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〃Of course；〃 she went on； yet stopping to smell a rosebud in his
buttonhole； 〃I have a perfect right to come to my own home； goodness
knows！ and if I bring my own aunt； a married woman； with me；
although；〃 loftily； 〃there may be a young unmarried gentleman alone
there；still I fail to see any impropriety in it！〃
He was still holding her； but in that instant her manner had
completely changed again； the old Susy seemed to have slipped away
and evaded him； and he was retaining only a conscious actress in his
arms。
〃Release me； Mr。 Brant； please；〃 she said； with a languid affected
glance behind her； 〃we are not alone。〃
Then； as the rustling of a skirt sounded nearer in the passage； she
seemed to change back to her old self once more； and with a
lightning flash of significance whispered；
〃She knows everything！〃
To add to Clarence's confusion； the woman who entered cast a quick
glance of playful meaning on the separating youthful pair。 She was
an ineffective blonde with a certain beauty that seemed to be
gradually succumbing to the ravages of paint and powder rather than
years； her dress appeared to have suffered from an equally unwise
excess of ornamentation and trimming； and she gave the general
impression of having been intended for exhibition in almost any
other light than the one in which she happened to be。 There were
two or three mud…stains on the laces of her sleeve and underskirt
that were obtrusively incongruous。 Her voice； which had； however； a
ring of honest intention in it； was somewhat over…strained； and
evidently had not yet adjusted itself to the low…ceilinged；
conventual…like building。
〃There； children； don't mind me！ I know I'm not on in this scene；
but I got nervous waiting there； in what you call the 'salon；' with
only those Greaser servants staring round me in a circle； like a
regular chorus。 My！ but it's anteek hereregular anteekSpanish。〃
Then； with a glance at Clarence； 〃So this is Clarence Brant；your
Clarence？ Interduce me； Susy。〃
In his confusion of indignation； pain； and even a certain conception
of the grim ludicrousness of the situation； Clarence grasped
despairingly at the single sentence of Susy's。 〃In my own home。〃
Surely； at least； it was HER OWN HOME； and as he was only the
business agent of her adopted mother； he had no right to dictate to
her under what circumstances she should return to it； or whom she
should introduce there。 In her independence and caprice Susy might
easily have gone elsewhere with this astounding relative； and would
Mrs。 Peyton like it better？ Clinging to this idea； his instinct of
hospitality asserted itself。 He welcomed Mrs。 McClosky with nervous
effusion：
〃I am only Mrs。 Peyton's major domo here； but any guest of her
DAUGHTER'S is welcome。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Mrs。 McClosky； with ostentatious archness； 〃I reckon
Susy and I understand your position here； and you've got a good
berth of it。 But we won't trouble you much on Mrs。 Peyton's
account； will we； Susy？ And now she and me will just take a look
around the shanty；it is real old Spanish anteek； ain't it？and
sorter take stock of it； and you young folks will have to tear
yourselves apart for a while； and play propriety before me。 You've
got to be on your good behavior while I'm here； I can tell you！ I'm
a heavy old 'doo…anna。' Ain't I； Susy？ School…ma'ms and mother
superiors ain't in the game with ME for discipline。〃
She threw her arms around the young girl's waist and drew her
towards her affectionately； an action that slightly precipitated
some powder upon the black dress of her niece。 Susy glanced
mischievously at Clarence； but withdrew her eyes presently to let
them rest with unmistakable appreciation and admiration on her
relative。 A pang shot through Clarence's breast。 He had never seen
her look in that way at Mrs。 Peyton。 Yet here was this stranger；
provincial； overdressed； and extravagant； whose vulgarity was only
made tolerable through her good humor； who had awakened that
interest which the refined Mrs。 Peyton had never yet been able to
touch。 As Mrs。 McClosky swept out of the room with Susy he turned
away with a sinking heart。
Yet it was necessary that the Spanish house servants should not
suspect this treason to their mistress； and Clarence stopped their
childish curiosity about the stranger with a careless and easy
acceptance of Susy's sudden visit in the light of an ordinary
occurrence； and with a familiarity towards Mrs。 McClosky which
became the more distasteful to him in proportion as he saw that it
was evidently agreeable to her。 But； easily responsive； she became
speedily confidential。 Without a single question from himself； or a
contributing remark from Susy； in half an hour she had told him her
whole history。 How； as Jane Silsbee； an elder sister of Susy's
mother； she had early eloped from the paternal home in Kansas with
McClosky； a strolling actor。 How she had married him and gone on
the stage under his stage name； effectively preventing any
recognition by her family。 How； coming to California； where her
husband had become manager of the theatre at Sacramento； she was
indignant to find that her only surviving relation； a sister…in…law；
living in the same place； had for a money consideration given up all
claim to the orphaned Susy； and how she had resolved to find out 〃if
the poor child was happy。〃 How she succeeded in finding out that
she was not happy。 How she wrote to her； and even met her secretly
at San Francisco and Oakland； and how she had undertaken this
journey partly for 〃a lark；〃 and partly to see Clarence and the
property。 There was no doubt of the speaker's sincerity； with this
outrageous candor there was an equal obliviousness of any indelicacy
in her conduct towards Mrs。 Peyton that seemed hopeless。 Yet he
must talk plainly to her； he must say to her what he could not say
to Susy； upon HER Mrs。 Peyton's happinesshe believed he was
thinking of Susy's alsodepended。 He must take the first
opportunity of speaking to her alone。
That opportunity came sooner than he had expected。 After dinner；
Mrs。 McClosky turned to Susy； and playfully telling her that she had
〃to talk business〃 with Mr。 Brant； bade her go to the salon and
await her。 When the young girl left the room； she looked at
Clarence； and； with that assumption of curtness with which coarse
but kindly natures believe they overcome the difficulty of delicate
subjects； said abruptly：
〃Well； young man； now what's all this between you and Susy？ I'm
looking after her interestssame as if she was my own girl。 If
you've got anything to say； now's your time。 And don't you shilly…
shally too long over it； either； for you might as well know that a
girl like that can have her pick and choice； and be beholden to no
one； and when she don't care to choose； there's me and my husband
ready to do for her all the same。 We mightn't be able to do the