those who require it. I
shall be delighted to set my seal on you with it. There are two little
Spanish words that it suggests to the Mexican--Buena moza--but you shall
find out for yourself what they mean."

Encountering his father that night at his library door, Donald Whiting
said to him: "May I come in, Dad? I have something I must look up before
I sleep. Have you a Spanish lexicon, or no doubt you have this in your
head."

"Well, I've a halting vocabulary," said the Judge. "What's your phrase?"

"Linda put this flower on me today," said Donald, "and she said she was
pleased because I said the tall, slender bush it grew on reminded me
of her. She gave me the Spanish name, but I don't know the exact
significance of the decoration I am wearing until I learn the meaning of
the phrase."

"Try me on it," said the Judge.

"'Buena moza,'" quoted Donald.

The Judge threw back his head and laughed heartily.

"Son," he said, "you should know that from the Latin you're learning.
You should translate it instinctively. I couldn't tell you exactly
whether a Spaniard would translate 'Buena' 'fine' or 'good.' Knowing
their high-falutin' rendition of almost everything else I would take my
chance on 'fine.' Son, your phrase means 'a fine girl.'"

Donald looked down at the flower in his buttonhole, and then he looked
straight at his father.

"And only the Lord knows, Dad," he said soberly, "exactly how fine
Linda-girl is."

CHAPTER XXVI. A Mouse Nest

LINDA DEAREST:

I am delighted that you had such a wonderful birthday. I would take a
shot in air that anything you don't understand about it you might with
reasonable safety charge to Katherine O'Donovan. I think it was great
of her to have a suitable and a becoming dress waiting for you and a
congenial man like Peter Morrison to dine with you. He appealed to me as
being a rare character, highly original, and, I should think, to those
who know him well he must be entertaining and lovable in the extreme.
I never shall be worried about you so long as I know that he is taking
care of you.

I should not be surprised if some day I meet Eileen somewhere, because
Dana and I are going about more than you would believe possible. I
heartily join with you in wishing her every good that life can bring
her. I don't want to be pessimistic, but I can't help feeling, Linda,
that she is taking a poor way to win the best, and I gravely doubt
whether she finds it in the spending of u