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w； transcendently beautiful。 His first impression of her； indeed； had been that she was merely an unusually good example of a type by no means rare in that region。 But ere long he became sensible of a spiritual quality in her which lifted her to a level far above that which can be attained by mere harmony of features and proportions。 Beneath the outward aspect lay a profound depth of being； glimpses of which were occasionally discernible through her eyes； in the tones of her voice； in her smile； in unconscious movements of her hands and limbs。 Demonstrative she could never be； but she could； at will； feel with tropical intensity； and act with the swiftness and energy of a fanatic。
In Miriam's company； Freeman forgot every one save her；even himself；though she certainly made no effort to attract him or （beyond the commonplaces of courtesy） to interest him。 Consequently he had become entirely oblivious of the existence of such a person as Grace Parsloe； when； much to his irritation； he heard the voice of that young lady； mingled with others； approaching along the veranda。 At the same moment he experienced acute regret at the whim of fortune which had made himself and that sprightly young lady fellow… passengers from Panama； and at the idle impulse which had prompted him to flirt with her。
But the past was beyond remedy： it was his concern to deal with the present。 In a few seconds； Grace entered the curiosity… room； followed by Professor Meschines； and by a dashing young Mexican senor； whom Freeman had met the previous evening； and who was called Don Miguel de Mendoza。 The senor； to judge from his manner； had already fallen violently in love with Grace； and was almost dislocating his organs of speech in the effort to pay her romantic compliments in English。 Freeman observed this with unalloyed satisfaction。 But the look which Grace bent upon him and Miriam； on entering； and the ominous change which passed over her mobile countenance； went far to counteract this agreeable impression。
One story is good until another is told。 Freeman had really thought Grace a fascinating girl； until he saw Miriam。 There was no harm in that： the trouble was； he had allowed Grace to perceive his admiration。 He had already remarked that she was a creature of violent extremes； tempered； but not improved； by a thin polish of subtlety。 She was now about to give an illustration of the passion of jealousy。 But it was not her jealousy that Freeman minded： it was the prospect of Miriam's scorn when she should surmise that he had given Grace cause to be jealous。 Miriam was not the sort of character to enter into a competition with any other woman about a lover。 He would lose her before he had a chance to try to win her。
But fortune proved rather more favorable than Freeman expected； or； perhaps； than he deserved。 Grace's attack was too impetuous。 She stopped just inside the threshold； and said； in an imperious tone； 〃Come here； Mr。 Freeman： I wish to speak to you。〃
〃Thank you；〃 he replied； resolving at once to widen the breach to the utmost extent possible； 〃I am otherwise engaged。〃
〃Upon my word；〃 observed the professor； with a chuckle； 〃you're no diplomatist； Harvey！ What are you two about here？ Investigating antiquities？〃
〃The remains of ancient Mexico are more interesting than some of her recent products；〃 returned Freeman； who wished to quarrel with somebody； and had promptly decided that Senor Don Miguel de Mendoza was the most available person。 He bowed to the latter as he spoke。
〃Youaspoken to me？〃 said the senor； stepping forward with a polite grimace。 〃I no to quite comprehend〃
〃Pray don't exert yourself to converse with me out of your own language； senor；〃 interrupted Freeman； in Spanish。 〃I was just remarking that the Spaniards seem to have degenerated greatly since they colonized Mexico。〃
〃Senor！〃 exclaimed Don Miguel； stiffening and staring。
〃Of course；〃 added Freeman； smiling benevolently upon him； 〃I judge only from such specimens of the modern Mexican as I happen to meet with。〃
Don Miguel's sallow countenance turned greenish white。 But； before he could make a reply； Meschines； who scented mischief in the air； and divined that the gentler sex must somehow be at the bottom of it； struck in。
〃You may consider yourself lucky； Harvey； in making the acquaintance of a gentleman like Senor de Mendoza； who exemplifies the undimmed virtues of Cortez and Torquemada。 For my part； I brought him here in the hope that he might be able to throw some light on the mystery of this embroidered garment； which I see you've been examining。 What do you say； Don Miguel？ Have these designs any significance beyond mere ornament？ Anything in the nature of hieroglyphics？〃
The senor was obliged to examine； and to enter into a discussion； though； of course； his ignorance of the subject in dispute was as the depths of that abyss which has no bottom。 Miriam； who was not fond of Don Miguel； but who felt constrained to exceptional courtesy in view of Freeman's unwarrantable attack upon him； stood beside him and the Professor； and Freeman and Grace were thus left to fight it out with each other。
But Grace had drawn her own conclusions from what had passed。 Freeman had insulted Don Miguel。 Wherefore？ Obviously； it could only be because he thought that she was flirting with him。 In other words； Freeman was jealous； and to be jealous is to love。 Now； Grace was so constituted that； though she did not like to play second fiddle herself； yet she had no objection to monopolizing all the members of the male species who might happen； at a given moment； to be in sight。
She had； consequently； already forgiven Freeman for his apparent unfaithfulness to her； by reason of his manifest jealousy of Don Miguel。 As a matter of fact； he was not jealous； and he was unfaithful； but fate had decreed that there should be； for the moment； a game of cross…purposes； and the decrees of fate are incorrigible。
〃I had no idea you were so savage；〃 she said； softly。
〃I'm not savage；〃 replied Freeman。 〃I am bored。〃
〃Well； I don't know as I can blame you；〃 said Grace； still more softly： she fancied he was referring to Miriam。 〃I don't much like Spanish mixtures myself。〃
〃One has to take what one can get；〃 said Freeman； referring to Don Miguel。
〃But it's all right now；〃 rejoined she； meaning that Freeman and herself were reconciled after their quarrel。
〃If you are satisfied； I am；〃 observed Freeman； too indifferent to care what she meant。
〃Only； you mustn't take that poor young man too seriously；〃 she went on： 〃these Mexicans are absurdly demonstrative； but they don't mean anything。〃
〃He won't； if he values his skin；〃 said Freeman； meaning that if Don Miguel attempted to interfere between himself and Miriam he would wring his neck。
〃He won't； I promise you；〃 said Grace； sparkling with pleasure。
〃I don't quite see how you can help it；〃 returned Freeman。
〃I should hope I could manage a creature like that！〃 murmured she； smiling。
〃Well；〃 said Freeman； after a pause； for Grace's seeming change of attitude puzzled him a little；〃I'm glad you look at it that way。 I don't wish to be meddled with； that's all。〃
〃You shan't be；〃 she whispered； and then； just when they were approaching the point where their eyes might have been opened； in came General Trednoke。 The group round the Golden Fleece broke up。
The general wore his riding…dress； and his bearing was animated； though he was covered with dust。
〃I was wondering what had become of you all；〃 he said； as the others gathered about him。 〃I have been taking a canter to the eastward。 Kamaiakan said this morning that one of the boys had brought news of a cloud…burst in that direction。 I rode far enough to ascertain that there has really been something of the kind； and I think it has affected the arroyo on the farther side of the little sierra。 Now； I don't know how you gentlemen feel； but it occurred to me that it might be interesting to make up a little party of exploration to…morrow。 Would you like to try it； Meschines？〃
〃To be sure I should！〃 the professor replied。 〃I imagine I can stand as much of the desert as you can！ And I want to catch a sidewinder。〃
〃Good！ And you； Mr。 Freeman？〃
〃It would suit me exactly；〃 said the latter。 〃In fact； I had been intending to gratify my curiosity by making some such expedition on my own account。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the general； eying him with some intentness。 〃Well； we may be able to show you something more curious than you anticipate。And now； Senor de Mendoza； there is only you left。 May we count on your company into the desert？〃
But the Mexican； with a bow and a grimace； excused himself。 Scientific curiosity was an unknown emotion to him； but he foresaw an opportunity to have Grace all to himself； and he meant to improve it。 He also wished leisure to think over some plan for getting rid of Senor Freeman； in whom he scented a rival； and who； whether a rival or not； had behaved to him with a lack of consideration in the presence of ladies。
CHAPTER IV。
General Trednoke's household went early to bed。 As there was more accommodation in the old house than sufficed for its present inhabitants