He shrugged his shoulders and took his stand before the fireplace. She had sent for him; let her take the initiative. He knew woman well enough to follow her cues, be the type new or old. Then he looked about him with approval. One would know it was an Englishman's library, he thought. Book-shelves, closely furnished, lined two sides of the large and lofty room. One end opened into the conservatory--where palms did shelter and the lights were dim. The rugs and curtains were red, the furniture very comfortable. On a long table were the periodicals of the world. Miss Randolph kept him waiting but a few moments. She opened the door abruptly and entered. Her face was pale, and her eyes were shadowed; but she held her head very high. Her carriage and her long dark gown made her appear almost tall. As she advanced down the room, she looked at Thorpe steadily, without access of colour, her lips pressed together. He met her half way. His first impression was that her figure was the most beautiful he had ever seen, his next the keenest impulse of pity he had felt for any woman. She extended her hand mechanically, and he took it and held it. "Is it true that I kissed you the other night?" she asked, peremptorily. "Yes," he said, ungracefully. "And I had drunk too much champagne?" "It was my fault," he said, eagerly. "You told me that you had a bad head. I had no business to press it on you." "You must think I am a poor weak creature indeed, if my friends are obliged to take care of me," she said drily. "I was a fool to touch it--that is the long and the short of it. I have given you a charming impression of the girls of San Francisco--sit down: we look idiotic standing in the middle of the room holding each other's hand--I can assure you that there was not another girl in the house who would have done what I did, or whom you would have dared to kiss. In a new country, you know, the social lines are drawn very tight, and the best people are particular to prudery. It is necessary: there are so many dreadful women out here. I am positive that in the set to which Captain Hastings has introduced you, you will meet a larger number of well-conducted people than you have ever met in any one place before." "It is very good of you to put on armour for your city," he said, smiling. "I shall always think of it as your city, by the way. But I thought you did not like California." "It is my country. I feel great pride in it. You will find that it is a country with a peculiar influence. Some few natures it leaves untouched--but they are precious few. In the others, it quickens all the good and evil they were born with." Thorpe looked at her with a profound interest. He was eager to hear all that she had to say.