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continued to burn as he went on rapidly；
〃You will understand the sacrifice I am making in telling you this；
when you know that I could have done all that I propose without
your leave or hindrance。 Yes； Diego； I had but to stretch out my
hand thus； and that foolish fire…brand of a heretic muchacha would
have vanished from Todos Santos forever。 I could have left you in
your fool's paradise； and one morning you would have found her
gone。 I should have condoled with you； and consoled you； and you
would have forgotten her as you did the other。 I should not have
hesitated； it is the right of the Church through all time to break
through those carnal ties without heed of the suffering flesh； and
I ought to have done so。 This； and this alone； would have been
worthy of Las Casas and Junipero Serra！ But I am weak and oldI
am no longer fit for His work。 Far better that the ship which
takes her away should bring back my successor and one more worthy
Todos Santos than I。〃
He stopped； his eyes dimmed； he buried his face in his hands。
〃You have done right； Father Esteban；〃 said Hurlstone； gently
putting his arm round the priest's shoulders； 〃and I swear to you
your secret is as safe as if you had never revealed it to me。
Perhaps；〃 he added； with a sigh； 〃I should have been happier if I
had not known itif she had passed out of my life as mysteriously
as she had entered it； but you will try to accept my sacrifice as
some return for yours。 I shall see her no more。〃
〃But will you swear it？〃 said the priest eagerly。 〃Will you swear
that you will not even seek her to say farewell； for in that moment
the wretched girl may shake your resolution？〃
〃I shall not see her；〃 repeated the young man slowly。
〃But if she asks an interview；〃 persisted the priest； 〃on the
pretense of having your advice？〃
〃She will not；〃 returned Hurlstone； with a half bitter recollection
of their last parting。 〃You do not know her pride。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said the priest musingly。 〃But I have YOUR word； Diego。
And now let us return to the Mission； for there is much to prepare；
and you shall assist me。〃
Meantime； Hurlstone was only half right in his estimate of Miss
Keene's feelings； although the result was the same。 The first
shock to her delicacy in his abrupt speech had been succeeded by a
renewal of her uneasiness concerning his past life or history。
While she would； in her unselfish attachment for him； have
undoubtingly accepted any explanation he might have chosen to give
her； his continued reserve and avoidance of her left full scope to
her imaginings。 Rejecting any hypothesis of his history except
that of some unfortunate love episode； she began to think that
perhaps he still loved this nameless woman。 Had anything occurred
to renew his affection？ It was impossible； in their isolated
condition； that he would hear from her。 But perhaps the priest
might have been a confidant of his past； and had recalled the old
affection in rivalry of her？ Or had she herself been unfortunate
through any idle word to reopen the wound？ Had there been any
suggestion？she checked herself suddenly at a thought that
benumbed and chilled her！perhaps that happy hour at the cross
might have reminded him of some episode with another？ That was the
real significance of his rude speech。 With this first taste of the
poison of jealousy upon her virgin lips； she seized the cup and
drank it eagerly。 Ah； wellhe should keep his blissful
recollections of the past undisturbed by her。 Perhaps he might
even seethough SHE had no pastthat her present life might be as
disturbing to him！ She recalled； with a foolish pleasure； his
solitary faint sneer at the devotion of the Commander's Secretary。
Why shouldn't she； hereafter； encourage that devotion as well as
that sneer from this complacently beloved Mr。 Hurlstone？ Why
should he be so assured of her past？ The fair and gentle reader
who may be shocked at this revelation of Eleanor Keene's character
will remember that she has not been recorded as an angel in these
pagesbut as a very human； honest； inexperienced girl； for the
first time struggling with the most diplomatic； Machiavellian； and
hypocritical of all the passions。
In pursuance of this new resolution； she determined to accept an
invitation from Mrs。 Markham to accompany her and the Commander to
a reception at the Alcalde's housethe happy Secretary being of
the party。 Mrs。 Markham； who was under promise to the Comandante
not to reveal his plan for the escape of herself and Miss Keene
until the arrival of the expected transport； had paid little
attention to the late vagaries of her friend； and had contented
herself by once saying； with a marked emphasis； that the more free
they kept themselves from any entanglements with other people； the
more prepared they would be for A CHANGE。
〃Perhaps it's just as well not to be too free； even with those
Jesuits over at the Mission。 Your brother； you know； might not
like it。〃
〃THOSE JESUITS！〃 repeated Miss Keene indignantly。 〃Father Esteban；
to begin with； is a Franciscan； and Mr。 Hurlstone is as orthodox as
you or I。〃
〃Don't be too sure of that； my dear；〃 returned Mrs。 Markham
sententiously。 〃Heaven only knows what disguises they assume。
Why； Hurlstone and the priest are already as thick as two peas； and
you can't make me believe they didn't know of each other before we
came here。 He was the first one ashore； you remember； before the
mutiny； and where did he turn up？at the Mission； of course！ And
have you forgotten that sleepwalking affairall Jesuitical！ Why；
poor dear Markham used to say we were surrounded by ramifications
of that societyeverywhere。 The very waiter at your hotel table
might belong to the Order。〃
The hour of the siesta was just past； and the corridor and gardens
of the Alcalde's house were grouped with friends and acquaintances
as the party from the Presidio entered。 Mrs。 Brimmer； who had
apparently effected a temporary compromise with her late instincts
of propriety； was still doing the honors of the Alcalde's house；
and had once more assumed the Mexican dishabille； even to the
slight exposure of her small feet； stockingless； in white satin
slippers。 The presence of the Comandante and his Secretary
guaranteed the two ladies of their party a reception at least
faultless in form and respect； whatever may have been the secret
feelings of the hostess and her friends。 The Alcalde received Mrs。
Markham and Miss Keene with unruffled courtesy； and conducted them
to the place of honor beside him。
As Eleanor Keene； slightly flushed and beautiful in her unwonted
nervous excitement； took her seat； a flutter went around the
corridor； and； with the single exception of Dona Isabel； an almost
imperceptible drawing together of the other ladies； in offensive
alliance。 Miss Keene had never abandoned her own style of dress；
and that afternoon her delicate an