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formula of phrases； nevertheless dropped from time to time some practical
common…sense questions that showed an almost masculine intuition of the
patients' needs and requirements。 Nor did she betray any of that over…
sensitive shrinking from coarseness which the good Pastor had feared；
albeit she was quick to correct its exhibition。 The languid men listened to
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her with half… aggressive； half…amused interest； and some of the
satisfaction of taking a bitter but wholesome tonic。 It was not until she
reached the bed at the farther end of the ward that she seemed to meet with
any check。
It was occupied by a haggard man； with a long white moustache and
features that seemed wasted by inward struggle and fever。 At the first
sound of her voice he turned quickly towards her； lifted himself on his
elbow； and gazed fixedly in her face。
〃Kate Howardby the Eternal！〃 he said； in a low voice。
Despite her rigid self…possession the woman started； glanced hurriedly
around； and drew nearer to him。
〃Pendleton！〃 she said； in an equally suppressed voice； 〃What； in God's
name； are you doing here？〃
〃Dying； I reckonsooner or later；〃 he said grimly； 〃that's what they do
here。〃
〃Butwhat；〃 she went on hurriedly； still glancing over her shoulder as
if she suspected some trick〃what has brought you to this？〃
〃YOU！〃 said the colonel； dropping back exhaustedly on his pillow。
〃You and your daughter。〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 she said quickly； yet regarding him with stern
rigidity。 〃You know perfectly well I have NO daughter。 You know
perfectly well that I've kept the word I gave you ten years ago； and that I
have been dead to her as she has been to me。〃
〃I know；〃 said the colonel； 〃that within the last three months I have
paid away my last cent to keep the mouth of an infernal scoundrel shut
who KNOWS that you are her mother； and threatens to expose her to her
friends。 I know that I'm dying here of an old wound that I got when I shut
the mouth of another hound who was ready to bark at her two years after
you disappeared。 I know that between you and her I've let my old nigger
die of a broken heart； because I couldn't keep him to suffer with me； and I
know that I'm here a pauper on the State。 I know that； Kate； and when I
say it I don't regret it。 I've kept my word to YOU； and； by the Eternal； your
daughter's worth it！ For if there ever was a fair and peerless creatureit's
your child！〃
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〃And shea rich womanunless she squandered the fortune I gave
herlets you lie here！〃 said the woman grimly。
〃She don't know it。〃
〃She SHOULD know it！ Have you quarreled？〃 She was looking at him
keenly。
〃She distrusts me； because she half suspects the secret； and I hadn't the
heart to tell her all。〃
〃All？ What does she know？ What does this man know？ What has been
told her？〃 she said rapidly。
〃She only knows that the name she has taken she has no right to。〃
〃Right to？ Why； it was written on the TrustYerba Buena。〃
〃No； not that。 She thought it was a mistake。 She took the name of
Arguello。〃
〃What？〃 said Mrs。 Argalls； suddenly grasping the invalid's wrist with
both hands。 〃What name？〃 her eyes were startled from their rigid coldness；
her lips were colorless。
〃Arguello！ It was some foolish schoolgirl fancy which that hound
helped to foster in her。 Whywhat's the matter； Kate？〃
The woman dropped the helpless man's wrist； then； with an effort；
recovered herself sufficiently to rise； and； with an air of increased
decorum； as if the spiritual character of their interview excluded worldly
intrusion； adjusted the screen around his bed； so as partly to hide her own
face and Pendleton's。 Then； dropping into the chair beside him； she said； in
her old voice； from which the burden of ten long years seemed to have
been lifted；
〃Harry； what's that you're playing on me？〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 said Pendleton amazedly。
〃Do you mean to say you don't know it； and didn't tell her yourself？〃
she said curtly。
〃What？ Tell her what？〃 he repeated impatiently。
〃That Arguello WAS her father！〃
〃Her father？〃 He tried to struggle to his elbow again； but she laid her
hand masterfully upon his shoulder and forced him back。 〃Her father！〃 he
repeated hurriedly。 〃Jose Arguello！ Great God！ are you sure？〃
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Quietly and yet mechanically gathering the scattered tracts from the
coverlet； and putting them back； one by one in her reticule； she closed it
and her lips with a snap as she uttered〃Yes。〃
Pendleton remained staring at her silently； 〃Yes；〃 he muttered； 〃it may
have been some instinct of the child's； or some diabolical fancy of Briones'。
But；〃 he said bitterly； 〃true or not； she has no right to his name。〃
〃And I say she HAS。〃
She had risen to her feet； with her arms folded across her breast； in an
attitude of such Puritan composure that the distant spectators might have
thought she was delivering an exordium to the prostrate man。
〃I met Jose Arguello； for the second time； in New Orleans；〃 she said
slowly； 〃eight years ago。 He was still rich； but ruined in health by
dissipation。 I was tired of my way of life。 He proposed that I should marry
him to take care of him and legitimatize our child。 I was forced to tell him
what I had done with her； and that the Trust could not be disturbed until
she was of age and her own mistress。 He assented。 We married； but he died
within a year。 He died； leaving with me his acknowledgment of her as his
child； and the right to claim her if I chose。〃
〃And？〃interrupted the colonel with sparkling eyes。
〃I DON'T CHOOSE。
〃Hear me！〃 she continued firmly。 〃With his name and my own mistress；
and the girl； as I believed； properly provided for and ignorant of my
existence； I saw no necessity for reopening the past。 I resolved to lead a
new life as his widow。 I came north。 In the little New England town where
I first stopped； the country people contracted my name to Mrs。 Argalls。 I
let it stand so。 I came to New York and entered the service of t