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ugh in Europe； out here； in earthly； but sparsely settled paradises； they must be rarer still； but that one had wandered into the lovely shell of Concha Arguello he no longer doubted。 The fact that it had developed haphazardly； with little or no help from her sentience； and was still fluid and un… certain； but multiplied her in interest and charm。 The women to whom he was accustomed knew themselves； consequently were no riddle to a man of his experience； but here he had an odd sense of hav… ing entered into a compact in the dark with a girl who might one day symbolize some high and im… passioned ideal he had cherished in the days before ideals had been cast aside with the negative virtues that bred them。
As he coolly studied the good looks of the young caballeros and the plain intellectual face and slight little figure of the Bostonian； noted the utter in… difference with which they were treated by the Favorita of Presidio and Mission； he felt a sudden rush of arrogance； a youthful tingling of nerves； the same prophetic sense of imminent happiness and power that his first contact with the light electrical air and the beauty of the country had induced。 After all； he was but forty…two。 Life on the whole had been very kind to him。 And； although he did not realize it as yet； his frame； blighted by the rigors of the past three years； was already sensible to a renewal of juice and sap。 He admitted that he was more interested than he had been for many years； and that if he was not in love； he tingled with a very natural masculine desire for an adventure with a pretty girl。
But he was by no means a weak man； and his mind counted the cost even while his imagination hummed。 He had almost decided to bid Dona Ignacia an abrupt good…night； pleading fatigue； which his pallor indorsed； when the door of the din… ing…room was thrown open to the liveliest of fiddling； and a white hand with a singular sugges… tion of tenacity both in appearance and clasp took possession of his arm。
〃My mother has gone to Gertrudis Rudisinda； who is crying；〃 said Concha。 〃It is my pleasure to lead your excellency in to supper。〃
They sat side by side at the head of the long table almost covered by the massive service of sil… ver and loaded with evidences of Dona Ignacia's generosity and skill； chickens in red rice and gravy； oysters； tamales； dulces； pastries； fruits and pleasant drinks。 Luis； with Rafaella Sal dimpling and sparkling at his side； and now quite resigned to the semi…official nature of the ball； rose and drank the health of the distinguished guest in long and flow… ery praises。 Rezanov responded in briefer but no less felicitous vein； and concluded by remarking that the only rift in the lute of his present enchant… ing experience was the fear that whereas he had nearly died of starvation several times during the past three years； he was now threatened with a far more ignominious end； so delicious and irresistible were the temptations that beset the wayfarer in this most hospitable land。 Both speeches were gaily ap… plauded； the conversation became animated and gen… eral； and Concha dropped her voice to the attentive ear beside her。
〃You were very successful to…day at the Mission； Excellency。〃
〃May I ask how you know？〃
〃I never saw anything so serenelyarrogantly； perhaps would be a truer descriptiontriumphant as your bearing when you walked down our humble sala to…night。 You looked like Caesar returned from Gaul； but I suppose that all great conquests are merely the sum of many small ones。〃
〃I do not regard the friendship of so shrewd a man as Father Abella a trifling conquest。 And ac… cording to yourself； dear senorita； it is essential to the success of a mission upon which many lives and my own honor depend。〃
〃Is it really so serious？〃 she asked with a faint sneer。
He drew himself up stiffly and his light eyes glowed with anger。 〃It is a subject I never should have thought of introducing at a festivity like this；〃 he said suavely。 〃May I be permitted to compli… ment you； senorita； upon your marvellous grace in the contra…danza？ It quite turned my head； and I am delighted to hear that you will dance alone after supper。〃
Her face had flushed hotly。 She dropped her eyes and her voice trembled as she replied： 〃You humiliate me； senor； and I deserve it。 Imy poor Rosa told me something of her great tragedy while dressing me； and for the moment other things seemed unimportant。 What is hunger and court favor beside a broken heart and a desolate life？ But that of course is the attitude of an ignorant girl。〃 She raised her eyes。 They were soft； and her voice was softer。 〃I beg that you will forgive me； senor。 And be sure that I take an even deeper interest in your great mission than yesterday。 I have thought much about it； and while I have told my mother nothing； I have expressed certain peev… ish hopes that a ship would not come all the way from Sitka without taking a hint more than one Boston skipper must have given； and brought us many things we need。 She is quite excited over the prospect of a new shawl for herself； and of send… ing several as presents to the south； besides many other things： cotton； shoes； kitchen utensils。 Have you any of these things； Excellency？〃
Rezanov stared at her face； barely tinted with color； dully wondering why it should be so different from the one roguish； pathetically innocent； that had haunted him all day。 He asked abruptly：
〃Which is the friend whose little ones you envy？ You have made me wish to see them and her？〃
〃That is Elenabeside Gervasio。〃 She indicated a young woman with soft； patient； brown eyes； the dignity of her race and the sweetness of young motherhood； who would have looked little older than herself had it not been for an already shape… less figure。 〃I can take you to…morrow to see them if you wish。〃
She had cast down her eyes and her face was white。 Still he groped on。
〃Pardon me if I say that I am surprised your parents should permit such a woman as this Rosa to attend you。 Why should your happy life be dis… turbed by the lamentations of an abandoned crea… turewho can do you no good； and possibly much harm？〃
Still Concha did not raise her eyes。 〃I do not think poor Rosa would do anyone harm。 But per… haps it were as well she went elsewhere。 We have had her long enough。 I have taken a dislike to her。 I reproach myself bitterly； but I cannot help it。 I should like never to see her again。〃
〃What has she told you？〃 Concha glanced up swiftly。 His eyes were blazing。 She felt quite cer… tain that he rolled a Russian oath under his tongue； and she made a slight involuntary motion toward him； her lips trembling apart。
〃Nothing；〃 she murmured。 〃I do not knowI do not know。 But I no longer wish her near me。 Shelife is very strange and terrible； senor。 You know it wellI； so little。〃
Rezanov felt his breath short and his hands cold。 For a moment he made no reply。 Then he smiled charmingly and said in the conventional tone that was ever at his command： 〃Of course you know little of life in this Arcadia。 One who hopes to be numbered among the best of your friends prays that you never may。 Yes； senorita； life is strange stra