Scarcely stopping to think, lest her courage should not be equal to the strain of meeting six or eight young men face to face, she stepped softly out of her retreat, walked gently down the road, and when she had come within ten feet of the group, halted, and, clearing her throat desperately, said, "I beg your pardon"-- The whole party turned with one accord, a good deal of amazement in their eyes, as there had not been a sign of life in the road a moment before, and now here was a sort of woodland sprite, a "nut-brown mayde," with a remarkably sweet voice.
"I beg your pardon, but can you tell me the way to Professor Salazar's house?
Why" (this with a charming smile and expression as of one having found an angel of deliverance),--"why, it is--is n't it ?--Edgar Noble of Santa Barbara!" Edgar, murmuring "Polly Oliver, by Jove!" lifted his hat at once, and saying, "Excuse me, boys," turned back and, gallantly walked at Polly's side.
"Why, Miss Polly, this is an unexpected way of meeting you!" ("Very unexpected," thought Polly.) "Is it not, indeed?
I wrote you a note the other day, telling you that we hoped to see you soon in San Francisco." "Yes," said Edgar; "I did n't answer it because I intended to present myself in person to-morrow or Sunday.

What are you doing in this vicinity ?" he continued, "or, to put it poetically, "Pray why are you loitering here, pretty maid ?" "No wonder you ask.

I am 'floundering,' at present.

I came over to a Spanish lesson at Professor Salazar's, and I have quite lost my way.
If you will be kind enough to put me on the right road I shall be very much obliged, though I don't like to keep you from your friends," said Polly, with a quizzical smile.

"You see the professor won't know why I missed my appointment, and I can't bear to let him think me capable of neglect; he has been so very kind." "But you can't walk there.