckian in No。 3； she'll have her
hands full。〃
However； the criticism was scarcely fair； for Mrs。 Argalls； although
moving rigidly along from bed to bed of the ward； equipped with a certain
formula of phrases； nevertheless dropped from time to time some practical
common…sense questions t