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jacketed men of aboriginal type and complexion； carrying antique
flintlocks； were drawn up as a guard of honor。
〃The Comandante；〃 said Senor Perkins； 〃directs me to extend his
apologies to the Senor Capitano Bunker for withholding the salute
which is due alike to his country； himself； and his fair company；
but fifty years of uninterrupted peace and fog have left his cannon
inadequate to polite emergencies； and firmly fixed the tampion of
his saluting gun。 But he places the Presidio at your disposition；
you will be pleased to make its acquaintance while it is still
light； and he will await you in the guard…room。〃
Left to themselves； the party dispersed like dismissed school…
children through the courtyard and corridors； and in the enjoyment
of their release from a month's confinement on shipboard stretched
their cramped limbs over the ditches； walls； and parapets； to the
edge of the glacis。
Everywhere a ruin that was picturesque； a decay that was refined
and gentle； a neglect that was graceful； met the eye； the sharp
exterior and reentering angles were softly rounded and obliterated
by overgrowths of semitropical creepers； the abatis was filled by a
natural brake of scrub…oak and manzanita； the clematis flung its
long scaling ladders over the escarpment； until Nature； slowly but
securely investing the doomed fortress； had lifted a victorious
banner of palm from the conquered summit of the citadel！ Some
strange convulsions of the earth had completed the victory； the
barbette guns of carved and antique bronze commemorating fruitless
and long…forgotten triumphs were dismounted； one turned in the
cheeks of its carriage had a trunnion raised piteously in the air
like an amputated stump； another； sinking through its rotting
chassis； had buried itself to its chase in the crumbling adobe
wall。 But above and beyond this gentle chaos of defense stretched
the real ramparts and escarpments of Todos Santosthe impenetrable
and unassailable fog！ Corroding its brass and iron with saline
breath； rotting its wood with unending shadow； sapping its adobe
walls with perpetual moisture； and nourishing the obliterating
vegetation with its quickening blood； as if laughing to scorn the
puny embattlements of menit still bent around the crumbling ruins
the tender grace of an invisible but all…encompassing arm。
Senor Perkins； who had acted as cicerone to the party； pointed out
these various mutations with no change from his usual optimism。
〃Protected by their peculiar isolation during the late war； there
was no necessity for any real fortification of the place。
Nevertheless； it affords some occupation and position for our kind
friend； Don Miguel； and so serves a beneficial purpose。 This
little gun；〃 he continued； stopping to attentively examine a small
but beautifully carved bronze six…pounder； which showed indications
of better care than the others； 〃seems to be the saluting…gun Don
Miguel spoke of。 For the last fifty years it has spoken only the
language of politeness and courtesy； and yet through want of care
the tampion； as you see； has become swollen and choked in its
mouth。〃
〃How true in a larger sense；〃 murmured Mrs。 Markham； 〃the habit of
courtesy alone preserves the fluency of the heart。〃
〃I know you two are saying something very clever；〃 said Mrs。
Brimmer； whose small French slippers and silk stockings were
beginning to show their inadequacy to a twilight ramble in the fog；
〃but I am so slow； and I never catch the point。 Do repeat it
slowly。〃
〃The Senor was only showing us how they managed to shut up a smooth
bore in this country；〃 said Crosby gravely。 〃I wonder when we're
going to have dinner。 I suppose old Don Quixote will trot out some
of his Senoritas。 I want to see those choir girls that sang so
stunningly a while ago。〃
〃I suppose you mean the boysfor they're all boys in the Catholic
choirsbut then； perhaps you are joking again。 Do tell me if you
are； for this is really amusing。 I may laughmayn't I？〃 As the
discomfited humorist fell again to the rear amidst the laughter of
the others； Mrs。 Brimmer continued naively to Senor Perkins；〃Of
course； as Don Miguel is a widower； there must be daughters or
sisters…in…law who will meet us。 Why； the priest； you knoweven
hemust have nieces。 Really； it's a serious questionif we are
to accept his hospitality in a social way。 Why don't you ask HIM？〃
she said； pointing to the green…jacketed subaltern who was
accompanying them。
Senor Perkins looked half embarrassed。
〃Repeat your question； my dear lady； and I will translate it。〃
〃Ask him if there are any women at the Presidio。〃
Senor Perkins drew the subaltern aside。 Presently he turned to
Mrs。 Brimmer。
〃He says there are four： the wife of the baker； the wife of the
saddler； the daughter of the trumpeter； and the niece of the cook。〃
〃Good heavens！ we can't meet THEM；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer。
Senor Perkins hesitated。
〃Perhaps I ought to have told you；〃 he said blandly； 〃that the old
Spanish notions of etiquette are very strict。 The wives of the
officials and higher classes do not meet strangers on a first
visit； unless they are well known。〃
〃That isn't it；〃 said Winslow； joining them excitedly。 〃I've heard
the whole story。 It's a good joke。 Banks has been bragging about
us all； and saying that these ladies had husbands who were great
merchants； and； as these chaps consider that all trade is vulgar；
you know； they believe we are not fit to associate with their
women； don't you see？ All； except oneMiss Keene。 She's
considered all right。 She's to be introduced to the Commander's
women； and to the sister of the Alcalde。〃
〃She will do nothing of the kind；〃 said Miss Keene indignantly。
〃If these ladies are not to be received with me； we'll all go back
to the ship together。〃
She spoke with a quick and perfectly unexpected resolution and
independence； so foreign to her usual childlike half dependent
character； that her hearers were astounded。 Senor Perkins gazed at
her thoughtfully； Brace； Crosby； and Winslow admiringly； her sister
passengers with doubt and apprehension。
〃There must he some mistake；〃 said Senor Perkins gently。 〃I will
inquire。〃
He was absent but a few moments。 When he returned； his face was
beaming。
〃It's a ridiculous misapprehension。 Our practical friend Banks； in
his zealous attempts to impress the Comandante's secretary； who
knows a little English； with the importance of Mr。 Brimmer's
position as a large commission merchant； has； I fear； conveyed only
the idea that he was a kind of pawnbroker； while Mr。 Markham's
trade in hides has established him as a tanner； and Mr。 Banks' own
flour speculations； of which he is justly proud； have been
misinterpreted by him as the work of a successful baker！〃
〃And what idea did he convey about YOU？〃 asked Crosby audaciously；
〃it might be interesting to us to k