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they had conceived this expedition long ago； and yet had
difficulties because they only thought of it the day before the
steamer sailed； that they had embarked for the isthmus of Nicaragua；
and yet had stopped at Mazatlan； that their information was complete
in San Francisco； and only picked up at Mazatlan； that 〃friends〃
sometimes contradictorily known as 〃he〃 and 〃she〃had overpowering
influence with the Mexican Government； and alone had helped them；
and yet that they were utterly dependent upon the efforts of Senor
Perkins； who had compromised matters with the Mexican Government and
everybody。
〃Do you mean to say； James Markham； that you've seen Perkins； and
it was he who told you we were here？〃
〃Nonot HIM exactly。〃
〃Let me explain；〃 said Mr。 Brimmer hastily。 〃It appears；〃 he
corrected his haste with practical businesslike precision； 〃that
the filibuster Perkins； after debarking you here； and taking the
Excelsior to Quinquinambo； actually established the Quinquinambo
Government； and got Mexico and the other confederacies to recognize
its independence。 Quinquinambo behaved very handsomely； and not
only allowed the Mexican Government indemnity for breaking the
neutrality of Todos Santos by the seizure； but even compromised
with our own Government their claim to confiscate the Excelsior for
treaty violation； and paid half the value of the vessel； besides
giving information to Mexico and Washington of your whereabouts。
We consequently represent a joint commission from both countries to
settle the matter and arrange for your return。〃
〃But what I want to know is this： Is it to Senor Perkins that we
ought to be thankful for seeing you here at all？〃 asked Mrs。
Markham impatiently。
〃No； nonot that； exactly；〃 stammered Markham。 〃Oh； come now；
Susannah〃
〃No；〃 said Richard Keene earnestly； 〃by Jove！ some thanks ought to
go to Belle Montgomery〃He checked himself in sudden consternation。
There was a chilly silence。 Even Miss Keene looked anxiously at
her brother； as the voice of Mrs。 Brimmer for the first time broke
the silence。
〃May we be permitted to know who is this person to whom we owe so
great an obligation？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Brimmer； 〃She wasas I have already intimateda
friend； possibly； you know；〃 he added； turning lightly to his
companions； as if to corroborate an impression that had just struck
him； 〃perhaps aaa sweetheart of the Senor Perkins。〃
〃And how was she so interested in us； pray？〃 said Mrs。 Markham；
〃Well； you see； she had an idea that a former husband was on board
of the Excelsior。〃
He stopped suddenly； remembering from the astonished faces of Keene
and Markham that the secret was not known to them； while they；
impressed with the belief that the story was a sudden invention of
Brimmer's； with difficulty preserved their composure。 But the
women were quick to notice their confusion； and promptly
disbelieved Brimmer's explanation。
〃Well； as there's no Mister Montgomery here； she's probably
mistaken；〃 said Mrs。 Markham； with decision； 〃though it strikes ME
that she's very likely had the same delusion on board of some other
ship。 Come along； James； perhaps after you've had a bath and some
clean clothes； you may come out a little more like the man I once
knew。 I don't know how Mrs。 Brimmer feels； but I feel more as if I
required to be introduced to youthan your friend's friend； Mrs。
Montgomery。 At any rate； try and look and behave a little more
decent when you go over to the Presidio。〃
With these words she dragged him away。 Mr。 Brimmer； after a futile
attempt to appear at his ease； promptly effected the usual marital
diversion of carrying the war into the enemy's camp。
〃For heaven's sake； Barbara；〃 he said； with ostentatious
indignation； 〃go and dress yourself properly。 Had you neither
money nor credit to purchase clothes？ I declare I didn't know you
at first； and when I did； I was shocked； before Mrs。 Markham； too！〃
〃Mrs。 Markham； I fear； has quite enough to occupy her now；〃 said
Mrs。 Brimmer shortly； as she turned away； with hysterically moist
eyes； leaving her husband to follow her。
Oblivious of this comedy； Richard Keene and Eleanor had already
wandered back； hand in hand； to their days of childhood。 But even
in the joy that filled the young girl's heart in the presence of
her only kinsman； there was a strange reservation。 The meeting
that she had looked forward to with eager longing had brought all
she expected； more than that； it seemed to have been providentially
anticipated at the moment of her greatest need； and yet it was
incomplete。 She was ashamed that after the first recognition； a
wild desire to run to Hurlstone and tell HIM her happiness was her
only thought。 She was shocked that the bright joyous face of this
handsome lovable boy could not shut out the melancholy austere
features of Hurlstone； which seemed to rise reproachfully between
them。 When； for the third and fourth time； they had recounted
their past history； exchanged their confidences and feelings； Dick；
passing his arm around his sister's waist； looked down smilingly in
her eyes。
〃And so； after all； little Nell； everybody has been good to you；
and you have been happy！〃
〃Everybody has been kind to me； Dick； far kinder than I deserved。
Even if I had really been the great lady that little Dona Isabel
thought I was； or the important person the Commander believed me to
be； I couldn't have been treated more kindly。 I have met with
nothing but respect and attention。 I have been very happy； Dick；
very happy。〃
And with a little cry she threw herself on her brother's neck and
burst into a childlike flood of inconsistent tears。
Meantime the news of the arrival of the relief…party had penetrated
even the peaceful cloisters of the Mission； and Father Esteban had
been summoned in haste to the Council。 He returned with an eager
face to Hurlstone； who had been anxiously awaiting him。 When the
Padre had imparted the full particulars of the event to his
companion； he added gravely；
〃You see； my son； how Providence； which has protected you since you
first claimed the Church's sanctuary； has again interfered to spare
me the sacrifice of using the power of the Church in purely mundane
passions。 I weekly accept the rebuke of His better…ordained ways；
and you； Diego； may comfort yourself that this girl is restored
directly to her brother's care； without any deviousness of plan or
human responsibility。 You do not speak； my son！〃 continued the
priest anxiously； 〃can it be possible that； in the face of this
gracious approval of Providence to your resolution； you are
regretting it？〃
The young man replied； with a half reproachful gesture：
〃Do you； then； think me still so weak？ No； Father Esteban； I have
steeled myself against my selfishness for her sake。 I could have
resigned her to the escape you had planned； believing h