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she said； quickly。 〃Ride on to the house； and don't wait for me。
You'll find them in the patio on the veranda。〃
Clarence moved on； but not as spiritedly as before。 Nevertheless
there was still dash enough about him and the animal he bestrode to
stir into admiration the few lounging vacqueros of a country which
was apt to judge the status of a rider by the quality of his horse。
Nor was the favorable impression confined to them alone。 Peyton's
gratification rang out cheerily in his greeting：
〃Bravo； Clarence！ You are here in true caballero style。 Thanks for
the compliment to the rancho。〃
For a moment the young man was transported back again to his
boyhood； and once more felt Peyton's approving hand pushing back the
worn straw hat from his childish forehead。 A faint color rose to
his cheeks； his eyes momentarily dropped。 The highest art could
have done no more！ The slight aggressiveness of his youthful finery
and picturesque good looks was condoned at once； his modesty
conquered where self…assertion might have provoked opposition； and
even Mrs。 Peyton felt herself impelled to come forward with an
outstretched hand scarcely less frank than her husband's。 Then
Clarence lifted his eyes。 He saw before him the woman to whom his
childish heart had gone out with the inscrutable longing and
adoration of a motherless； homeless； companionless boy； the woman
who had absorbed the love of his playmate without sharing it with
him； who had showered her protecting and maternal caresses on Susy；
a waif like himself； yet had not only left his heart lonely and
desolate； but had even added to his childish distrust of himself the
thought that he had excited her aversion。 He saw her more beautiful
than ever in her restored health； freshness of coloring； and mature
roundness of outline。 He was unconsciously touched with a man's
admiration for her without losing his boyish yearnings and half…
filial affection； in her new materialistic womanhood his youthful
imagination had lifted her to a queen and goddess。 There was all
this appeal in his still boyish eyes；eyes that had never yet known
shame or fear in the expression of their emotions； there was all
this in the gesture with which he lifted Mrs。 Peyton's fingers to
his lips。 The little group saw in this act only a Spanish courtesy
in keeping with his accepted role。 But a thrill of surprise； of
embarrassment； of intense gratification passed over her。 For he had
not even looked at Susy！
Her relenting was graceful。 She welcomed him with a winning smile。
Then she motioned pleasantly towards Susy。
〃But here is an older friend； Mr。 Brant； whom you do not seem to
recognize；Susy； whom you have not seen since she was a child。〃
A quick flush rose to Clarence's cheek。 The group smiled at this
evident youthful confession of some boyish admiration。 But Clarence
knew that his truthful blood was merely resenting the deceit his
lips were sealed from divulging。 He did not dare to glance at Susy；
it added to the general amusement that the young girl was obliged to
present herself。 But in this interval she had exchanged glances
with Mary Rogers； who had rejoined the group； and she knew she was
safe。 She smiled with gracious condescension at Clarence； observed；
with the patronizing superiority of age and established position；
that he had GROWN； but had not greatly changed； and； it is needless
to say； again filled her mother's heart with joy。 Clarence； still
intoxicated with Mrs。 Peyton's kindliness； and； perhaps； still
embarrassed by remorse； had not time to remark the girl's studied
attitude。 He shook hands with her cordially； and then； in the quick
reaction of youth； accepted with humorous gravity the elaborate
introduction to Mary Rogers by Susy； which completed this little
comedy。 And if； with a woman's quickness； Mrs。 Peyton detected a
certain lingering glance which passed between Mary Rogers and
Clarence； and misinterpreted it； it was only a part of that
mystification into which these youthful actors are apt to throw
their mature audiences。
〃Confess； Ally；〃 said Peyton； cheerfully； as the three young people
suddenly found their tongues with aimless vivacity and inconsequent
laughter； and started with unintelligible spirits for an exploration
of the garden； 〃confess now that your bete noir is really a very
manly as well as a very presentable young fellow。 By Jove！ the
padres have made a Spanish swell out of him without spoiling the
Brant grit； either！ Come； now； you're not afraid that Susy's style
will suffer from HIS companionship。 'Pon my soul； she might borrow
a little of his courtesy to his elders without indelicacy。 I only
wish she had as sincere a way of showing her respect for you as he
has。 Did you notice that he really didn't seem to see anybody else
but you at first？ And yet you never were a friend to him； like
Susy。〃
The lady tossed her head slightly； but smiled。
〃This is the first time he's seen Mary Rogers； isn't it？〃 she said
meditatively。
〃I reckon。 But what's that to do with his politeness to you？〃
〃And do her parents know him？〃 she continued； without replying。
〃How do I know？ I suppose everybody has heard of him。 Why？〃
〃Because I think they've taken a fancy to each other。〃
〃What in the name of folly； Ally〃began the despairing Peyton。
〃When you invite a handsome； rich； and fascinating young man into
the company of young ladies； John；〃 returned Mrs。 Peyton； in her
severest manner； 〃you must not forget you owe a certain responsibility
to the parents。 I shall certainly look after Miss Rogers。〃
CHAPTER V。
Although the three young people had left the veranda together； when
they reached the old garden Clarence and Susy found themselves
considerably in advance of Mary Rogers； who had become suddenly and
deeply interested in the beauty of a passion vine near the gate。 At
the first discovery of their isolation their voluble exchange of
information about themselves and their occupations since their last
meeting stopped simultaneously。 Clarence； who had forgotten his
momentary irritation； and had recovered his old happiness in her
presence； was nevertheless conscious of some other change in her
than that suggested by the lengthened skirt and the later and more
delicate accentuation of her prettiness。 It was not her affectation
of superiority and older social experience； for that was only the
outcome of what he had found charming in her as a child； and which
he still good…humoredly accepted； nor was it her characteristic
exaggeration of speech； which he still pleasantly recognized。 It
was something else； vague and indefinite；something that had been
unnoticed while Mary was with them； but had now come between them
like some unknown presence which had taken the confidante's place。
He remained silent； looking at her half…brightening cheek and
conscious profile。 Then he spoke with awkw