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〃And what idea did he convey about YOU？〃 asked Crosby audaciously；
〃it might be interesting to us to know； for our own satisfaction。〃
〃I fear they did not do me the honor to inquire；〃 replied Senor
Perkins； with imperturbable good…humor； 〃there are some persons；
you know； who carry all their worldly possessions palpably about
with them。 I am one of them。 Call me a citizen of the world； with
a strong leniency towards young and struggling nationalities； a
traveler； at home anywhere； a delighted observer of all things； an
admirer of brave men； the devoted slave of charming womenand you
have； in one word； a passenger of the good ship Excelsior。〃
For the first time； Miss Keene noticed a slight irony in Senor
Perkins' superabundant fluency； and that he did not conceal his
preoccupation over the silent saluting gun he was still admiring。
The approach of Don Miguel and Padre Esteban with a small bevy of
ladies； however； quickly changed her thoughts； and detached the
Senor from her side。 Her first swift feminine impression of the
fair strangers was that they were plain and dowdy； an impression
fully shared by the other lady passengers。 But her second
observation； that they were more gentle； fascinating； child…like；
and feminine than her own countrywomen； was purely her own。 Their
loose； undulating figures； guiltless of stays； their extravagance
of short； white； heavily flounced skirt； which looked like a
petticoat； their lightly wrapped； formless； and hooded shoulders
and heads； lent a suggestion of dishabille that Mrs。 Brimmer at
once resented。
〃They might； at least； have dressed themselves；〃 she whispered to
Mrs。 Markham。
〃I really believe；〃 returned Mrs。 Markham； 〃they've got no bodices
on！〃
The introductions over； a polyglot conversation ensued in French by
the Padre and Mrs。 Brimmer； and in broken English by Miss Chubb；
Miss Keene； and the other passengers with the Commander's
secretary； varied by occasional scraps of college Latin from Mr。
Crosby； the whole aided by occasional appeals to Senor Perkins。
The darkness increasing； the party reentered the courtyard； and；
passing through the low…studded guard…room； entered another
corridor； which looked upon a second court； enclosed on three
sides； the fourth opening upon a broad plaza； evidently the public
resort of the little town。 Encompassing this open space； a few
red…tiled roofs could be faintly seen in the gathering gloom。
Chocolate and thin spiced cakes were served in the veranda； pending
the preparations for a more formal banquet。 Already Miss Keene had
been singled out from her companions for the special attentions of
her hosts； male and female； to her embarrassment and confusion。
Already Dona Isabel； the sister of the Alcalde； had drawn her
aside； and； with caressing frankness； had begun to question her in
broken English；
〃But Miss Keene is no name。 The Dona Keene is of nothing。〃
〃Well； you may call me Eleanor； if you like；〃 said Miss Keene；
smiling。
〃Dona Leonorso； that is good；〃 said Dona Isabel； clapping her
hands like a child。 〃But how are you？〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Miss Keene； greatly amused； 〃but I don't
understand。〃
〃Ah； Caramba！ What are you； little one？〃 Seeing that her guest
still looked puzzled； she continued；〃Ah！ Mother of God！ Why are
your friends so polite to you？ Why does every one love you so？〃
〃Do they？ Well；〃 stammered Miss Keene； with one of her rare；
dazzling smiles； and her cheeks girlishly rosy with naive
embarrassment； 〃I suppose they think I am pretty。〃
〃Pretty！ Ah； yes； you are！〃 said Dona Isabel； gazing at her
curiously。 〃But it is not all that。〃
〃What is it； then？〃 asked Miss Keene demurely。
〃You are aaDama de Grandeza！〃
CHAPTER VI。
〃HAIL AND FAREWELL。〃
Supper was served in the inner room opening from the corridor lit
by a few swinging lanterns of polished horn and a dozen wax candles
of sacerdotal size and suggestion。 The apartment； though spacious；
was low and crypt…like； and was not relieved by the two deep oven…
like hearths that warmed it without the play of firelight。 But
when the company had assembled it was evident that the velvet
jackets； gold lace； silver buttons； and red sashes of the
entertainers not only lost their tawdry and theatrical appearance
in the half decorous and thoughtful gloom； but actually seemed more
in harmony with it than the modern dresses of the guests。 It was
the Excelsior party who looked strange and bizarre in these
surroundings； to the sensitive fancy of Miss Keene； Mrs。 Brimmer's
Parisian toilet had an air of provincial assumption； her own pretty
Zouave jacket and black silk skirt horrified her with its apparent
ostentatious eccentricity； and Mrs。 Markham and Miss Chubb seemed
dowdy and overdressed beside the satin mantillas and black lace of
the Senoritas。 Nor were the gentlemen less outres： the stiff
correctness of Mr。 Banks； and the lighter foppishness of Winslow
and Crosby； not to mention Senor Perkins' more pronounced
unconventionality； appeared as burlesques of their own characters
in a play。 The crowning contrast was reached by Captain Bunker；
who； in accordance with the habits of the mercantile marine of that
period when in port； wore a shore…going suit of black broadcloth；
with a tall hat； high shirt collar； and diamond pin。 Seated next
to the Commander； it was no longer Don Miguel who looked old…
fashioned； it was Captain Bunker who appeared impossible。
Nevertheless； as the meal progressed； lightened by a sweet native
wine made from the Mission grape； and stimulated by champagnea
present of Captain Bunker from the cabin lockers of the Excelsior
this contrast； and much of the restraint that it occasioned； seemed
to melt away。 The passengers became talkative； the Commander and
his friends unbent； and grew sympathetic and inquiring。 The
temptation to recite the news of the last half century； and to
recount the wonderful strides of civilization in that time； was too
great to be resisted by the Excelsior party。 That some of them
notwithstanding the caution of Senor Perkinsapproached
dangerously near the subject of the late war between the United
States and Mexico； of which Todos Santos was supposed to be still
ignorant； or that Crosby in particular seized upon this opportunity
for humorous exaggeration； may be readily imagined。 But as the
translation of the humorist's speech； as well as the indiscretions
of his companions； were left to the Senor； in Spanish； and to Mrs。
Brimmer and Miss Keene； in French； any imminent danger to the
harmony of the evening was averted。 Don Ramon Ramirez； the
Alcalde； a youngish man of evident distinction； sat next to Miss
Keene； and monopolized her conversation with a certain curiosity
that was both grave and childish in its frank trustfulness。 Some
of his questions were so simple and incompatible with his apparent
intelligence