to the rest of the world, the effect of such
isolation upon the character of a people that had created a great and
important city out of the wilderness, and in half a century. In spite of
the obstinate aloofness of his ego he felt an involuntary thrill of
pride in his connection with such a people; and hoped it might be
premonitory. But again the eerie landscape claimed him and he became
aware of the weird night sounds that broke out with violent abruptness
after intervals of throbbing quiet: the loud honk-honk of geese, the
shriek of loons, the noisy capricious serenade of the frogs. He
experienced a feeling of such utter isolation that he almost started
when Isabel spoke.

"These waste places in California are almost terrifying by moonlight,"
said she. "They always look as if they were brooding, crouching,
concentrating their energies for a convulsion. No earthquake country can
be quite normal in any of its aspects, nor quite beautiful. Here comes
the tide. How Mac will grumble at us! But he is sure to have kept the
fire going, and you shall have a cup of hot coffee before you start for
home."

XII

Gwynne, on the following day, was making a late toilet, and in anything
but a good-humor, for he had grown accustomed to early rising, when he
received a note from Isabel.

It ran:

DEAR PARTNER,--Anabel has just told me over the telephone that Tom
and Mr. Leslie and two other representative citizens are going out
to see you this afternoon. I have the ghost of an idea that a
friendly call is not their only object. _Do_ be plastic--it is
better in the beginning--until you know your ground. Above all,
don't be too English. You are vastly improved, but you have lapses.

I send you your share of the ducks. Mariana's roasting will explain
our pride in one of the two most native of our products--the next
time we go to San Francisco I'll take you to the market and we will
sit in a grimy little balcony restaurant and you will be introduced
to fried California oysters.

Please consider the marsh your own; and whenever you come, remember
that you are to have breakfast or supper with me. Are you quite
comfortable? If anything is wrong I will go over and interview
Mariana and the Jap. Of course the latter will appropriate your
cigarettes and books; he is probably a prince, and far from
condescending to steal, he will take them as his