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dependence and custom； and plunging into a life of freedom； drove all else
from his mind。 He turned at last from this hopeful； blissful future； and
began to examine his fellow passengers with boyish curiosity。 Wedged in
between two silent men on the front seat； one of whom seemed a farmer；
and the other； by his black attire； a professional man； Clarence was finally
attracted by a black…mantled； dark…haired； bonnetless woman on the back
seat； whose attention seemed to be monopolized by the jocular gallantries
of her companions and the two men before her in the middle seat。 From
her position he could see little more than her dark eyes； which
occasionally seemed to meet his frank curiosity in an amused sort of way；
but he was chiefly struck by the pretty foreign sound of her musical voice；
which was unlike anything he had ever heard before； andalas for the
inconstancy of youthmuch finer than Mrs。 Peyton's。 Presently his
farmer companion； casting a patronizing glance on Clarence's pea…jacket
and brass buttons； said cheerily
〃Jest off a voyage； sonny？〃
〃No； sir；〃 stammered Clarence； 〃I came across the plains。〃
〃Then I reckon that's the rig…out for the crew of a prairie schooner；
eh？〃 There was a laugh at this which perplexed Clarence。 Observing it；
the humorist kindly condescended to explain that 〃prairie schooner〃 was
the current slang for an emigrant wagon。
〃I couldn't；〃 explained Clarence； naively looking at the dark eyes on
the back seat； 〃get any clothes at Stockton but these； I suppose the folks
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didn't think there'd ever be boys in California。〃
The simplicity of this speech evidently impressed the others； for the
two men in the middle seats turned at a whisper from the lady and
regarded him curiously。 Clarence blushed slightly and became silent。
Presently the vehicle began to slacken its speed。 They were ascending a
hill； on either bank grew huge cottonwoods； from which occasionally
depended a beautiful scarlet vine。
〃Ah！ eet ees pretty；〃 said the lady； nodding her black…veiled head
towards it。 〃Eet is good in ze hair。〃
One of the men made an awkward attempt to clutch a spray from the
window。 A brilliant inspiration flashed upon Clarence。 When the stage
began the ascent of the next hill； following the example of an outside
passenger； he jumped down to walk。 At the top of the hill he rejoined the
stage； flushed and panting； but carrying a small branch of the vine in his
scratched hands。 Handing it to the man on the middle seat； he said； with
grave； boyish politeness 〃Pleasefor the lady。〃
A slight smile passed over the face of Clarence's neighbors。 The
bonnetless woman nodded a pleasant acknowledgment； and coquettishly
wound the vine in her glossy hair。 The dark man at his side； who hadn't
spoken yet； turned to Clarence dryly。
〃If you're goin' to keep up this gait； sonny； I reckon ye won't find much
trouble gettin' a man's suit to fit you by the time you reach Sacramento。〃
Clarence didn't quite understand him； but noticed that a singular
gravity seemed to overtake the two jocular men on the middle seat； and the
lady looked out of the window。 He came to the conclusion that he had
made a mistake about alluding to his clothes and his size。 He must try
and behave more manly。 That opportunity seemed to be offered two
hours later； when the stage stopped at a wayside hotel or restaurant。
Two or three passengers had got down to refresh themselves at the bar。
His right and left hand neighbors were； however； engaged in a drawling
conversation on the comparative merits of San Francisco sandhill and
water lots； the jocular occupants of the middle seat were still engrossed
with the lady。 Clarence slipped out of the stage and entered the bar…room
with some ostentation。 The complete ignoring of his person by the
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barkeeper and his customers； however； somewhat disconcerted him。 He
hesitated a moment； and then returned gravely to the stage door and
opened it。
〃Would you mind taking a drink with me； sir？〃 said Clarence politely；
addressing the farmer…looking passenger who had been most civil to him。
A dead silence followed。 The two men on the middle seat faced entirely
around to gaze at him。
〃The Commodore asks if you'll take a drink with him；〃 explained one
of the men to Clarence's friend with the greatest seriousness。
〃Eh？ Oh； yes； certainly；〃 returned that gentleman； changing his
astonished expression to one of the deepest gravity； 〃seeing it's the
Commodore。〃
〃And perhaps you and your friend will join； too？〃 said Clarence
timidly to the passenger who had explained； 〃and you too； sir？〃 he added
to the dark man。
〃Really； gentlemen； I don't see how we can refuse；〃 said the latter； with
the greatest formality； and appealing to the others。 〃A compliment of this
kind from our distinguished friend is not to be taken lightly。〃
〃I have observed； sir； that the Commodore's head is level；〃 returned the
other man with equal gravity。
Clarence could have wished they had not treated his first hospitable
effort quite so formally； but as they stepped from the coach with
unbending faces he led them； a little frightened； into the bar…room。 Here；
unfortunately； as he was barely able to reach over the counter； the
barkeeper would have again overlooked him but for a quick glance from
the dark man； which seemed to change even the barkeeper's perfunctory
smiling face into supernatural gravity。
〃The Commodore is standing treat；〃 said the dark man； with unbroken
seriousness； indicating Clarence； and leaning back with an air of respectful
formality。 〃I will take straight whiskey。 The Commodore； on account
of just changing climate； will； I believe； for the present content himself
with lemon soda。〃
Clarence had previously resolved to take whiskey； like the others； but a
little doubtful of