he has never seen YOU, he is quite
willing to leave his daughter here."

"Thank you!"

"Come, you know what I mean. The man naturally believes that my wife
will be a proper chaperone for his daughter. But that is not the present
question. He intended to call here; I expected to take you over to San
Jose to see her and all that, you know; but the fact of it is--that
is--it seems from this letter that--he's been called away sooner than he
expected, and that--well--hang it! the girl is actually on her way here
now."

"Alone?"

"I suppose so. You know one thinks nothing of that here."

"Or any other propriety, for that matter."

"For heaven's sake, Josephine, don't be ridiculous! Of course it's
stupid her coming in this way, and Mallory ought to have brought
her--but she's coming, and we must receive her. By Jove! Here she is
now!" he added, starting up after a hurried glance through the window.
"But what kind of a d----d turn-out is that, anyhow?"

It certainly was an odd-looking conveyance that had entered the gates,
and was now slowly coming up the drive towards the house. A large
draught horse harnessed to a dust-covered buggy, whose strained
fore-axle, bent by the last mile of heavy road, had slanted the tops
of the fore-wheels towards each other at an alarming angle. The light,
graceful dress and elegant parasol of the young girl, who occupied half
of its single seat, looked ludicrously pronounced by the side of the
slouching figure and grimy duster of the driver, who occupied the other
half.

Mrs. Randolph gave a gritty laugh. "I thought you said she was alone. Is
that an escort she has picked up, American fashion, on the road?"

"That's her hired driver, no doubt. Hang it! she can't drive here by
herself," retorted the major, impatiently, hurrying to the door and down
the staircase. But he was instantly followed by his wife. She had no
idea of permitting a possible understanding to be exchanged in their
first greeting. The late M. l'Hommadieu had been able to impart a whole
plan of intrigue in a single word and glance.

Happily, Rose Mallory, already in the hall, in a few words detailed the
accident that had befallen her, to the honest sympathy of the major and
the coldly-polite concern of Mrs. Randolph, who, in deliberately chosen
sentences, managed to convey to the young girl the conviction that
accidents of any kind to young ladies were to be regarded as only
a shade removed from indiscretions. Rose