would permit, and Arguello went for his mother.

Langsdorff, who had lingered on the piazza with the priest, entered in
a moment.

"The good padre tells me that this rose of Castile is the only imported
flower in California," he cried, with enthusiasm, for although not a
botanist, there was a bump between his eyes as big as a child's fist
and he had a nose like the prow of a toy ship. "Many cuttings were
brought from Spain--"

"What difference does it make where it came from?" interrupted Rezanov
testily. "Is it not enough that it is beautiful, but it must have a
pin stuck through it like some poor devil of a butterfly?"

"Your excellency has also the habit to probe into things he deems
worthy of his attention," retorted the offended scientist; but he was
obliged to closet his wrath. An inner door opened and the host
reappeared with his mother and a fair demonstration of her virtues.
She was a very large woman dressed loosely in black, but she carried
herself with an air of complete, if somewhat sleepy, dignity, and it
was evident that her beauty had been great. Her full face had lost its
contours, but time had spared the fine Roman nose and the white skin,
that birthright of the high-bred Castilian. Arguello presented his
family ceremoniously as the guest of honor rose and bowed with formal
deference.

"My mother, Dona Ignacia Arguello, your excellency, who unites with me
in praying that you will regard our home as yours during your sojourn
in the north. My sister, Maria de la Concepcion Marcella Arguello, and
my little sisters, Ana Paula and Gertrudis Rudisinda. My brothers:
Gervasio--soldado distinguido of the San Francisco Company; Santiago, a
cadet in the same company; Francesco and Toribio, whose presence at the
table I beg you will overlook, for when we are so fortunate as to be
all together, senor, we cannot bear to be separated. My oldest
brother, alas--Ignacio--is studying for holy orders in Mexico, and my
sister Isabel visits at the Presidio of Santa Barbara. I beg that you
will be seated, Excellency." And he continued the introduction to the
lesser luminaries, with equal courtesy but fewer periods.

Rezanov exchanged a few pleasant words with his smiling hostess before
she returned to her distracted maids preparing the dinner; but his eyes
during Arguello's declamation had wandered with a singular fidelity to
the beautiful face of the eldest daughter of the house. She had
responded with a