"
The Senator meant it kindly. It was as near the perilous edge of a
compliment as your average cultivated Boston man ever ventures, and
Carmen picked it up, femininely, by its sentimental end. "And I suppose
I shall not trouble you again?"
"I shall always be proud to place the portfolio at your disposal.
Command me at any time," said the Senator, with dignity.
"You are kind. You are good," said Carmen, "and I--I'm but,--look
you,--only a poor girl from California, that you know not."
"Pardon me, I know your country well." And indeed he could have told her
the exact number of bushels of wheat to the acre in her own county of
Monterey, its voting population, its political bias. Yet of the more
important product before him, after the manner of book-read men, he knew
nothing.
Carmen was astonished, but respectful. It transpired presently that she
was not aware of the rapid growth of the silk worm in her own district,
knew nothing of the Chinese question, and very little of the American
mining laws.
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