The oasis proper, however, was the grove of cottonwoods, sycamores, and palms. How bright green the foliage of cottonwoods--and smooth white the bark of sycamores! But verdant and cool as it was under their shade, Adam and Genie always sought the aloof and stately palms, wonderful trees not native there, planted years and years before by the Spanish padres. “Oh, I love it here!” exclaimed Genie. “Listen to the palms whisper!” They stood loftily, with spreading green fanlike leaves at the tops, and all the trunks swathed and bundled apparently in huge cases of straw. These yellow sheaths were no less than the leaves that had died. As the palms grew the new leaves kept bursting from the tufted tops, and those leaves lowest down died and turned yellow. “Genie, your uncle seems a long time coming back for you,” remarked Adam. “I hope he never comes,” she replied. Adam was surprised and somewhat disconcerted at her reply, and yet strangely pleased. “Why?” he asked. “Oh, I never liked him and I don’t want to go away with him.” “Your mother said he was a good man--that he loved you.” “Uncle Ed was good, and very kind to me. I--I ought to be ashamed,” replied Genie. “But he drank, and when he drank he kissed me--he put his hands on me. I hated that.” “Did you ever tell your mother?” inquired Adam. “Yes. I told her. I asked her why he did that. And she said not to mind--only to keep away from him when he drank.” “Genie, your uncle did wrong, and your mother did wrong not to tell you so,” declared Adam, earnestly. “Wrong? What do you mean--wrong? I only thought I didn’t like him.” “Well, I’ll tell you some day.... But now, to go back to what you said about leaving--you know I’m going with you when your uncle comes.” “Wanny, do _you_ want that time to come soon?” she asked, wistfully. “Yes, of course, for your sake. You’re getting to be a big girl. You must go to school. You must get out to civilization.” “Oh! I’m crazy to go!” she burst out, covering her face. “Yet I’ve a feeling I’ll hate to leave here.... I’ve been so happy lately.” “Genie, it relieves me to hear you’re anxious to go. And it pleases me to know you’ve been happy lately. You see I’m only a--a man, you know. How little I could do for you! I’ve tried. I’ve done my best. But at that best I’m only a poor old homeless outcast--a desert wanderer! I’m----” “Hush up!” she cried, with quick, sweet warmth. Swiftly she enveloped him, hugged him close, and kissed his cheek. “Wanny, you’re grand!... You’re like Taquitch--you’re _my_ Taquitch with face like the sun! And I love you--love you as I never loved anyone except my mother! And I hope Uncle Ed never comes, so you’ll have to take care of me always.” Adam gently disengaged himself from Genie’s impulsive arms, yet, despite his embarrassment and confused sense of helplessness, he felt the better for her action. Natural, spontaneous, sincere, it warmed his heart. It proved more than all else what a child she was.