There was a flutter at the Presidio when the invi-
tation of the Chamberlain was made known. The
compliment was not unexpected, but there had been
a lively speculation as to what form the Russian's
return of hospitality would take. Concha, whose
tides had thundered and ebbed many times since the
night of her party, submerging the happy inconse-
quence of her sixteen years, but leaving her un-
shaken spirit with wide clarified vision, felt young
to-day from sheer reaction. She would listen to no
protest from her prudent mother and smothered her
with kisses and a torrent of words.

"But, my Conchita," gasped Dona Ignacia, "I
have much to do. Thy father and his excellency
come in two days. And perhaps they would not
approve--before they are here!--to go on the for-
eign ship! If Luis were not gone! Ay yi! Ay yi!"

"We go, we go, madre mia! And his excellency
will give you a shawl. I feel it! I know it! And
if we go now we disobey no law. Have they ever
said we could not visit a foreign ship when they
were not here? We are light-headed, irresponsible
women. And if they should not let us go! If the
Governor and the Russian should disagree! Now
we have the opportunity for such a day as we never
have had before. We should be imbeciles. We go,
madre mia, we go!"