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product。 There were acres and acres of potatoes in rows of endless
and varying succession； there were miles of wild oats and barley；
which overtopped them as they drove in narrow lanes of dry and
dusty monotony； there were orchards of pears； apricots； peaches；
and nectarines； and vineyards of grapes； so comparatively dwarfed
in height that they scarcely reached to the level of their eyes；
yet laden and breaking beneath the weight of their ludicrously
disproportionate fruit。 What seemed to be a vast green plateau
covered with tiny patches； that headed the northern edge of the
prospect； was an enormous bed of strawberry plants。 But everywhere；
crossing the track； bounding the fields； orchards； and vineyards；
intersecting the paths of the whole domain； were narrow irrigating
ducts and channels of running water。
〃Those；〃 said the major； poetically； 〃are the veins and arteries of
the ranch。 Come with me now； and I'll show you its pulsating
heart。〃 Descending from the wagon into pedestrian prose again； he
led Rose a hundred yards further to a shed that covered a wonderful
artesian well。 In the centre of a basin a column of water rose
regularly with the even flow and volume of a brook。 〃It is one of
the largest in the State；〃 said the major； 〃and is the life of all
that grows here during six months of the year。〃
Pleased as the young girl was with those evidences of the prosperity
and position of her host； she was struck； however； with the fact
that the farm…laborers； wine…growers； nurserymen； and all field
hands scattered on the vast estate were apparently of the same
independent； unpastoral； and unprofessional character as the men of
the wheat…field。 There were no cottages or farm buildings that she
could see； nor any apparent connection between the household and the
estate； far from suggesting tenantry or retainers； the men who were
working in the fields glanced at them as they passed with the
indifference of strangers； or replied to the major's greetings or
questionings with perfect equality of manner； or even businesslike
reserve and caution。 Her host explained that the ranch was worked
by a company 〃on shares；〃 that those laborers were； in fact； the
bulk of the company； and that he； the major； only furnished the
land； the seed； and the implements。 〃That man who was driving the
long roller； and with whom you were indignant because he wouldn't
get out of our way； is the president of the company。〃
〃That needn't make him so uncivil；〃 said Rose； poutingly； 〃for if
it comes to that you're the LANDLORD；〃 she added triumphantly。
〃No；〃 said the major； good…humoredly。 〃I am simply the man driving
the lighter and more easily…managed team for pleasure； and he's the
man driving the heavier and more difficult machine for work。 It's
for me to get out of his way； and looked at in the light of my
being THE LANDLORD it is still worse； for as we're working 'on
shares' I'm interrupting HIS work； and reducing HIS profits merely
because I choose to sacrifice my own。〃
I need not say that those atrociously leveling sentiments were
received by the young ladies with that feminine scorn which is only
qualified by misconception。 Rose； who； under the influence of her
hostess； had a vague impression that they sounded something like
the French Revolution； and that Adele must feel like the Princess
Elizabeth； rushed to her relief like a good girl。 〃But； major；
now； YOU'RE a gentleman； and if YOU had been driving that roller；
you know you would have turned out for us。〃
〃I don't know about that；〃 said the major； mischievously； 〃but if
I had； I should have known that the other fellow who accepted it
wasn't a gentleman。〃
But Rose； having sufficiently shown her partisanship in the
discussion； after the feminine fashion； did not care particularly
for the logical result。 After a moment's silence she resumed：
〃And the wheat ranch belowis that carried on in the same way？〃
〃Yes。 But their landlord is a bank； who advances not only the
land； but the money to work it； and doesn't ride around in a buggy
with a couple of charmingly distracting young ladies。〃
〃And do they all share alike？〃 continued Rose； ignoring the
pleasantry； 〃big and littlethat young inventor with the rest？〃
She stopped。 She felt the ingenue's usually complacent eyes
suddenly fixed upon her with an unhallowed precocity； and as
quickly withdrawn。 Without knowing why； she felt embarrassed； and
changed the subject。
The next day they drove to the Convent of Santa Clara and the
Mission College of San Jose。 Their welcome at both places seemed
to Rose to be a mingling of caste greeting and spiritual zeal； and
the austere seclusion and reserve of those cloisters repeated that
suggestion of an Old World civilization that had already fascinated
the young Western girl。 They made other excursions in the
vicinity； but did not extend it to a visit to their few neighbors。
With their reserved and exclusive ideas this fact did not strike
Rose as peculiar； but on a later shopping expedition to the town of
San Jose； a certain reticence and aggressive sensitiveness on the
part of the shopkeepers and tradespeople towards the Randolphs
produced an unpleasant impression on her mind。 She could not help
noticing； too； that after the first stare of astonishment which
greeted her appearance with her hostess； she herself was included in
the antagonism。 With her youthful prepossession for her friends；
this distinction she regarded as flattering and aristocratic； and I
fear she accented it still more by discussing with Mrs。 Randolph the
merits of the shopkeepers' wares in schoolgirl French before them。
She was unfortunate enough； however； to do this in the shop of a
polyglot German。
〃Oxcoos me； mees；〃 he said gravely；〃but dot lady speeks Engeleesh
so goot mit yourselluf； and ven you dells to her dot silk is hallf
gotton in English； she onderstand you mooch better； and it don't
make nodings to me。〃 The laugh which would have followed from her
own countrywomen did not； however； break upon the trained faces of
the 〃de Fontanges l'Hommadieus；〃 yet while Rose would have joined
in it； albeit a little ruefully； she felt for the first time
mortified at their civil insincerity。
At the end of two weeks； Major Randolph received a letter from Mr。
Mallory。 When he had read it； he turned to his wife： 〃He thanks
you；〃 he said； 〃for your kindness to his daughter； and explains
that his sudden departure was owing to the necessity of his taking
advantage of a great opportunity for speculation that had offered。〃
As Mrs。 Randolph turned away with a slight shrug of the shoulders；
the major continued： 〃But you haven't heard all！ That opportunity
was the securing of a half interest in a cinnabar lode in Sonora；
which has already gone up a hundred thousand dollars in his hands！
By Jove！ a man can afford to drop a little social ceremony on those
termseh； Josephine？〃 he concluded with a triumphant chuckle。
〃He's as likely to lose his hundred thousand to…morrow； while his
manners will remain；〃 said Mrs。 Randolph。 〃I've no faith in these
sudden California fortunes！〃
〃You're wrong as regards Mallory； for he's as careful as he is
lucky。 He don't throw money away for appearance sake； or he'd have
a rich home for that daughter。 He could afford it。〃
Mrs。 Randolph was silent。 〃She is his only daughter； I believe；〃
she continued presently。
〃Yeshe has no other kith or kin；〃 returned the major。
〃She seems to be very much impressed by Emile；〃 said Mrs。 Randolph。
Major Randolph faced his wife quickly。
〃In the name of all that's ridiculous； my dear； you are not already
thinking of〃he gasped。
〃I should be very loth to give MY sanction to anything of the kind；
knowing the difference of her birth； education； and religion；
although the latter I believe she would readily change；〃 said Mrs。
Randolph； severely。 〃But when you speak of MY already thinking of
'such things；' do you suppose that your friend； Mr。 Mallory； didn't
consider all that when he sent that girl here？〃
〃Never；〃 said the major； vehemently； 〃and if it entered his head
now； by Jove； he'd take her away to…morrowalways supposing I
didn't anticipate him by sending her off myself。〃
Mrs。 Randolph uttered her mirthless laugh。 〃And you suppose the
girl would go？ Really； major； you don't seem to understand this
boasted liberty of your own countrywoman。 What does she care for
her father's control？ Why； she'd make him do just what SHE wanted。
But；〃 she added with an expression of dignity； 〃perhaps we had
better not discuss this until we know something of Emile's feelings
in the matter。 That is the only question that concerns us。〃 With
this she swept out of the room； leaving the major at first
speechless with honest indignation； and then after the fashion of
all guileless natures； a little uneasy