Season 1 Episode 2

For a few minutes the argument went on within. Then there was an exchange of courteous farewells and a door was closed. **** approached the balcony and looked into the room. Seated before an enormous ledger was a young girl, busily engaged in transcribing figures into a little note-book attached by a gold chain to the daintiest of waists. Her face, a strikingly beautiful one, was a little set under its crown of coal-black hair as she bent over her task. It was not the head of a languorous Southern belle—rather the curls of Carmen helmeting a blue-eyed Minerva, a little goddess of reason of to-day and a thorough business-woman. At last she lifted her head.

"Maria-Teresa? ..."

"****!"

The heavy green ledger slipped and crashed to the floor, as she ran toward him both hands outstretched.

"Well, and how is business?"

"So, so.... And how are you?... But we did not expect you till to-morrow."

"We made rather a good passage."

"And how is May?"

"She's a very grown-up person now. I suppose you've heard? Her second baby was born just before we left."

"And dear smoky old London?"

"It was raining hard when last I saw it."

"But where is your uncle?"

"Still on board. He won't leave his collection.... Does nothing all day but take notes for his next book.... Wait a minute, I'll come in. Where's the door? I suppose it would be bad form to climb in through the window? Won't I be in the way, though? You seem awfully busy."

"I am, but you may come in. Round the corner there, and the first door on your right"

He followed her indications and found an archway leading into a huge courtyard crowded with Chinese coolies and Quichua Indians. A huge dray, coming from the direction of the harbor, rumbled under the archway, and wheeled in the court to let an empty one pass out. People and things seemed to unite in making as much dust and noise as possible.

"So she manages all this," he reflected as he made his way toward a door at which she had appeared.

"You may kiss me," she said as she closed the door behind them.

He took her in his arms and held her to him, by far the more troubled of the two. Again it was she who spoke first.

"So you really have not forgotten?"

"Could you believe it, dear?"

"Well, you were so long in coming."

"But I wrote, and ..."

"Well, never mind now. It is not too late. I have just refused my fourth suitor, Don Alonso de Cuelar. And father, I think, is furious with me for refusing the most eligible young man in Lima.... Well, why don't you say something?"

"Forgive me, dear.... How is your father? and the kiddies?... I hardly know what I am saying, I am so glad."

"Father is very well, and very glad to hear that you were coming. To tell the truth though, he is far more interested in your uncle's visit. He has arranged a meeting at the Geographical Society for him. And for the past month he has been thinking and talking of nothing but archæology. They have been digging up all sorts of things."

"And so he has been angry with you?"

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