centre of America's crown." Then she held out her hand impulsively.

"Mucho gracias, señor--pardon--thank you very much. If you love my
country, señor, you must be my friend and the friend of my daughter. I
am the Señora Doña Eustaquia Carillo de Ortega, and my house is there
on the hill--you can see the light, no? Always we shall be glad to see
you."

He doffed his cap again and bent over her hand.

"And I, John Brotherton, a humble captain in the United States navy,
do sincerely thank the most famous woman of Monterey for her gracious
hospitality. And if I abuse it, lay it to the enthusiasm of the American
who is not the conqueror but the conquered."

"That was very pretty--speech. When you abuse me I put you out the door.
This is the house of Don Thomas Larkin, where is the ball. You come in,
no? You like I take your arm? Very well"

And so the articles of peace were signed.


V

"Yes, yes, indeed, Blandina," exclaimed Benicia, "they had no chance at
all last night, for we danced until dawn, and perhaps they were afraid
of Don Thomas Larkin. But we shall talk and have music to-night, and
those fine new tables that came on the last ship from Boston must not be
destroyed."