the mission; but it was reserved for Father Uria
to apply some of the surplus water to the garden. Father Uria had once
visited the garden at Mission San Gabriel which had been the special
pride and comfort of Father Zalvidea; and it was with complacent
satisfaction that, in comparing it with his own, he saw the latter
suffered no disparagement. His was in fully as flourishing condition,
but the element of picturesque beauty was lacking; his needs for a
garden were entirely utilitarian, while Father Zalvidea required beauty
quite as much as use. The two gardens were typical of the two men. So
Benito was installed as his gardener.

While the Father was showing Benito the garden, and explaining to him
about the plants, the cats which, as usual, had followed him, employed
the time in roaming around among the bushes, searching intently for
anything alive which might make fair game. They scattered in all
directions, one after a humming-bird, another chasing a butterfly; the
third wandered off lazily to a big patch of catnip for a sniff of its
delightful aroma; while the fourth began to career to and fro after a
dragon-fly, in the wildest fashion. The priest and Benito had moved off
to an asparagus bed, to consult about the best treatment to give it,
for the plants were slowly dying, and the Father was in a quandary. The
dragon-fly alighted to rest on his broad-brimmed hat. All unconscious
of its presence, he talked on with Benito, expounding his theory of the
proper treatment for the asparagus, when, suddenly, as he bent over a
plant to look at it more closely, with a blow that almost knocked him
down, his hat went flying from his head, and fell to the ground several
yards away, while at his feet dropped the venturesome Inez. She was up
in an instant, looking for her prey, but it was out of sight.

With an exclamation rather stronger than was quite proper in one of his
cloth, the Father turned to the cat.

"What is the meaning of this business, Inez? Really, you are getting to
be insufferable. I cannot allow you to come out with me if you carry on
in this way." Benito had run to pick up his hat, and offered it to him,
his eyes dancing with merriment, and the corners of his mouth twitching.
The Father took it, and noting the gleam in his eyes, smiled himself.
"These cats of mine will be the death of me some day, I expect," he
said, laughing. "Go along, Inez, and remember to show a little more
respect for your master anothe