broth. What has begun well will end well."

After a time the two men went down to a shady veranda which half encircled
the house, and found Mrs. Stanley taking an accidental siesta on a sort of
lounge or sofa. Being a light sleeper, like many other active-minded
people, she awoke at their approach and sat up to give reception.

"Mrs. Stanley, this is my uncle Garcia, my more than father," bowed
Coronado.

"I have not forgotten him," replied Aunt Maria, who indeed was not likely
to forget that mottled face, dyed blue with nitrate of silver.

Warmly shaking the puffy hand of the old toad, and doing her very best to
smile upon him, she said, "How do you do, Mr. Garcia? I hope you are well.
Mr. Coronado, do tell him that, and that I am rejoiced to see him."

Garcia's snaky glance just rose to the honest woman's face, and then
crawled hurriedly all about the veranda, as if trying to hide in corners.
Thanks to Coronado's fluency and invention, there was a mutually
satisfactory conversation between the couple. He amplified the lady's
compliments and then amplified the Mexican's compliments, until each
looked upon the other as a person of unusual intelligence and a fast
friend, Aunt Maria, however, being much the more thoroughly humbugged of
the two.

"My uncle has come on urgent mercantile business, and he crowds in a few
days with us," Coronado presently explained. "I have told him of my little
cousin's good fortune, and he is delighted."

"I am so glad to hear it," said Mrs. Stanley. "What an excellent old man
he is, to be sure! And you are just like him, Mr. Coronado--just as good
and unselfish."

"You overestimate me," answered Coronado, with a smile which was almost
ironical.

Before long Clara appeared. Garcia's eye darted a look at her which was
like the spring of an adder, dwelling for just a second on the girl's
face, and then scuttling off in an uncleanly, poisonous way for hiding
corners. He saw that she was thin, and believed to a certain extent in
Coronado's hints of poison, so that his glance was more cowardly than
ordinary.

Liking the man not overmuch, but pleased to see a face which had been
familiar to her childhood, and believing that she owed him large
reparation for her grandfather's will, Clara advanced cordially to the old
sinner.

"Welcome, Senor Garcia," she said, wondering that he did not kiss her
cheek. "Welcome to your own house. It is all yours. Whatever you choose is
yours."

"I r