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steeled myself against my selfishness for her sake。 I could have
resigned her to the escape you had planned； believing her happier
for it； and ignorant of the real condition of the man she had
learnt totopity。 But；〃 he added； turning suddenly and almost
rudely upon the priest； 〃do you know the meaning of this irruption
of the outer world to ME？ Do you reflect that these men probably
know my miserable story？that； as one of the passengers of the
Excelsior； they will be obliged to seek me and to restore me；〃 he
added； with a bitter laugh； 〃to MY home； MY kindredto the world I
loathe？〃
〃But you need not follow them。 Remain here。〃
〃Here！with the door thrown open to any talebearer OR PERHAPS TO
MY WIFE HERSELF？ Never！ Hear me； Father；〃 he went on hurriedly：
〃these men have come from San Franciscohave been to Mazatlan。
Can you believe that it is possible that they have never heard of
this woman's search for me？ No！ The quest of hate is as strong as
the quest of love； and more merciless to the hunted。〃
〃But if that were so； foolish boy； she would have accompanied
them。〃
〃You are wrong！ It would have been enough for her to have sent my
exposure by themto have driven me from this refuge。〃
〃This is but futile fancy； Diego；〃 said Father Esteban； with a
simulated assurance he was far from feeling。 〃Nothing has yet been
saidnothing may be said。 Wait； my child。〃
〃Wait！〃 he echoed bitterly。 〃Ay； wait until the poor girl shall
hearperhaps from her brother's lipsthe story of my marriage as
bandied about by others； wait for her to know that the man who
would have made her love him was another's； and unworthy of her
respect？ No！ it is I who must leave this place； and at once。〃
〃YOU？〃 echoed the Padre。 〃How？〃
〃By the same means you would have used for her departure。 I must
take her place in that ship you are expecting。 You will give ME
letters to your friends。 Perhaps； when this is over； I may return
if I still live。〃
Padre Esteban became thoughtful。
〃You will not refuse me？〃 said the young man； taking the Padre's
hand。 〃It is for the best； believe me。 I will remain secret here
until then。 You will invent some excuseillness； or what you
liketo keep them from penetrating here。 Above all； to spare me
from the misery of ever reading my secret in her face。〃
Father Esteban remained still absorbed in thought。
〃You will take a letter from me to the Archbishop； and put yourself
under his care？〃 he asked at last； after a long pause。 〃You will
promise me that？〃
〃I do！〃
〃Then we shall see what can be done。 They talk； those Americanos；〃
continued the priest； 〃of making their way up the coast to Punta
St。 Jago； where the ship they have already sent for to take them
away can approach the shore； and the Comandante has orders to
furnish them escort and transport to that point。 It is a foolish
indiscretion of the Government； and I warrant without the sanction
of the Church。 Already there is curiosity； discontent； and wild
talk among the people。 Ah！ thou sayest truly； my son；〃 said the
old man； gloomily； 〃the doors of Todos Santos are open。 The
Comandante will speed these heretics quickly on their way； but the
doors by which they came and whence they go will never close again。
But God's will be done！ And if the open doors bring thee back； my
son； I shall not question His will！〃
It would seem； however； as if Hurlstone's fears had been groundless。
For in the excitement of the succeeding days； and the mingling of
the party from San Antonio with the new…comers； the recluse had been
forgotten。 So habitual； had been his isolation from the others；
that； except for the words of praise and gratitude hesitatingly
dropped by Miss Keene to her brother； his name was not mentioned；
and it might have been possible for the relieving party to have left
him behindunnoticed。 Mr。 Brimmer； for domestic reasons； was quite
willing to allow the episode of Miss Montgomery's connection with
their expedition to drop for the present。 Her name was only
recalled once by Miss Keene。 When Dick had professed a sudden and
violent admiration for the coquettish Dona Isabel； Eleanor had
looked up in her brother's face with a half troubled air。
〃Who was this queer Montgomery woman； Dick？〃 she said。
Dick laugheda frank； reassuring； heart…free laugh。
〃Perfectly stunning； Nell。 Such a figure in tights！ You ought to
have seen her dancemy！〃
〃Hush！ I dare say she was horrid！〃
〃Not at all！ She wasn't such a bad fellow； if you left out her
poetry and gush； which I didn't go in for much；though the other
fellows〃he stopped； from a sudden sense of loyalty to Brimmer and
Markham。 〃No； you see； Nell； she was regularly ridiculously struck
after that man Perkins；whom she'd never seen；a kind of
schoolgirl worship for a pirate。 You know how you women go in for
those fellows with a mystery about 'em。〃
〃No； I don't！〃 said Miss Keene sharply； with a slight rise of
color； 〃and I don't see what that's got to do with you and her。〃
〃Everything！ She was in correspondence with Perkins； and knows
about the Excelsior affair； and wants to help him get out of it
with clean hands； don't you see！ That's why she made up to us。
There； Nell； she ain't your style； of course； but you owe a heap to
her for giving us points as to where you were。 But that's all over
now； she left us at Mazatlan； and went on to Nicaragua to meet
Perkins somewhere therefor the fellow has always got some Central
American revolution on hand； it appears。 Until they garrote or
shoot him some day； he'll go on in the liberating business forever。〃
〃Then there wasn't any Mr。 Montgomery； of course？〃 said Eleanor。
〃Oh； Mr。 Montgomery；〃 said Dick； hesitating。 〃Well； you see； Nell；
I think that； knowing how correct and all that sort of thing
Brimmer is； she sort of invented the husband to make her interest
look more proper。〃
〃It's shameful！〃 said Miss Keene indignantly。
〃Come； Nell； one would think you had a personal dislike to her。
Let her go； she won't trouble younor； I reckon； ANYBODY； much
longer。〃
〃What do you mean； Dick？〃
〃I mean she has regularly exhausted and burnt herself out with her
hysterics and excitements； and the drugs she's taken to subdue
themto say nothing of the Panama fever she got last spring。 If
she don't go regularly crazy at last she'll have another attack of
fever； hanging round the isthmus waiting for Perkins。〃
Meanwhile； undisturbed by excitement or intrusion of the outer
world； the days had passed quietly at the Mission。 But one
evening； at twilight； a swift…footed； lightly…clad Indian glided
into the sacristy as if he had slipped from the outlying fog； and
almost immediately as quietly glided away again and disappeared。
The next moment Father Esteban's gaunt and agitated face appeared
at Hurlstone's door。
〃My son； God has been merciful； and c