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brought his pent…up feelings to his lips。
〃YOU have never wronged them。 You couldn't do it； it isn't in your
nature。 I am on YOUR side； and for you and yours always； Mrs。
Peyton。 From the first time I saw you on the plains； when I was
brought； a ragged boy； before you by your husband； I think I would
gladly have laid down my life for you。 I don't mind telling you now
that I was even jealous of poor Susy； so anxious was I for the
smallest share in your thoughts； if only for a moment。 You could
have done anything with me you wished； and I should have been
happy；far happier than I have been ever since。 I tell you this；
Mrs。 Peyton； now； because you have just doubted if I might be 'on
your side；' but I have been longing to tell it all to you before；
and it is that I am ready to do anything you want；all you want；
to be on YOUR SIDE and at YOUR SIDE； now and forever。〃
He was so earnest and hearty； and above all so appallingly and
blissfully happy； in this relief of his feelings； smiling as if it
were the most natural thing in the world； and so absurdly
unconscious of his twenty…two years； his little brown curling
mustache； the fire in his wistful； yearning eyes； and； above all； of
his clasped hands and lover…like attitude； that Mrs。 Peytonat
first rigid as stone； then suffused to the eyescast a hasty glance
round the apartment； put her handkerchief to her face； and laughed
like a girl。
At which Clarence； by no means discomposed； but rather accepting her
emotion as perfectly natural； joined her heartily； and added：
〃It's so； Mrs。 Peyton； I'm glad I told you。 You don't mind it； do
you？〃
But Mrs。 Peyton had resumed her gravity； and perhaps a touch of her
previous misgivings。
〃I should certainly be very sorry；〃 she said； looking at him
critically； 〃to object to your sharing your old friendship for your
little playmate with her parents and guardians； or to your
expressing it to THEM as frankly as to her。〃
She saw the quick change in his mobile face and the momentary arrest
of its happy expression。 She was frightened and yet puzzled。 It
was not the sensitiveness of a lover at the mention of the loved
one's name； and yet it suggested an uneasy consciousness。 If his
previous impulsive outburst had been prompted honestly； or even
artfully； by his passion for Susy； why had he looked so shocked when
she spoke of her？
But Clarence； whose emotion had been caused by the sudden recall of
his knowledge of Susy's own disloyalty to the woman whose searching
eyes were upon him； in his revulsion against the deceit was； for an
instant； upon the point of divulging all。 Perhaps； if Mrs。 Peyton
had shown more confidence； he would have done so； and materially
altered the evolution of this story。 But； happily； it is upon these
slight human weaknesses that your romancer depends； and Clarence；
with no other reason than the instinctive sympathy of youth with
youth in its opposition to wisdom and experience； let the
opportunity pass； and took the responsibility of it out of the hands
of this chronicler。
Howbeit； to cover his confusion； he seized upon the second idea that
was in his mind； and stammered； 〃Susy！ Yes； I wanted to speak to
you about her。〃 Mrs。 Peyton held her breath； but the young man went
on； although hesitatingly； with evident sincerity。 〃Have you heard
from any of her relations sincesinceyou adopted her？〃
It seemed a natural enough question； although not the sequitur she
had expected。 〃No；〃 she said carelessly。 〃It was well understood；
after the nearest relationan aunt by marriagehad signed her
consent to Susy's adoption； that there should be no further
intercourse with the family。 There seemed to us no necessity for
reopening the past； and Susy herself expressed no desire。〃 She
stopped； and again fixing her handsome eyes on Clarence； said； 〃Do
you know any of them？〃
But Clarence by this time had recovered himself； and was able to
answer carelessly and truthfully that he did not。 Mrs。 Peyton；
still regarding him closely； added somewhat deliberately； 〃It
matters little now what relations she has； Mr。 Peyton and I have
complete legal control over her until she is of age； and we can
easily protect her from any folly of her own or others； or from any
of the foolish fancies that sometimes overtake girls of her age and
inexperience。〃
To her utter surprise； however； Clarence uttered a faint sigh of
relief； and his face again recovered its expression of boyish
happiness。 〃I'm glad of it； Mrs。 Peyton；〃 he said heartily。 〃No
one could understand better what is for her interest in all things
than yourself。 Not；〃 he said； with hasty and equally hearty loyalty
to his old playmate； 〃that I think she would ever go against your
wishes； or do anything that she knows to be wrong； but she is very
young and innocent；as much of a child as ever； don't you think so；
Mrs。 Peyton？〃
It was amusing； yet nevertheless puzzling； to hear this boyish young
man comment upon Susy's girlishness。 And Clarence was serious； for
he had quite forgotten in Mrs。 Peyton's presence the impression of
superiority which Susy had lately made upon him。 But Mrs。 Peyton
returned to the charge； or； rather； to an attack upon what she
conceived to be Clarence's old position。
〃I suppose she does seem girlish compared to Mary Rogers； who is a
much more reserved and quiet nature。 But Mary is very charming； Mr。
Brant； and I am really delighted to have her here with Susy。 She
has such lovely dark eyes and such good manners。 She has been well
brought up； and it is easy to see that her friends are superior
people。 I must write to them to thank them for her visit； and beg
them to let her stay longer。 I think you said you didn't know
them？〃
But Clarence； whose eyes had been thoughtfully and admiringly
wandering over every characteristic detail of the charming
apartment； here raised them to its handsome mistress； with an
apologetic air and a 〃No〃 of such unaffected and complete
abstraction； that she was again dumbfounded。 Certainly； it could
not be Mary in whom he was interested。
Abandoning any further inquisition for the present； she let the talk
naturally fall upon the books scattered about the tables。 The young
man knew them all far better than she did； with a cognate knowledge
of others of which she had never heard。 She found herself in the
attitude of receiving information from this boy； whose boyishness；
however； seemed to have evaporated； whose tone had changed with the
subject； and who now spoke with the conscious reserve of knowledge。
Decidedly； she must have grown rusty in her seclusion。 This came；
she thought bitterly； of living alone； of her husband's
preoccupation with the property； of Susy's frivolous caprices。 At
the end of eight years to be outstripped by a former cattle…boy of
her husband's； and to have her French corrected in a matter of fact
way by this recent pup