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place； and in the revelation of her naked soul and inner nature；
that it was with something of the instinct of outraged modesty that
she seemed to shrink before this apparition of the outer world and
outer worldliness。 In an instant the nearer past returned； she
remembered where she was； how she had come there； from whom she had
come； and to whom she was returning。 She could see that she had
not only aimlessly wandered from the world but from the road； and
for that instant she hated this man who had reminded her of it；
even while she knew she must ask his assistance。 It relieved her
slightly to observe that he seemed as disturbed and impatient as
herself； and as he took a pencil from between his lips and returned
it to his pocket he scarcely looked at her。
But with her return to the world of convenances came its repression；
and with a gentlewoman's ease and modulated voice she leaned over
her mustang's neck and said： 〃I have strayed from my party and am
afraid I have lost my way。 We were going to the hotel at San Mateo。
Would you be kind enough to direct me there； or show me how I can
regain the road by which I came？〃
Her voice and manner were quite enough to arrest him where he stood
with a pleased surprise in his fresh and ingenuous face。 She
looked at him more closely。 He was； in spite of his long silken
mustache； so absurdly young； he might； in spite of that youth； be
so absurdly man…like！ What was he doing there？ Was he a farmer's
son； an artist； a surveyor； or a city clerk out for a holiday？ Was
there perhaps a youthful female of his species somewhere for whom
he was waiting and upon whose tryst she was now breaking？ Was he
terrible thought！the outlying picket of some family picnic？ His
dress； neat； simple； free from ostentatious ornament； betrayed
nothing。 She waited for his voice。
〃Oh； you have left San Mateo miles away to the right；〃 he said with
quick youthful sympathy； 〃at least five miles！ Where did you leave
your party？〃
His voice was winning； and even refined； she thought。 She answered
it quite spontaneously： 〃At a fork of two roads。 I see now I took
the wrong turning。〃
〃Yes； you took the road to Crystal Spring。 It's just down there in
the valley； not more than a mile。 You'd have been there now if you
hadn't turned off at the woods。〃
〃I couldn't help it； it was so beautiful。〃
〃Isn't it？〃
〃Perfect。〃
〃And such shadows； and such intensity of color。〃
〃Wonderful！and all along the ridge； looking down that defile！〃
〃Yes； and that point where it seems as if you had only to stretch
out your hand to pick a manzanita berry from the other side of the
canyon； half a mile across！〃
〃Yes； and that first glimpse of the valley through the Gothic
gateway of rocks！〃
〃And the color of those rocks；cinnamon and bronze with the light
green of the Yerba buena vine splashing over them。〃
〃Yes； but for color DID you notice that hillside of yellow poppies
pouring down into the valley like a golden Niagara？〃
〃Certainly；and the perfect clearness of everything。〃
〃And yet such complete silence and repose！〃
〃Oh； yes！〃
〃Ah； yes！〃
They were both gravely nodding and shaking their heads with
sparkling eyes and brightened color； looking not at each other but
at the far landscape vignetted through a lozenge…shaped wind
opening in the trees。 Suddenly Mrs。 Ashwood straightened herself
in the saddle； looked grave； lifted the reins and apparently the
ten years with them that had dropped from her。 But she said in her
easiest well…bred tones； and a half sigh； 〃Then I must take the
road back again to where it forks？〃
〃Oh； no！ you can go by Crystal Spring。 It's no further； and I'll
show you the way。 But you'd better stop and rest yourself and your
horse for a little while at the Springs Hotel。 It's a very nice
place。 Many people ride there from San Francisco to luncheon and
return。 I wonder that your party didn't prefer it； and if they are
looking for you；as they surely must be；〃 he said； as if with a
sudden conception of her importance； 〃they'll come there when they
find you're not at San Mateo。〃
This seemed reasonable； although the process of being 〃fetched〃 and
taking the five miles ride； which she had enjoyed so much alone； in
company was not attractive。 〃Couldn't I go on at once？〃 she said
impulsively。
〃You would meet them sooner；〃 he said thoughtfully。
This was quite enough for Mrs。 Ashwood。 〃I think I'll rest this
poor horse； who is really tired；〃 she； said with charming hypocrisy；
〃and stop at the hotel。〃
She saw his face brighten。 Perhaps he was the son of the hotel
proprietor； or a youthful partner himself。 〃I suppose you live
here？〃 she suggested gently。 〃You seem to know the place so well。〃
〃No；〃 he returned quickly； 〃I only run down here from San Francisco
when I can get a day off。〃
A day off！ He was in some regular employment。 But he continued：
〃And I used to go to boarding…school near here； and know all these
woods well。〃
He must be a native！ How odd！ She had not conceived that there
might be any other population here than the immigrants； perhaps
that was what made him so interesting and different from the
others。 〃Then your father and mother live here？〃 she said。
His frank face； incapable of disguise； changed suddenly。 〃No；〃 he
said simply； but without any trace of awkwardness。 Then after a
slight pause he laid his handshe noticed it was white and well
kepton her mustang's neck； and said； 〃Ifif you care to trust
yourself to me； I could lead you and your horse down a trail into
the valley that is at least a third of the distance shorter。 It
would save you going back to the regular road； and there are one or
two lovely views that I could show you。 I should be so pleased； if
it would not trouble you。 There's a steep place or twobut I
think there's no danger。〃
〃I shall not be afraid。〃
She smiled so graciously； and； as she fully believed； maternally；
that he looked at her the second time。 To his first hurried
impression of her as an elegant and delicately nurtured womanone
of the class of distinguished tourists that fashion was beginning
to send thitherhe had now to add that she had a quantity of fine
silken…spun light hair gathered in a heavy braid beneath her gray
hat； that her mouth was very delicately lipped and beautifully
sensitive； that her soft skin； although just then touched with
excitement； was a pale faded velvet； and seemed to be worn with
ennui rather than experience； that her eyes were hidden behind a
strip of gray veil whence only a faint glow was discernible。 To
this must still be added a poetic fancy all his own that； as she
sat there； with the skirt of her gray habit falling from her long
bodiced waist over the mustang's fawn…colored flanks； and with her
slim gauntleted hands lightly swaying the reins； she looked like
Queen Gui