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Clarence's lips。 He could not bring himself now to add that revelation to
the contempt of his small companion； which； in spite of its naivete；
somewhat grated on his sensibilities。
〃Clarence；〃 she said； suddenly turning towards him mysteriously； and
indicating the shopman and his assistants； 〃I really believe these people
suspect us。〃
〃Of what？〃 said the practical Clarence。
〃Don't be silly！ Don't you see how they are staring？〃
Clarence was really unable to detect the least curiosity on the part of
the shopman； or that any one exhibited the slightest concern in him or his
companion。 But he felt a return of the embarrassed pleasure he was
conscious of a moment before。
〃Then you're living with your father？〃 said Susy； changing the subject。
〃You mean my COUSIN；〃 said Clarence； smiling。 〃You know my
father died long before I ever knew you。〃
〃Yes； that's what YOU used to say； Clarence； but papa says it isn't so。〃
But seeing the boy's wondering eyes fixed on her with a troubled
expression； she added quickly； 〃Oh； then； he IS your cousin！〃
〃Well； I think I ought to know；〃 said Clarence； with a smile； that was；
however； far from comfortable； and a quick return of his old unpleasant
recollections of the Peytons。 〃Why； I was brought to him by one of his
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friends。〃 And Clarence gave a rapid boyish summary of his journey from
Sacramento； and Flynn's discovery of the letter addressed to Silsbee。 But
before he had concluded he was conscious that Susy was by no means
interested in these details； nor in the least affected by the passing allusion
to her dead father and his relation to Clarence's misadventures。 With her
rounded chin in her hand； she was slowly examining his face； with a
certain mischievous yet demure abstraction。 〃I tell you what； Clarence；〃
she said； when he had finished； 〃you ought to make your cousin get you
one of those sombreros； and a nice gold…braided serape。 They'd just suit
you。 And thenthen you could ride up and down the Alameda when we
are going by。〃
〃But I'm coming to see you atat your house； and at the convent；〃 he
said eagerly。 〃Father Sobriente and my cousin will fix it all right。〃
But Susy shook her head； with superior wisdom。 〃No； they must
never know our secret！neither papa nor mamma； especially mamma。 And
they mustn't know that we've met againAFTER THESE YEARS！〃 It is
impossible to describe the deep significance which Susy's blue eyes gave
to this expression。 After a pause she went on
〃No！ We must never meet again； Clarence； unless Mary Rogers helps。
She is my best； my ONLIEST friend； and older than I； having had trouble
herself； and being expressly forbidden to see him again。 You can speak to
her about Suzettethat's my name now； I was rechristened Suzette
Alexandra Peyton by mamma。 And now； Clarence；〃 dropping her voice
and glancing shyly around the saloon； 〃you may kiss me just once under
my hat； for good…by。〃 She adroitly slanted her broad…brimmed hat
towards the front of the shop； and in its shadow advanced her fresh young
cheek to Clarence。
Coloring and laughing； the boy pressed his lips to it twice。 Then
Susy arose； with the faintest affectation of a sigh； shook out her skirt； drew
on her gloves with the greatest gravity； and saying； 〃Don't follow me
further than the doorthey're coming now；〃 walked with supercilious
dignity past the preoccupied proprietor and waiters to the entrance。 Here
she said； with marked civility； 〃Good…afternoon； Mr。 Brant；〃 and tripped
away towards the hotel。 Clarence lingered for a moment to look after the
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lithe and elegant little figure； with its shining undulations of hair that fell
over the back and shoulders of her white frock like a golden mantle； and
then turned away in the opposite direction。
He walked home in a state； as it seemed to him； of absurd perplexity。
There were many reasons why his encounter with Susy should have been
of unmixed pleasure。 She had remembered him of her own free will； and；
in spite of the change in her fortune； had made the first advances。 Her
doubts about her future interviews had affected him but little； still less； I
fear； did he think of the other changes in her character and disposition； for
he was of that age when they added only a piquancy and fascination to
heras of one who； in spite of her weakness of nature； was still devoted to
him！ But he was painfully conscious that this meeting had revived in
him all the fears； vague uneasiness； and sense of wrong that had haunted
his first boyhood； and which he thought he had buried at El Refugio four
years ago。 Susy's allusion to his father and the reiteration of Peyton's
skepticism awoke in his older intellect the first feeling of suspicion that
was compatible with his open nature。 Was this recurring reticence and
mystery due to any act of his father's？ But； looking back upon it in after…
years； he concluded that the incident of that day was a premonition rather
than a recollection。
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CHAPTER XI
When he reached the college the Angelus had long since rung。 In
the corridor he met one of the Fathers； who； instead of questioning him；
returned his salutation with a grave gentleness that struck him。 He had
turned into Father Sobriente's quiet study with the intention of reporting
himself； when he was disturbed to find him in consultation with three or
four of the faculty； who seemed to be thrown into some slight confusion
by his entrance。 Clarence was about to retire hurriedly when Father
Sobriente； breaking up the council with a significant glance at the others；
called him back。 Confused and embarrassed； with a dread of something
impending； the boy tried to avert it by a hurried account of his meeting
with Susy； and his hopes of Father Sobriente's coun