the extraordinary situation at the Hat Ranch, a south-bound train
pulled in and discharged a trained nurse, an undertaker, a rectangular
redwood box and more floral pieces than San Pasqual had seen in a
decade. After instituting some inquiries as to its location, the nurse
and the undertaker proceeded to the Hat Ranch, followed by a wagon
bearing the box and the flowers.

But why dilate on these mournful details! Suffice the fact that Mrs.
Corblay was laid away next morning in conformity with the wishes of the
only human being who had any right to express a wish in the matter. The
Bakersfield quartette was there and sang "Lead, Kindly Light" and
"Nearer My God To Thee"; the Bakersfield minister was there and read:
"I am the Resurrection and the Life"; Soft Wind threw ashes on her head
and cried in the Cahuilla tongue, "Ai! Ai! Beloved," after the manner
of her people, while Sam Singer stood at the head of the grave like a
figure done in bronze. Dan Pennycook was there, supporting Donna, and
made a spectacle of himself. Mrs. Pennycook was there--and
superintended the disposal of the flowers on the grave; in fact, all
San Pasqual was there, with the exception of Harley P. Hennage--and
nobody wondered why _he_ wasn't there. It was well known that he
was not one of the presuming kind and had nothing in common with
respectable people. And when it was all over, the San Pasqualians went
their several ways, assuming--if, indeed, such an assumption did occur
to any of them--that the unknown who had provided these expensive
obsequies would without doubt provide for Donna also.

That night as Donna lay awake in bed, grieving silently and striving to
adjust herself to a philosophical view of the situation, she heard the
front gate open and close very softly; then slow, stealthy footsteps
passed on the brick walk around the house and down the patio to the end