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Jessica turned her head and saw that Mr. Hale had settled himself for a nap, so replied:

“Mr. Hale has gone to sleep so he will not need me for a time. He is the lawyer gentleman who is taking me across the continent to my mother’s cousin in New York. I am to live with her till I am educated enough to go back to Sobrante ranch, my home. My father is dead. My mother is the most beautiful gentlewoman in—in the world, I guess. I have the dearest little brother Ned—Edward, his real name is. Besides him, we have a little adopted one, Luis Maria Manuel Alessandro Garcia, and his father is dead too.”

“Saints save us! So will the bairn be soon if he has to shoulder that great name! Sounds like some them old Spaniard folkses that crop up, now an’ again, round Riverside way! But go on, me dear. ’Tis most interestin’ to hear tell of your folks, and so be as that you’re travelin’ to that same city of Ne’ York, where I take ship for home, we’ll be pleasin’ company for one another, so we will.”

Jessica was not so sure of that. By the jolting of the car the new gum shoes had again fallen to the floor and disappeared beneath the seat; and again she was bidden, rather peremptorily to: