“Yes, I heard them,” said Rosamund. “What did they mean? I didn’t understand them. They seemed to think there was something wrong about Mrs. Newbury.” “I don’t know what they meant. But I didn’t like her looks at all. I wouldn’t want her for a friend.” “They said something of Mr. Barclay too, didn’t they?” “Yes; they said he was a fool and did as he was told.” “Well,” said June, bristling, “those are just the two particular things about him I should think were not true. But there was some one that they said she--I suppose _that_ meant Mrs. Newbury--owned body and soul. Whom do you suppose they meant?” “Her husband,” said Rosamund promptly. “Whom else could they mean?” June had felt depressed on the way home. At these words her depression suddenly vanished and she became wreathed in smiles. Thrusting her hand through Rosamund’s arm she gave it an affectionate squeeze, exclaiming with a sudden sputter of laughter, “Well, if his soul isn’t a better specimen than his body I don’t think it’s much to own.” Rosamund was shocked; she refused even to smile, as June, drooping against her shoulder, filled the silence of the sleeping house with the sound of her laughter. CHAPTER II FEMININE LOGIC Social life in San Francisco at this period had a distinction, a half-foreign, bizarre picturesqueness, which it soon after lost and has never regained. Separated from the rest of the country by a sweep of unconquered desert, ringed on its farther side by a girdle of sea, the pioneer city developed, undisturbed by outside influences, along its own lines. The adventures of forty-nine had infused into it some of the breadth and breeziness of their wild spirit. The bonanza period of the Comstock lode had not yet arisen to place huge fortunes in the hands of the coarsely ambitious and frankly illiterate, and to infect the populace with a lust of money that has never been conquered. There were few millionaires, and the passionate desire to become one had not yet been planted in the bosom of every simple male, who, under ordinary conditions, would have been content to wield a pick or sweep down the office stairs. The volcano of silver that was to belch forth precious streams over the far West, and from thence over the world, was beginning to stir and mutter, but its muttering was still too low to be caught by any but the sharpest ears. The society which welcomed June and Rosamund was probably the best the city ever had to offer. After the manner of all flourishing communities it aspired to renew itself by the infusion of new blood, and the young girls were graciously greeted. Carriages rolled up to the high iron gates, and ladies whose names were of weight trailed their silk skirts over the flagged walk. Coming in late in the wintry dusk it was very exciting always to find cards on the hall table.