'Polly covered herself with glory,' said the doctor; 'and I am very
proud of your part in it, too, my little daughter. I have some
knowledge of Pancho's capabilities as a narrator, and I think the
"Story of Valerio" owes a good deal to you. Now, who comes next?
Margery?'
'No, please,' said Margery, 'for I have another story. Take one of
the boys, and let's have more facts.'
'Yes, something historic and profound, out of the encyclopaedia, from
Jack,' said Polly, saucily.
'Thanks, Miss Oliver. With you for an audience any man might be
inspired; but--'
'But not a BOY?'
'Mother, dear, remove that child from my sight, or I shall certainly
shake her! Phil, go on, just to keep Polly quiet.'
'Very well. Being the oldest Californian present, I--'
'What about Dr. Paul?' asked the irrepressible Polly.
'He wasn't born here,' responded Philip, dryly, 'and I was.'
'I think that's a quibble,' interrupted Bell. 'Papa was here twenty
years before you were.'
'It's not my fault that he came first,' answered Philip. 'Margery
and I are not only the oldest Californians present, but the only
ones. Isn't that so, sir?'
'Quite correct.'
'Oh, if you mean that way, I suppose you are; but still papa helped
frame the Constitution, and was here on the first Admission Day, and
was one of the Vigilantes--and I think that makes him more of a real
Californian than you. You've just "grown up with the country."'
'Bless my soul! What else could I do? I would have been glad to
frame the Constitution, admit the State, and serve on the Vigilance
Committee, if they had only waited for me; but they went straight
ahead with the business, and when I was born there was nothing to do
but stand round and criticise what they had done, or, as you express
it, "grow up with the country.
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