米尔德里德终于向伊内兹吐露心声，谈起了自己的身世和过去的经历，而且她来到这个农场还有别的目的……
Mildred had hastened upstairs in alarm at the pandemoniuma of sound her own cry had aroused，for the baby's screams also gave back a thousand echoes and these sent the little one into fresh paroxysmsb of terror.
"This won't do，at all，"she said anxiously，when babyJane had sobbed herself into a doze，with the bottle to comfort her."If we scream again it will frighten the child to death.""Perhaps they have heard us，"suggested Inez，rockingJane to and froc in her arms.
"Perhaps.Let us hope so，"sighed Mildred.
Presently she went over to the couch and examined the condition of the bedding.The linen sheets had withstood the years very well，but the blankets and coverlets had a musty smell.She spread some of these out to air and then went back and sat beside Inez.
Together they watched the light fade until the narrow space was full of creeping shadows.The air began to grow chilly，so Mildred arranged the couch and they laid baby Jane upon it，covered her snuglyd with a blanket and drew the silk curtain to shield her eyes from the glare of the candles.They had lighted several of these，placing them in heavy brass candlesticks which they found ranged upon the shelves.Each of the girls took a blanket and folded it about her and then they sat downtogether to await their fate as patiently as they could.
They both realized，by this time，that their dilemma was likely to prove serious.Not a sound from within the house penetrated the adobe walls of their prison.They were unable to tell if their whereabouts had yet been discovered.
"I think it best to wait until morning before we make any further effort to be heard，"said Mildred."Our cries would only distract baby and if our screams have not already attracted notice it would be folly to continue them.Anyway，let us try to be brave and patient.Something may happen to save us，before morning."Even by the ？ickering candle—light the place was awesome and uncannya.Inez crept closer to Mildred's side，quite forgetting her former aversionb for her companion.Because the sound of their own voices lent them a certain degree of courage they conversed together in low tones，talking on any subject that occurred to them.
At one time Inez broke an oppressive stillness by saying：
"Tell me about yourself—when you were a girl.And why did you leave here to go to New York？"Mildred regarded the girl musingly.She felt a strong temptation to speak，to con？de in some one.
"Will you keep my secret，Inez？"she asked.
"Yes；of course.I do not tell all I know，"was the reply."If you told，it would drive me away from here，"saidMildred.
Inez gave a start，remembering that a few hours ago she would have done anything to drive Mildred away.But，somehow，she had come to regard her companion in misfortune more favorably.A bond of sympathy had been established between them by this terrible experience they were now undergoing.Whatever their fate might be，Inez could not hate Mildred after this.
"I do not wish to drive you away，"she asserted in apositive voice."I will not tell your secret."For a time Mildred mused silently，as if considering how to begin.
"My mother died when I was a baby，"said she."She wasa Travers and lived on a ranch near here.""I know the Travers Ranch，"said Inez quickly."But no Travers have live there in a long time.""My mother lived there，"continued Mildred，"untilshe married my father.Indeed，she lived there several years after，for I was born in the ranch house.But my mother's people—the Traverses—did not like my father，and when mother died he took me away to a house in Escondido.I think he was sent away，and the family sold the ranch and went back to England，where they had originally come from.
"In Escondido an old Mexican woman kept house for us.She was named Izbel.""Ah！"cried Inez，nodding her head wisely；"I know."Then，as Mildred looked at her questioningly，she added："Go on.""My father was away from home much of the time.He traveled，and sometimes he took me with him into Mexico，and we went as far south as Matanzas，and once to Mexico City.That was when I was quite small，and I do not remember much about it.But often we came here to visit Se？or Cristoval，with whom he had some secret business.I have seen him give my father big bags of golden coins，although everyone said he was a miser.I remember that at one time my father hid in this very wall for a day and a night，and of？cers came to the house and searched it，saying they were looking for a smugglera and had traced him here.
"But Se？or Cristoval laughed at them and told them to examine the house thoroughly.This they did，and went away satisfied.Afterward my father came out of the wall and took me across the country to San Bernardino，where we stayed at a friend's house for several days.Finally Se？or Cristoval came there to visit us and I heard him tell my father it would not be safe for him to return home and advised him to go far away.He also gave my father much money，and one curious thing which he said to him I never forgot.'I will keep your fortune safely until you need it，'was his remark.'I will hide it where no one will ever ？nd it，any more than they could ？nd you.'""Ah！then he hid your father's fortune in this place？"criedInez eagerly.Then her face fell."But，no，"she added."We have look，and there is no fortune here."Mildred sighed and continued her tale.
