The Californians

  VII

  Trennahan arrived late in the evening, and went directly to the Yorbas'to dinner. He saw Magdalena alone for a moment before the others camedownstairs, and his delight at meeting her again was so boyish that shecould hardly have recalled his eventful forty years had she tried. Hewas one of those men, who, having a great deal of nervous energy, arepossessed briefly by the high animal spirits of youth when in unusualmental and physical tenor,--with coincident obliteration of the bills oftime. Trennahan was in the highest spirits this evening. He wasdelighted to get back to California, delighted to see Magdalena, whom hethought improved and almost pretty in her smart frock. Moreover, nowoman had ever seemed to him half so sincere, half so well worth theloving, as this girl who said so little and breathed so much.

  Don Roberto and Mr. Polk detained him some time after dinner, andMagdalena, who thought them most inconsiderate, awaited him in thegreen-and-brown reception-room. She knew the ugliness of these roomsnow, and wondered, as Trennahan finally entered, if it clashed with hissentiment. But he gave no sign. He pushed a small sofa before the fire,drew her beside him, and demanded the history of the past four months.He held her hand and looked at her with boyish delight. Even the lineshad left his face for the moment, the grimness his mouth. He lookedtwenty-six.

  "Your trip has done you more good than California did. You never lookedso well here."

  "I have been funereal since the day I left. This is pure reaction. Inever felt so happy in my life. Couldn't we have a walk or ridesomewhere to-morrow early--out to the Presidio? I want to be in the openair with you."

  "I am afraid we couldn't. Nobody does such things, you know--exceptHelena. Someone would be sure to see us, and it would be all over townbefore night. Then we should have to announce--I'd rather not do thatuntil just before--I should hate being discussed."

  "Well, but I must have you to myself in my own way. I wonder if yourmother would bring you down to my house for a few days. Don Roberto andMr. Polk could come down every evening."

  "I think they would like it."

  "And you?"

  "Oh, I should like it. The woods must be lovely in winter."

  "Who has been teaching you coquetry? Who has fallen in love with yousince I left?"

  "With me? No one. No one would ever think of such a thing but you--"

  "I love you with an unerring instinct."

  "They are all in love with Helena. I suppose you heard of her in NewYork."

  "It certainly was not your fault if I did not."

  "But surely you must have heard otherwise. She is a great, great belle."

  "My dearest girl, you do not hear California mentioned in New York oncea month. It might be on Mars. The East remembers California's existenceabout as often as Europe remembers America's. They don't know what theymiss. When am I to see your Helena?"

  "A week from to-night; she gives a ball then at Del Monte. She and herfather have already gone, because each thought the other needed rest."

  "Monterey,--that is the scene of your Ysabel's tragedy. We will explorethe old part of the town together."

  She moved closer to him, her eyes glistening. "That has been one of mydreams,--to be there with you--for the first time. We can guess wherethey all lived--and go to the cemetery on the hill where so many areburied--and there is the Custom House on the rocks, where the ball wasand where Ysabel jumped off--it will be heaven!"

  He laughed and caught her in his arms, kissing her fondly. "You dearlittle Spanish maid," he said. "You don't belong to the present at all.No wonder you bewitched me. I am beginning to feel quite out of place inthe present, myself. It is a novel and delightful sensation."