He accepted, however, with a hesitation that took some of the graciousness from his yielding, and a sense that he was giving a strange importance to a trivial circumstance.
The necessity of attaching himself to his hostess, and making a more extended tour of the grounds, for a while diverted him from an uneasy consideration of his past interview.

Mrs.Woods had known Yerba through the school friendship of Milly, and, as far as the religious rules of the convent would allow, had always been delighted to show her any hospitality.

She was a beautiful girl--did not Mr.Hathaway think so ?--and a girl of great character.

It was a pity, of course, that she had never known a mother's care, and that the present routine of a boarding-school had usurped the tender influences of home.

She believed, too, that the singular rotation of guardianship had left the girl practically without a counseling friend to rely upon, except, perhaps, Colonel Pendleton; and while she, Mrs.Woods, did not for a moment doubt that the colonel might be a good friend and a pleasant companion of MEN, really he, Mr.Hathaway, must admit that, with his reputation and habits, he was hardly a fit associate for a young lady.
Indeed, Mr.Woods would have never allowed Milly to invite Yerba here if Colonel Pendleton was to have been her escort.