At length she ventured the question:  “Did you leave your family in California?”

“Unfortunately I have no family, and no relatives.  My dear young lady, is it not melancholy to find a confirmed old bachelor, verging fast upon decrepitude, with no one to look after or care for him?  When I was a good-looking young beau, and should have been hunting me a bonny blue-eyed bride, I was digging gold from the rocky ribs of mountains in Western solitudes.  When I made my fortune, I discovered too late that I had given my youth in exchange.”

“I should think, sir, that you might still marry, and be very happy.”

His low pleasant laugh did not embarrass her, and he answered: 

“You are very kind to kindle that beacon of encouragement, but I fear your charitable sympathy clouds your judgment.  Do you imagine any fair young girl could brave my grey hairs and wrinkles?”

“A young girl would not suit you, sir; but there must be noble middle-aged ladies whom you could admire, and trust, and love?”

He bent his white head, and whispered: 

“Such, for instance, as Mrs. Carew, who converts all places into Ogygia?”

Without lifting her eyes, she merely shook her head, and he continued: 

“Miss Orme, all men have their roseleaf romance.  Mine expanded very early, but fate crumpled, crushed it into a shapeless ruin, and leaving the wreck behind me, I went to the wilds of California.  Since then, I have missed the humanising influence of home ties, of feminine association; but as I look down the hill, when the sun of my life is casting long shadows, I sometimes feel that it would be a great blessing had I a sister, cousin, niece, or even an adopted daughter, whom I could love and lean upon in my lonely old age.  Once I seriously entertained the thought of selecting an orphan from some Asylum, and adopting her into my heart and home.”

“When you do, I sincerely hope she will prove all that you wish, and faithfully requite your goodness.”

She spoke so earnestly that he smiled, and added: 

“Can you recommend one to me?  I envy Palma his guardianship, and if I could find a young girl like you, I should not hesitate to solicit——­”

“Pardon me, Mr. Chesley, but Mr. Palma is endeavouring to attract your notice,” said Mrs. Palma.

The host held in his hand an envelope.

“A telegram for you.  Shall I direct the bearer to wait?”

“With your permission, I will examine it.”

Having glanced at the lines, he turned the sheet of paper over, and with a pencil wrote a few words; then handed it to Terry, requesting him to direct the bearer to have the answer promptly telegraphed.

“Nothing unpleasant, I trust?” said Mr. Palma.

“Thank you, no.  Only a summons which obliges me to curtail my visit, and return to Washington by the midnight train.”

Interpreting a look from her stepson, Mrs. Palma hastened the slow course of the dinner by a whisper to the waiter behind her chair; and as she asked some questions relative to mutual friends residing in Washington, Regina had no opportunity of renewing the conversation.