Paulding observed his friend falling into melancholy. Since the trip across the plains and the accident in Texas, Dunstan had lost that ardent vigour and careless hopefulness which had made him the leader in their California adventures. Perhaps he had achieved success too early and was blasé. Paulding took his friend to Europe, where they remained knocking about and occasionally amusing themselves with making the aborigines stare with some stupendous California extravagance, until they heard of Frémont’s nomination. They knew the man. They had shared with him, and others good and true, the labours of constituting the State of California. He was one after their own hearts--a gentleman pioneer--a scholar forester--a man of untrammelled vigour and truth of character--a Californian, which is a type of man alike incomprehensible to the salon and the saloon. It was the man they wanted; it was also the cause they wanted. They made for home as friends, Californians, and lovers of right, to take part in the campaign. Dunstan was nominated for Congress at home, up the North River. They went to Newport for days a few--they were staying for many days. Why? Paulding and Dunstan had known the Waddies and Clara in Europe. The two friends were presented to Diana. It was all over with Paulding at once--over head and ears. So it happened with too many men who met Diana. Diana was very happy in these few weeks, brilliantly happy. All their friends came constantly to the Waddies’. At Newport, everyone is at leisure; pleasure is the object. Where it dwells, all go. So the young ladies held perpetual levées without tête-à-têtes. At these levées Mr. Belden appeared frequently. He was in most amicable and laudatory mood. He pleased both the ladies by speaking in terms almost affectionate of Miss Sullivan. He had known her, he said, from his boyhood. They had been playmates in the fresh days of childhood. Many a morning he had gone proud to school with her rosebud in his buttonhole. They had grown up together, like brother and sister--no, more like cousins. He spoke of it with some sentiment. She was very lovely then. “She seems to me still very lovely,” said Diana. “The loveliest woman I have ever seen. There is a serene sweetness and tranquillity in her beauty. No one else has that look of tender resignation. She is my idea of Faith.” Belden uttered a strange sound like a sigh. “Yes,” he said, “she is what you describe. She has had need of resignation after so much domestic trouble--her father’s disgrace--their poverty. And then her life of teaching--ah! that can hardly have been miserable, with pupils like you, young ladies! We can hardly regret that she was compelled temporarily to leave her own sphere for the purpose of educating you to fill yours so charmingly.”