"I'm speaking," said Mrs. Mulrady, emphatically.

The murmuring ceased. Mrs. Mulrady returned to her husband. The
interruption seemed to have taken off the keen edge of his
enjoyment. He at once abdicated his momentary elevation as a
discoverer, and waited for her to speak.

"Ye haven't told any one yet?" she asked.

"No. I was alone, down in the shaft. Ye see, Malviny, I wasn't
expectin' of anything." He began, with an attempt at fresh
enjoyment, "I was just clearin' out, and hadn't reckoned on
anythin'."

"You see, I was right when I advised you taking the land," she
said, without heeding him.

Mulrady's face fell. "I hope Don Caesar won't think"--he began,
hesitatingly. "I reckon, perhaps, I oughter make some sorter
compensation--you know."

"Stuff!" said Mrs. Mulrady, decidedly. "Don't be a fool. Any gold
discovery, anyhow, would have been yours--that's the law. And you
bought the land without any restrictions. Besides, you never had
any idea of this!"--she stopped, and looked him suddenly in the
face--"had you?"

Mulrady opened his honest, pale-gray eyes widely.