"
He took her hand in both his and shook it warmly. "You are the best pal in
the world--"
"Now don't make me a nice little speech. I'm only too glad. Go out to the
Presidio and get a hot breakfast and attend--to--to your affairs. I am sure
everything will be all right, although you may not be able to get away as
soon as you hope."
"I don't like leaving you alone here--"
"Alone?" She waved her hand at the hundreds of recumbent forms in the
cemeteries and on the lower slopes of Calvary. "I probably shall never be
so well protected again. Please go."
He shook her hand once more, ran down the hill, turned and waved his cap,
and trudged off in the direction of the Presidio.
V
She slept in her own house that night, for dynamiting by miners summoned
from Grass Valley by General Funston, and a change of wind, had saved
the western portion of the city. For the first time in her life Gora
experienced a sense of profound gratitude, almost of happiness. She felt
that only a little more would make her quite happy. Her lodgers, even her
absorbed brother, noticed that her manner, her expression, had perceptibly
softened. She herself noticed it most of all.
CHAPTER XI
I
Gathbroke met Alexina Groome again a week later.
On Saturday, when the fire was over, and she could retreat decently and
in good order, Mrs. Groome, to her young daughter's secret anguish, had
consented to rest her nerves for a fortnight at Rincona, Mrs.
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