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and gentle； a neglect that was graceful； met the eye； the sharp
exterior and reentering angles were softly rounded and obliterated
by overgrowths of semitropical creepers； the abatis was filled by a
natural brake of scrub…oak and manzanita； the clematis flung its
long scaling ladders over the escarpment； until Nature； slowly but
securely investing the doomed fortress； had lifted a victorious
banner of palm from the conquered summit of the citadel！ Some
strange convulsions of the earth had completed the victory； the
barbette guns of carved and antique bronze commemorating fruitless
and long…forgotten triumphs were dismounted； one turned in the
cheeks of its carriage had a trunnion raised piteously in the air
like an amputated stump； another； sinking through its rotting
chassis； had buried itself to its chase in the crumbling adobe
wall。 But above and beyond this gentle chaos of defense stretched
the real ramparts and escarpments of Todos Santosthe impenetrable
and unassailable fog！ Corroding its brass and iron with saline
breath； rotting its wood with unending shadow； sapping its adobe
walls with perpetual moisture； and nourishing the obliterating
vegetation with its quickening blood； as if laughing to scorn the
puny embattlements of menit still bent around the crumbling ruins
the tender grace of an invisible but all…encompassing arm。
Senor Perkins； who had acted as cicerone to the party； pointed out
these various mutations with no change from his usual optimism。
〃Protected by their peculiar isolation during the late war； there
was no necessity for any real fortification of the place。
Nevertheless； it affords some occupation and position for our kind
friend； Don Miguel； and so serves a beneficial purpose。 This
little gun；〃 he continued； stopping to attentively examine a small
but beautifully carved bronze six…pounder； which showed indications
of better care than the others； 〃seems to be the saluting…gun Don
Miguel spoke of。 For the last fifty years it has spoken only the
language of politeness and courtesy； and yet through want of care
the tampion； as you see； has become swollen and choked in its
mouth。〃
〃How true in a larger sense；〃 murmured Mrs。 Markham； 〃the habit of
courtesy alone preserves the fluency of the heart。〃
〃I know you two are saying something very clever；〃 said Mrs。
Brimmer； whose small French slippers and silk stockings were
beginning to show their inadequacy to a twilight ramble in the fog；
〃but I am so slow； and I never catch the point。 Do repeat it
slowly。〃
〃The Senor was only showing us how they managed to shut up a smooth
bore in this country；〃 said Crosby gravely。 〃I wonder when we're
going to have dinner。 I suppose old Don Quixote will trot out some
of his Senoritas。 I want to see those choir girls that sang so
stunningly a while ago。〃
〃I suppose you mean the boysfor they're all boys in the Catholic
choirsbut then； perhaps you are joking again。 Do tell me if you
are； for this is really amusing。 I may laughmayn't I？〃 As the
discomfited humorist fell again to the rear amidst the laughter of
the others； Mrs。 Brimmer continued naively to Senor Perkins；〃Of
course； as Don Miguel is a widower； there must be daughters or
sisters…in…law who will meet us。 Why； the priest； you knoweven
hemust have nieces。 Really； it's a serious questionif we are
to accept his hospitality in a social way。 Why don't you ask HIM？〃
she said； pointing to the green…jacketed subaltern who was
accompanying them。
Senor Perkins looked half embarrassed。
〃Repeat your question； my dear lady； and I will translate it。〃
〃Ask him if there are any women at the Presidio。〃
Senor Perkins drew the subaltern aside。 Presently he turned to
Mrs。 Brimmer。
〃He says there are four： the wife of the baker； the wife of the
saddler； the daughter of the trumpeter； and the niece of the cook。〃
〃Good heavens！ we can't meet THEM；〃 said Mrs。 Brimmer。
Senor Perkins hesitated。
〃Perhaps I ought to have told you；〃 he said blandly； 〃that the old
Spanish notions of etiquette are very strict。 The wives of the
officials and higher classes do not meet strangers on a first
visit； unless they are well known。〃
〃That isn't it；〃 said Winslow； joining them excitedly。 〃I've heard
the whole story。 It's a good joke。 Banks has been bragging about
us all； and saying that these ladies had husbands who were great
merchants； and； as these chaps consider that all trade is vulgar；
you know； they believe we are not fit to associate with their
women； don't you see？ All； except oneMiss Keene。 She's
considered all right。 She's to be introduced to the Commander's
women； and to the sister of the Alcalde。〃
〃She will do nothing of the kind；〃 said Miss Keene indignantly。
〃If these ladies are not to be received with me； we'll all go back
to the ship together。〃
She spoke with a quick and perfectly unexpected resolution and
independence； so foreign to her usual childlike half dependent
character； that her hearers were astounded。 Senor Perkins gazed at
her thoughtfully； Brace； Crosby； and Winslow admiringly； her sister
passengers with doubt and apprehension。
〃There must he some mistake；〃 said Senor Perkins gently。 〃I will
inquire。〃
He was absent but a few moments。 When he returned； his face was
beaming。
〃It's a ridiculous misapprehension。 Our practical friend Banks； in
his zealous attempts to impress the Comandante's secretary； who
knows a little English； with the importance of Mr。 Brimmer's
position as a large commission merchant； has； I fear； conveyed only
the idea that he was a kind of pawnbroker； while Mr。 Markham's
trade in hides has established him as a tanner； and Mr。 Banks' own
flour speculations； of which he is justly proud； have been
misinterpreted by him as the work of a successful baker！〃
〃And what idea did he convey about YOU？〃 asked Crosby audaciously；
〃it might be interesting to us to know； for our own satisfaction。〃
〃I fear they did not do me the honor to inquire；〃 replied Senor
Perkins； with imperturbable good…humor； 〃there are some persons；
you know； who carry all their worldly possessions palpably about
with them。 I am one of them。 Call me a citizen of the world； with
a strong leniency towards young and struggling nationalities； a
traveler； at home anywhere； a delighted observer of all things； an
admirer of brave men； the devoted slave of charming womenand you
have； in one word； a passenger of the good ship Excelsior。〃
For the first time； Miss Keene noticed a slight irony in Senor
Perkins' superabundant fluency； and that he did not conceal his
preoccupation over the silent saluting gun he was still admiring。
The approach of Don Miguel and Padre Esteban with a small bevy of
ladies； however； quickly changed her thoughts； and detached the
Senor from her side。 Her first swift feminine impression of the
fair strangers was that they were plain and dowdy； an impression
fully shared by the other lady passengers。 But her second
observation； that they were more gentle； fascinating； child…like；
and feminine than her own countrywomen； was purely her own。 Their
loose； undulating figures； guiltless of stays； their extravagance
of short； white； heavily flounced skirt； which looked like a
petticoat； their lightly wrapped； formless； and hooded shoulders
and heads； lent a suggestion of dishabille that Mrs。 Brimmer at
once resented。
〃They might； at least； have dressed themselves；〃 she whispered to
Mrs。 Markham。
〃I really believe；〃 returned Mrs。 Markham； 〃they've got no bodices
on！〃
The introductions over； a polyglot conversation ensued in French by
the Padre and Mrs。 Brimmer； and in broken English by Miss Chubb；
Miss Keene； and the other passengers with the Commander's
secretary； varied by occasional scraps of college Latin from Mr。
Crosby； the whole aided by occasional appeals to Senor Perkins。
The darkness increasing； the party reentered the courtyard； and；
passing through the low…studded guard…room； entered another
corridor； which looked upon a second court； enclosed on three
sides； the fourth opening upon a broad plaza； evidently the public
resort of the little town。 Encompassing this open space； a few
red…tiled roofs could be faintly seen in the gathering gloom。
Chocolate and thin spiced cakes were served in the veranda； pending
the preparations for a more formal banquet。 Already Miss Keene had
been singled out from her companions for the special attentions of
her hosts； male and female； to her embarrassment and confusion。
Already Dona Isabel； the sister of the Alcalde； had drawn her
aside； and； with caressing frankness； had begun to question her in
broken English；
〃But Miss Keene is no name。 The Dona Keene is of nothing。〃
〃Well； you may call me Eleanor； if you like；〃 said Miss Keene；
smiling。
〃Dona Leonorso； that is good；〃 said