第6章

ThenfollowedtoClarencethreeuneventfulyears。DuringthatintervalhelearntthatJacksonBrant，orDonJuanRobinson——forthetieofkinshipwastheleastfactorintheirrelationstoeachother，andafterthedepartureofFlynnwastacitlyignoredbyboth——wasmoreSpanishthanAmerican。AnearlyresidenceinLowerCalifornia，marriagewitharichMexicanwidow，whosedyingchildlesslefthimsoleheir，andsomestrangerestrainingidiosyncrasyoftemperamenthadquitedenationalizedhim。A

bookishrecluse，somewhatsuperfastidioustowardshisowncountrymen，themoreClarenceknewhimthemoresingularappearedhisacquaintancewithFlynn；butashedidnotexhibitmorecommunicativenessonthispointthanupontheirownkinship，Clarencefinallyconcludedthatitwasduetothedominantcharacterofhisformerfriend，andthoughtnomoreaboutit。HeentereduponthenewlifeatElRefugiowithnodisturbingpast。

Quicklyadaptinghimselftothelazyfreedomofthishaciendaexistence，hespentthemorningsonhorsebackrangingthehillsamonghiscousin\'scattle，andtheafternoonsandeveningsbusiedamonghiscousin\'sbookswithequallylawlessandundisciplinedindependence。Theeasy-goingDonJuan，itistrue，attemptedtomakegoodhisrashpromisetoteachtheboySpanish，andactuallysethimafewtasks；butinafewweeksthequick-wittedClarenceacquiredsuchacolloquialproficiencyfromhiscasualacquaintancewithvaquerosandsmalltradersthathewasgladtoleavethematterinhisyoungkinsman\'shands。Again，byoneofthoseillogicalsequenceswhichmakealifelongreputationdependuponasingletrivialact，Clarence\'ssocialstatuswassettledforeveratElRefugioRanchobyhispicturesquediversionofFlynn\'spartinggift。Thegratefulpeontowhomtheboyhadscornfullytossedthecoinrepeatedtheact，gesture，andspiritofthescenetohiscompanion，andDonJuan\'sunknownandyouthfulrelationwasatoncerecognizedashijodelafamilia，andundeniablyahidalgobornandbred。ButinthemorevividimaginationoffeminineElRefugiotheincidentreacheditshighestpoeticform。"Itistrue，MotherofGod，"saidChuchaoftheMill；"itwasDomingowhohimselfrelatesitasitweretheCreed。WhentheAmericanescorthadarrivedwiththeyounggentleman，thisescort，lookyou，beingnotofthesamequality，heisdepartingagainwithoutawordofpermission。Comestohimatthismomentmylittlehidalgo。\'Youhaveyourselfforgottentotakefrommeyourdemission，\'hesaid。Thisescort，thinkingtomakehispeacewithameremuchacho，givestohimagoldpieceoftwentypesos。ThelittlehidalgohastakenitSO，andwiththewords，\'Ah!youwouldmakeofmeyouralmonertomycousin\'speople，\'hasgivenitatthemomenttoDomingo，andwithagraceandfireadmirable。"ButitiscertainthatClarence\'ssingularsimplicityandtruthfulness，afacultyofbeingpicturesquelyindolentinawaythatsuggestedadreamyabstractionofmindratherthananyvulgartendencytobodilyeaseandcomfort，andpossiblythefactthathewasagoodhorseman，madehimapopularheroatElRefugio。AttheendofthreeyearsDonJuanfoundthatthisinexperiencedandapparentlyidleboyoffourteenknewmoreofthepracticalrulingoftheranchothanhedidhimself；alsothatthisunletteredyoungrustichaddevourednearlyallthebooksinhislibrarywithboyishrecklessnessofdigestion。

Hefound，too，thatinspiteofhissingularindependenceofaction，Clarencewaspossessedofaninvincibleloyaltyofprinciple，andthat，askingnosentimentalaffection，andindeedyieldingnone，hewas，withoutpresumingonhisrelationship，devotedtohiscousin\'sinterest。Itseemedthatfrombeingaglancingrayofsunshineinthehouse，evasivebutneverobtrusive，hehadbecomeadailynecessityofcomfortandsecuritytohisbenefactor。

Clarencewas，however，astonished，when，onemorning，DonJuan，withthesameembarrassedmannerhehadshownattheirfirstmeeting，suddenlyaskedhim，"whatbusinessheexpectedtofollow。"

Itseemedthemoresingular，asthespeaker，likemostabstractedmen，hadhithertoalwaysstudiouslyignoredthefuture，intheirdailyintercourse。Yetthismighthavebeeneitherthehabitofsecurityorthecautionofdoubt。Whateveritwas，itwassomesuddendisturbanceofDonJuan\'sequanimity，asdisconcertingtohimselfasitwastoClarence。Soconsciouswastheboyofthisthat，withoutreplyingtohiscousin\'squestion，butstrivinginvaintorecallsomedelinquencyofhisown，heasked，withhisusualboyishdirectness——

"Hasanythinghappened?HaveIdoneanythingwrong?"

"No，no，"returnedDonJuanhurriedly。"But，yousee，it\'stimethatyoushouldthinkofyourfuture——oratleastprepareforit。

Imeanyououghttohavesomemoreregulareducation。Youwillhavetogotoschool。It\'stoobad，"headdedfretfully，withacertainimpatientforgetfulnessofClarence\'spresence，andasiffollowinghisownthought。"Justasyouarebecomingofservicetome，andjustifyingyourridiculouspositionhere——andallthisd——dnonsensethat\'sgonebefore——Imean，ofcourse，Clarence，"heinterruptedhimself，catchingsightoftheboy\'swhiteningcheekanddarkeningeye，"Imean，youknow——thisridiculousnessofmykeepingyoufromschoolatyourage，andtryingtoteachyoumyself——don\'tyousee。"

"Youthinkitis——ridiculous，"repeatedClarence，withdoggedpersistency。

"ImeanIamridiculous，"saidDonJuanhastily。"There!there!

let\'ssaynomoreaboutit。To-morrowwe\'llrideovertoSanJoseandseetheFatherSecretaryattheJesuits\'Collegeaboutyourenteringatonce。It\'sagoodschool，andyou\'llalwaysbeneartherancho!"Andsotheinterviewended。

IamafraidthatClarence\'sfirstideawastorunaway。Therearefewexperiencesmorecrushingtoaningenuousnaturethanthesuddenrevelationoftheaspectinwhichitisregardedbyothers。

TheunfortunateClarence，consciousonlyofhisloyaltytohiscousin\'sinterestandwhathebelievedwerethedutiesofhisposition，awoketofindthatposition"ridiculous。"Inanafternoon\'sgloomyridethroughthelonelyhills，andlaterinthesleeplesssolitudeofhisroomatnight，heconcludedthathiscousinwasright。Hewouldgotoschool；hewouldstudyhard——sohardthatinalittle，averylittlewhile，hecouldmakealivingforhimself。Heawokecontented。Itwastheblessingofyouththatthisresolveandexecutionseemedasoneandthesamething。

Thenextdayfoundhiminstalledasapupilandboarderinthecollege。DonJuan\'spositionandSpanishpredilectionsnaturallymadehisrelationacceptabletothefaculty；butClarencecouldnothelpperceivingthatFatherSobriente，thePrincipal，regardedhimattimeswithathoughtfulcuriositythatmadehimsuspectthathiscousinhadespeciallybespokenthatattention，andthatheoccasionallyquestionedhimonhisantecedentsinawaythatmadehimdreadarenewaloftheoldquestioningabouthisprogenitor。

Fortherest，hewasapolished，cultivatedman；yet，inthecharacteristic，materialcriticismofyouth，IamafraidthatClarencechieflyidentifiedhimasapriestwithlargehands，whosesoftpalmsseemedtobecushionedwithkindness，andwhoseequallylargefeet，encasedinextraordinaryshapelessshoesofundyedleather，seemedtotreaddownnoiselessly——ratherthantoostentatiouslycrush——theobstaclesthatbesetthepathoftheyoungstudent。Inthecloisteredgalleriesofthecourt-yardClarencesometimesfelthimselfbornedownbytheprotectingweightofthispaternalhand；inthemidnightsilenceofthedormitoryhefanciedhewasoftenconsciousofthesoftbrowsingtreadandsnufflymuffledbreathingofhiselephantine-footedmentor。

Hisrelationswithhisschool-fellowswereatfirstfarfrompleasant。Whethertheysuspectedfavoritism；whethertheyresentedthatoldandunsympatheticmannerwhichsprangfromhishabitsofassociationwithhiselders；orwhethertheyrestedtheirobjectionsonthebroadergroundsofhisbeingastranger，Idonotknow，buttheypresentlypassedfromcruelsneerstophysicalopposition。Itwasthenfoundthatthisgentleandreservedyouthhadretainedcertainobjectionable，rude，direct，rusticqualitiesoffistandfoot，andthat，violatingallrulesanddisdainingthepompandcircumstanceofschool-boywarfare，ofwhichheknewnothing，hesimplythrashedafewofhisequalsoutofhand，withorwithoutceremony，astheoccasionortheinsulthappened。Inthisemergencyoneoftheseniorswasselectedtoteachthisyouthfulsavagehisproperposition。Achallengewasgiven，andacceptedbyClarencewithafeverishalacritythatsurprisedhimselfasmuchashisadversary。Thiswasayouthofeighteen，hissuperiorinsizeandskill。

ThefirstblowbathedClarence\'sfaceinhisownblood。Butthesanguinarychrism，tothealarmofthespectators，effectedaninstantaneousandunhallowedchangeintheboy。Instantlyclosingwithhisadversary，hesprangathisthroatlikeananimal，andlockinghisarmaroundhisneckbegantostranglehim。Blindtotheblowsthatraineduponhim，heeventuallyborehisstaggeringenemybysheeronsetandsurprisetotheearth。Amidstthegeneralalarm，thestrengthofhalfadozenhastilysummonedteacherswasnecessarytounlockhishold。Eventhenhestruggledtorenewtheconflict。Buthisadversaryhaddisappeared，andfromthatdayforwardClarencewasneveragainmolested。

SeatedbeforeFatherSobrienteintheinfirmary，withswollenandbandagedface，andeyesthatstillseemedtoseeeverythinginthemurkylightofhisownblood，Clarencefeltthesoftweightofthefather\'shanduponhisknee。

"Myson，"saidthepriestgently，"youarenotofourreligion，orIshouldclaimasarighttoaskaquestionofyourownheartatthismoment。Butastoagoodfriend，Claro，agoodfriend，"hecontinued，pattingtheboy\'sknee，"youwilltellme，oldFatherSobriente，franklyandtruthfully，asisyourhabit，onelittlething。Wereyounotafraid?"

"No，"saidClarencedoggedly。"I\'lllickhimagainto-morrow。"

"Softly，myson!ItwasnotofHIMIspeak，butofsomethingmoreterribleandawful。Wereyounotafraidof——of——"hepaused，andsuddenlydartinghiscleareyesintotheverydepthsofClarence\'ssoul，added——"ofYOURSELF?"

Theboystarted，shuddered，andburstintotears。

"So，so，"saidthepriestgently，"wehavefoundourrealenemy。

Good!Now，bythegraceofGod，mylittlewarrior，weshallfightHIMandconquer。"

WhetherClarenceprofitedbythislesson，orwhetherthisbriefexhibitionofhisqualitypreventedanyrepetitionofthecause，theepisodewassoonforgotten。Ashisschool-fellowshadneverbeenhisassociatesorconfidants，itmatteredlittletohimwhethertheyfearedorrespectedhim，orwerehypocriticallyobsequious，afterthefashionoftheweaker。Hisstudies，atallevents，profitedbythislackofdistraction。Alreadyhistwoyearsofdesultoryandomnivorousreadinghadgivenhimafacilefamiliaritywithmanythings，whichlefthimutterlyfreeofthetimidity，awkwardness，ornon-interestofabeginner。Hisusuallyreservedmanner，whichhadbeenlackofexpressionratherthanofconviction，haddeceivedhistutors。Theaudacityofamindthathadneverbeendominatedbyothers，andowednoallegiancetoprecedent，madehismerelysuperficialprogresssomethingmarvelous。

Attheendofthefirstyearhewasaphenomenalscholar，whoseemedcapableofanything。Nevertheless，FatherSobrientehadaninterviewwithDonJuan，andasaresultClarencewasslightlykeptbackinhisstudies，alittlemorefreedomfromtheruleswasconcededtohim，andhewasevenencouragedtotakesomediversion。

OfsuchwastheprivilegetovisittheneighboringtownofSantaClaraunrestrictedandunattended。Hehadalwaysbeenliberallyfurnishedwithpocket-money，forwhich，inhiscompanionlessstateandSpartanhabits，hehadasingularandunboyishcontempt。

Nevertheless，healwaysappeareddressedwithscrupulousneatness，andwasratherdistinguished-lookinginhisolderreserveandmelancholyself-reliance。

LoungingoneafternoonalongtheAlameda，aleafyavenuesetoutbytheearlyMissionFathersbetweenthevillageofSanJoseandtheconventofSantaClara，hesawadoublefileofyounggirlsfromtheconventapproaching，ontheirusualpromenade。AviewofthisprocessionbeingthefondestambitionoftheSanJosecollegian，andespeciallyinterdictedandcircumventedbythegoodFathersattendingthecollegeexcursions，Clarencefeltforittheprofoundindifferenceofaboywho，intheintermediatetemperatezoneoffifteenyears，thinksthatheisnolongeryoungandromantic!Hewaspassingthemwithacarelessglance，whenapairofdeepvioleteyescaughthisownunderthebroadshadeofacoquettishlyberibbonedhat，evenasithadoncelookedathimfromthedepthsofacalicosunbonnet。Susy!Hestarted，andwouldhavespoken；

butwithaquicklittlegestureofcautionandameaningglanceatthetwonunswhowalkedattheheadandfootofthefile，sheindicatedhimtofollow。Hedidsoatarespectfuldistance，albeitwondering。AlittlefurtheronSusydroppedherhandkerchief，andwasobligedtodartoutandrunbacktotheendofthefiletorecoverit。Butshegaveanotherswiftglanceofherblueeyesasshesnatcheditupanddemurelyranbacktoherplace。Theprocessionpassedon，butwhenClarencereachedthespotwhereshehadpausedhesawathree-corneredbitofpaperlyinginthegrass。Hewastoodiscreettopickitupwhilethegirlswerestillinsight，butcontinuedon，returningtoitlater。

Itcontainedafewwordsinaschoolgirl\'shand，hastilyscrawledinpencil:"Cometothesouthwallnearthebigpear-treeatsix。"

DelightedasClarencefelt，hewasatthesametimeembarrassed。

Hecouldnotunderstandthenecessityofthismysteriousrendezvous。Heknewthatifshewasascholarshewasundercertainconventualrestraints；butwiththeprivilegesofhispositionandfriendshipwithhisteachers，hebelievedthatFatherSobrientewouldeasilyprocurehimaninterviewwiththisoldplay-

fellow，ofwhomhehadoftenspoken，andwhowas，withhimself，thesolesurvivorofhistragicalpast。AndtrustedashewasbySobriente，therewassomethinginthisclandestinethoughinnocentrendezvousthatwentagainsthisloyalty。Nevertheless，hekepttheappointment，andatthestatedtimewasatthesouthwalloftheconvent，overwhichthegnarledboughsofthedistinguishingpear-treehung。Hardbyinthewallwasagratedwicketdoorthatseemedunused。

Wouldsheappearamongtheboughsorontheedgeofthewall?

EitherwouldbeliketheoldSusy。Buttohissurpriseheheardthesoundofthekeyturninginthelock。Thegrateddoorsuddenlyswungonitshinges，andSusyslippedout。Graspinghishand，shesaid，"Let\'srun，Clarence，"andbeforehecouldreplyshestartedoffwithhimatarapidpace。Downthelanetheyflew——verymuch，asitseemedtoClarence\'sfancy，astheyhadflownfromtheoldemigrantwagonontheprairie，fouryearsbefore。Heglancedatthefluttering，fairy-likefigurebesidehim。Shehadgrowntallerandmoregraceful；shewasdressedinexquisitetaste，withaminutenessofluxuriousdetailthatbespokethespoiltchild；buttherewasthesameprodigaloutburstofrippling，goldenhairdownherbackandshoulders，violeteyes，capriciouslittlemouth，andthesamedelicatehandsandfeethehadremembered。Hewouldhavepreferredamoredeliberatesurvey，butwithashakeofherheadandanhystericlittlelaughsheonlysaid，"Run，Clarence，run，"

andagaindartedforward。Arrivingatthecross-street，theyturnedthecorner，andhaltedbreathlessly。

"Butyou\'renotrunningawayfromschool，Susy，areyou?"saidClarenceanxiously。

"Onlyalittlebit。Justenoughtogetaheadoftheothergirls，"

shesaid，rearrangingherbrowncurlsandtiltedhat。"Yousee，Clarence，"shecondescendedtoexplain，withasuddenassumptionofoldersuperiority，"mother\'shereatthehotelallthisweek，andI\'mallowedtogohomeeverynight，likeadayscholar。Onlythere\'sthreeorfourothergirlsthatgooutatthesametimewithme，andoneoftheSisters，andto-dayIgotaheadof\'emjusttoseeYOU。"

"But"beganClarence。

"Oh，it\'sallright；theothergirlsknewit，andhelpedme。Theydon\'tstartoutforhalfanhouryet，andthey\'llsayI\'vejustrunahead，andwhentheyandtheSistergettothehotelI\'llbetherealready——don\'tyousee?"

"Yes，"saidClarencedubiously。

"Andwe\'llgotoanice-creamsaloonnow，shan\'twe?There\'saniceonenearthehotel。I\'vegotsomemoney，"sheaddedquickly，asClarencelookedembarrassed。

"SohaveI，"saidClarence，withafaintaccessionofcolor。

"Let\'sgo!"Shehadrelinquishedhishandtosmoothoutherfrock，andtheywerewalkingsidebysideatamoremoderatepace。"But，"

hecontinued，clingingtohisfirstideawithmasculinepersistence，andanxioustoassurehiscompanionofhispower，ofhisposition，"I\'minthecollege，andFatherSobriente，whoknowsyourladysuperior，isagoodfriendofmineandgivesmeprivileges；and——and——whenheknowsthatyouandIusedtoplaytogether——why，he\'llfixitthatwemayseeeachotherwheneverwewant。"

"Oh，yousilly!"saidSusy。"WHAT!——whenyou\'re——"

"WhenI\'mWHAT?"

Theyounggirlshotavioletbluerayfromunderherbroadhat。

"Why——whenwe\'regrownupnow?"Thenwithacertainprecision，"Why，they\'reVERYparticularaboutyounggentlemen!Why，Clarence，iftheysuspectedthatyouandIwere——"Anothervioletrayfromunderthehatcompletedthisunfinishedsentence。

Pleasedandyetconfused，Clarencelookedstraightaheadwithdeepeningcolor。"Why，"continuedSusy，"MaryRogers，thatwaswalkingwithme，thoughtyouwereeversoold——andadistinguishedSpaniard!AndI，"shesaidabruptly——"haven\'tIgrown?Tellme，Clarence，"withheroldappealingimpatience，"haven\'tIgrown?Dotellme!"

"Verymuch，"saidClarence。

"Andisn\'tthisfrockpretty——it\'sonlymysecondbest——butI\'veaprettieronewithlacealldowninfront；butisn\'tthisonepretty，Clarence，tellme?"

Clarencethoughtthefrockanditsfairownerperfection，andsaidso。WhereatSusy，asifsuddenlyawareofthepresenceofpassers-

by，assumedanairofseverepropriety，droppedherhandsbyherside，andwithanaffectedconscientiousnesswalkedon，alittlefurtherfromClarence\'sside，untiltheyreachedtheice-creamsaloon。

"Getatableneartheback，Clarence，"shesaid，inaconfidentialwhisper，"wheretheycan\'tseeus——andstrawberry，youknow，forthelemonandvanillaherearejusthorrid!"

Theytooktheirseatsinakindofrusticarborintherearoftheshop，whichgavethemtheappearanceoftwoyouthfulbutsomewhatover-dressedandover-consciousshepherds。Therewasanintervalofslightawkwardness，whichSusyendeavoredtodisplace。"Therehasbeen，"sheremarked，witheasyconversationallightness，"quiteanexcitementaboutourFrenchteacherbeingchanged。Thegirlsinourclassthinkitmostdisgraceful。"

Andthiswasallshecouldsayafteraseparationoffouryears!

Clarencewasdesperate，butasyetidealessandvoiceless。Atlast，withaneffortoverhisspoon，hegaspedafloatingrecollection:"Doyoustilllikeflapjacks，Susy?"

"Oh，yes，"withalaugh，"butwedon\'thavethemnow。"

"AndMose"(ablackpointer，whousedtoyelpwhenSusysang)，"doeshestillsingwithyou?"

"Oh，HE\'Sbeenlosteversolong，"saidSusycomposedly；"butI\'vegotaNewfoundlandandaspanielandablackpony；"andhere，witharapidinventoryofherotherpersonaleffects，shedriftedintosomedesultorydetailsofthedevotionofheradoptedparents，whomshenowreadilyspokeofas"papa"and"mamma，"withevidentlynodisturbingrecollectionofthedead。FromwhichitappearedthatthePeytonswereveryrich，and，inadditiontotheirpossessionsinthelowercountry，ownedaranchoinSantaClaraandahouseinSanFrancisco。Likeallchildren，herstrongestimpressionswerethemostrecent。Inthevainhopetoleadherbacktothismaterialyesterday，hesaid——

"YourememberJimHooker?"

"Oh，HEranaway，whenyouleft。Butjustthinkofit!Theotherday，whenpapaandIwentintoabigrestaurantinSanFrancisco，whoshouldbethereWAITINGonthetable——yes，Clarence，arealwaiter——butJimHooker!Papaspoketohim；butofcourse，"withaslightelevationofherprettychin，"Icouldn\'t，youknow；fancy——

awaiter!"

ThestoryofhowJimHookerhadpersonatedhimstoppedshortuponClarence\'slips。Hecouldnotbringhimselfnowtoaddthatrevelationtothecontemptofhissmallcompanion，which，inspiteofitsnaivete，somewhatgratedonhissensibilities。

"Clarence，"shesaid，suddenlyturningtowardshimmysteriously，andindicatingtheshopmanandhisassistants，"Ireallybelievethesepeoplesuspectus。"

"Ofwhat?"saidthepracticalClarence。

"Don\'tbesilly!Don\'tyouseehowtheyarestaring?"

Clarencewasreallyunabletodetecttheleastcuriosityonthepartoftheshopman，orthatanyoneexhibitedtheslightestconcerninhimorhiscompanion。Buthefeltareturnoftheembarrassedpleasurehewasconsciousofamomentbefore。

"Thenyou\'relivingwithyourfather?"saidSusy，changingthesubject。

"YoumeanmyCOUSIN，"saidClarence，smiling。"YouknowmyfatherdiedlongbeforeIeverknewyou。"

"Yes；that\'swhatYOUusedtosay，Clarence，butpapasaysitisn\'tso。"Butseeingtheboy\'swonderingeyesfixedonherwithatroubledexpression，sheaddedquickly，"Oh，then，heISyourcousin!"

"Well，IthinkIoughttoknow，"saidClarence，withasmile，thatwas，however，farfromcomfortable，andaquickreturnofhisoldunpleasantrecollectionsofthePeytons。"Why，Iwasbroughttohimbyoneofhisfriends。"AndClarencegavearapidboyishsummaryofhisjourneyfromSacramento，andFlynn\'sdiscoveryoftheletteraddressedtoSilsbee。ButbeforehehadconcludedhewasconsciousthatSusywasbynomeansinterestedinthesedetails，norintheleastaffectedbythepassingallusiontoherdeadfatherandhisrelationtoClarence\'smisadventures。Withherroundedchininherhand，shewasslowlyexamininghisface，withacertainmischievousyetdemureabstraction。"Itellyouwhat，Clarence，"shesaid，whenhehadfinished，"yououghttomakeyourcousingetyouoneofthosesombreros，andanicegold-braidedserape。They\'djustsuityou。Andthen——thenyoucouldrideupanddowntheAlamedawhenwearegoingby。"

"ButI\'mcomingtoseeyouat——atyourhouse，andattheconvent，"

hesaideagerly。"FatherSobrienteandmycousinwillfixitallright。"

ButSusyshookherhead，withsuperiorwisdom。"No；theymustneverknowoursecret!——neitherpapanormamma，especiallymamma。

Andtheymustn\'tknowthatwe\'vemetagain——AFTERTHESEYEARS!"ItisimpossibletodescribethedeepsignificancewhichSusy\'sblueeyesgavetothisexpression。Afterapauseshewenton——

"No!Wemustnevermeetagain，Clarence，unlessMaryRogershelps。

Sheismybest，myONLIESTfriend，andolderthanI；havinghadtroubleherself，andbeingexpresslyforbiddentoseehimagain。

YoucanspeaktoheraboutSuzette——that\'smynamenow；IwasrechristenedSuzetteAlexandraPeytonbymamma。Andnow，Clarence，"droppinghervoiceandglancingshylyaroundthesaloon，"youmaykissmejustonceundermyhat，forgood-by。"Sheadroitlyslantedherbroad-brimmedhattowardsthefrontoftheshop，andinitsshadowadvancedherfreshyoungcheektoClarence。

Coloringandlaughing，theboypressedhislipstoittwice。ThenSusyarose，withthefaintestaffectationofasigh，shookoutherskirt，drewonhergloveswiththegreatestgravity，andsaying，"Don\'tfollowmefurtherthanthedoor——they\'recomingnow，"walkedwithsuperciliousdignitypastthepreoccupiedproprietorandwaiterstotheentrance。Hereshesaid，withmarkedcivility，"Good-afternoon，Mr。Brant，"andtrippedawaytowardsthehotel。

Clarencelingeredforamomenttolookafterthelitheandelegantlittlefigure，withitsshiningundulationsofhairthatfelloverthebackandshouldersofherwhitefrocklikeagoldenmantle，andthenturnedawayintheoppositedirection。

Hewalkedhomeinastate，asitseemedtohim，ofabsurdperplexity。ThereweremanyreasonswhyhisencounterwithSusyshouldhavebeenofunmixedpleasure。Shehadrememberedhimofherownfreewill，and，inspiteofthechangeinherfortune，hadmadethefirstadvances。Herdoubtsaboutherfutureinterviewshadaffectedhimbutlittle；stillless，Ifear，didhethinkoftheotherchangesinhercharacteranddisposition，forhewasofthatagewhentheyaddedonlyapiquancyandfascinationtoher——asofonewho，inspiteofherweaknessofnature，wasstilldevotedtohim!Buthewaspainfullyconsciousthatthismeetinghadrevivedinhimallthefears，vagueuneasiness，andsenseofwrongthathadhauntedhisfirstboyhood，andwhichhethoughthehadburiedatElRefugiofouryearsago。Susy\'sallusiontohisfatherandthereiterationofPeyton\'sskepticismawokeinhisolderintellectthefirstfeelingofsuspicionthatwascompatiblewithhisopennature。Wasthisrecurringreticenceandmysteryduetoanyactofhisfather\'s?But，lookingbackuponitinafter-years，heconcludedthattheincidentofthatdaywasapremonitionratherthanarecollection。

CHAPTERXI

WhenhereachedthecollegetheAngelushadlongsincerung。InthecorridorhemetoneoftheFathers，who，insteadofquestioninghim，returnedhissalutationwithagravegentlenessthatstruckhim。HehadturnedintoFatherSobriente\'squietstudywiththeintentionofreportinghimself，whenhewasdisturbedtofindhiminconsultationwiththreeorfourofthefaculty，whoseemedtobethrownintosomeslightconfusionbyhisentrance。ClarencewasabouttoretirehurriedlywhenFatherSobriente，breakingupthecouncilwithasignificantglanceattheothers，calledhimback。

Confusedandembarrassed，withadreadofsomethingimpending，theboytriedtoavertitbyahurriedaccountofhismeetingwithSusy，andhishopesofFatherSobriente\'scounselandassistance。

TakinguponhimselftheideaofsuggestingSusy\'sescapade，heconfessedthefault。Theoldmangazedintohisfrankeyeswithathoughtful，half-compassionatesmile。"Iwasjustthinkingofgivingyouaholidaywith——withDonJuanRobinson。"Theunusualsubstitutionofthisfinaltitleforthehabitual"yourcousin"

struckClarenceuneasily。"Butwewillspeakofthatlater。Sitdown，myson；Iamnotbusy。Weshalltalkalittle。FatherPedrosaysyouaregettingonfluentlywithyourtranslations。Thatisexcellent，myson，excellent。"

Clarence\'sfacebeamedwithreliefandpleasure。Hisvaguefearsbegantodissipate。

"Andyoutranslateevenfromdictation!Good!Wehaveanhourtospare，andyoushallgivetomeaspecimenofyourskill。Eh?

Good!IwillwalkhereanddictatetoyouinmypoorEnglish，andyoushallsitthereandrenderittomeinyourgoodSpanish。Eh?

Soweshallamuseandinstructourselves。"

Clarencesmiled。ThesesporadicmomentsofinstructionandadmonitionwerenotunusualtothegoodFather。HecheerfullyseatedhimselfatthePadre\'stablebeforeablanksheetofpaper，withapeninhishand。FatherSobrientepacedtheapartment，withhisusualheavybutnoiselesstread。Tohissurprise，thegoodpriest，afteranexhaustivepinchofsnuff，blewhisnose，andbegan，inhismostlugubriousstyleofpulpitexhortation:——

"Ithasbeenwrittenthatthesinsofthefathershallbevisiteduponthechildren，andtheunthinkingandworldlyhavesoughtrefugefromthislawbydeclaringitharshandcruel。Miserableandblind!Fordowenotseethatthewickedman，whointheprideofhispowerandvaingloryiswillingtoriskpunishmenttoHIMSELF——andbelievesittobecourage——mustpausebeforetheawfulmandatethatcondemnsanequalsufferingtothoseheloves，whichhecannotwithholdorsufferfor?Inthespectacleoftheseinnocentsstrugglingagainstdisgrace，perhapsdisease，poverty，ordesertion，whatavailshishaughty，all-defyingspirit?Letusimagine，Clarence。"

"Sir?"saidtheliteralClarence，pausinginhisexercise。

"Imean，"continuedthepriest，withaslightcough，"letthethoughtfulmanpictureafather:adesperate，self-willedman，whoscornedthelawsofGodandsociety——keepingonlyfaithwithamiserablesubterfugehecalled\'honor，\'andrelyingonlyonhisowncourageandhisknowledgeofhumanweakness。Imaginehimcruelandbloody——agamblerbyprofession，anoutlawamongmen，anoutcastfromtheChurch；voluntarilyabandoningfriendsandfamily，——thewifeheshouldhavecherished，thesonheshouldhaverearedandeducated——forthegratificationofhisdeadlypassions。Yetimaginethatmansuddenlyconfrontedwiththethoughtofthatheritageofshameanddisgustwhichhehadbroughtuponhisinnocentoffspring——towhomhecannotgiveevenhisowndesperaterecklessnesstosustainitsvicarioussuffering。Whatmustbethefeelingsofaparent——"

"FatherSobriente，"saidClarencesoftly。

Totheboy\'ssurprise，scarcelyhadhespokenwhenthesoftprotectingpalmofthepriestwasalreadyuponhisshoulder，andthesnuffybutkindlyupperlip，tremblingwithsomestrangeemotion，closebesidehischeek。

"Whatisit，Clarence?"hesaidhurriedly。"Speak，myson，withoutfear!Youwouldask——"

"Ionlywantedtoknowif\'padre\'takesamasculineverbhere，"

repliedClarencenaively。

FatherSobrienteblewhisnoseviolently。"Truly——thoughusedforeithergender，bythecontextmasculine，"herespondedgravely。

"Ah，"headded，leaningoverClarence，andscanninghisworkhastily，"Good，verygood!Andnow，possibly，"hecontinued，passinghishandlikeadampspongeoverhisheatedbrow，"weshallreverseourexercise。IshalldelivertoyouinSpanishwhatyoushallrenderbackinEnglish，eh?And——letusconsider——weshallmakesomethingmorefamiliarandnarrative，eh?"

TothisClarence，somewhatboredbythesepresentsolemnabstractions，assentedgladly，andtookuphispen。FatherSobriente，resuminghisnoiselesspacing，began:

"OnthefertileplainsofGuadalajaralivedacertaincaballero，possessedofflocksandlands，andawifeandson。But，beingalsopossessedofafieryandrovingnature，hedidnotvaluethemashedidperilousadventure，featsofarms，andsanguinaryencounters。

Tothismaybeaddedriotousexcesses，gamblinganddrunkenness，whichintimedecreasedhispatrimony，evenashisrebelliousandquarrelsomespirithadalienatedhisfamilyandneighbors。Hiswife，bornedownbyshameandsorrow，diedwhilehersonwasstillaninfant。Inafitofequalremorseandrecklessnessthecaballeromarriedagainwithintheyear。Butthenewwifewasofatemperandbearingasbitterasherconsort。Violentquarrelsensuedbetweenthem，endinginthehusbandabandoninghiswifeandson，andleavingSt。Louis——IshouldsayGuadalajara——forever。

Joiningsomeadventurersinaforeignland，underanassumedname，hepursuedhisrecklesscourse，until，byoneortwoactsofoutlawry，hemadehisreturntocivilizationimpossible。Thedesertedwifeandstep-motherofhischildcoldlyacceptedthesituation，forbiddinghisnametobespokenagaininherpresence，announcedthathewasdead，andkepttheknowledgeofhisexistencefromhisownson，whomsheplacedunderthechargeofhersister。

Butthesistermanagedtosecretlycommunicatewiththeoutlawedfather，and，underapretext，arrangedbetweenthem，ofsendingtheboytoanotherrelation，actuallydispatchedtheinnocentchildtohisunworthyparent。Perhapsstirredbyremorse，theinfamousman——"

"Stop!"saidClarencesuddenly。

Hehadthrowndownhispen，andwasstandingerectandrigidbeforetheFather。

"Youaretryingtotellmesomething，FatherSobriente，"hesaid，withaneffort。"Speakout，Iimploreyou。Icanstandanythingbutthismystery。Iamnolongerachild。Ihavearighttoknowall。Thisthatyouaretellingmeisnofable——Iseeitinyourface，FatherSobriente；itisthestoryof——of——"

"Yourfather，Clarence!"saidthepriest，inatremblingvoice。

Theboydrewback，withawhiteface。"Myfather!"herepeated。

"Living，ordead?"

"Living，whenyoufirstleftyourhome，"saidtheoldmanhurriedly，seizingClarence\'shand，"foritwashewhointhenameofyourcousinsentforyou。Living——yes，whileyouwerehere，foritwashewhoforthepastthreeyearsstoodintheshadowofthisassumedcousin，DonJuan，andatlastsentyoutothisschool。

Living，Clarence，yes；butlivingunderanameandreputationthatwouldhaveblastedyou!AndnowDEAD——deadinMexico，shotasaninsurgentandinastilldesperatecareer!MayGodhavemercyonhissoul!"

"Dead!"repeatedClarence，trembling，"onlynow?"

"Thenewsoftheinsurrectionandhisfatecameonlyanhoursince，"continuedthePadrequickly；"hiscomplicitywithitandhisidentitywereknownonlytoDonJuan。Hewouldhavesparedyouanyknowledgeofthetruth，evenasthisdeadmanwould；butIandmybrothersthoughtotherwise。Ihavebrokenittoyoubadly，myson，butforgiveme?"

AnhystericallaughbrokefromClarenceandthepriestrecoiledbeforehim。"ForgiveYOU!Whatwasthismantome?"hesaid，withboyishvehemence。"HeneverLOVEDme!Hedesertedme；hemademylifealie。Heneversoughtme，camenearme，orstretchedahandtomethatIcouldtake?"

"Hush!hush!"saidthepriest，withahorrifiedlook，layinghishugehandupontheboy\'sshoulderandbearinghimdowntohisseat。

"Youknownotwhatyousay。Think——think，Clarence!Wastherenoneofallthosewhohavebefriendedyou——whowerekindtoyouinyourwanderings——towhomyourheartturnedunconsciously?Think，Clarence!Youyourselfhavespokentomeofsuchaone。Letyourheartspeakagain，forhissake——forthesakeofthedead。"

Agentlerlightsuffusedtheboy\'seyes，andhestarted。Catchingconvulsivelyathiscompanion\'ssleeve，hesaidinaneager，boyishwhisper，"Therewasone，awicked，desperateman，whomtheyallfeared——Flynn，whobroughtmefromthemines。Yes，Ithoughtthathewasmycousin\'sloyalfriend——morethanalltherest；andItoldhimeverything——all，thatInevertoldthemanIthoughtmycousin，oranyone，orevenyou；andIthink，Ithink，Father，Ilikedhimbestofall。Ithoughtsinceitwaswrong，"hecontinued，withatremblingsmile，"forIwasfoolishlyfondevenofthewaytheothersfearedhim，hethatIfearednot，andwhowassokindtome。

Yethe，too，leftmewithoutaword，andwhenIwouldhavefollowedhim——"Buttheboybrokedown，andburiedhisfaceinhishands。

"No，no，"saidFatherSobriente，witheagerpersistence，"thatwashisfoolishpridetospareyoutheknowledgeofyourkinshipwithonesofeared，andpartoftheblindandmistakenpenancehehadlaiduponhimself。Forevenatthatmomentofyourboyishindignation，heneverwassofondofyouasthen。Yes，mypoorboy，thisman，towhomGodledyourwanderingfeetatDeadman\'sGulch；themanwhobroughtyouhere，andbysomesecrethold——I

knownotwhat——onDonJuan\'spast，persuadedhimtoassumetobeyourrelation；thismanFlynn，thisJacksonBrantthegambler，thisHamiltonBranttheoutlaw——WASYOURFATHER!Ah，yes!Weepon，myson；eachtearofloveandforgivenessfromtheehathvicariouspowertowashawayhissin。"

WithasinglesweepofhisprotectinghandhedrewClarencetowardshisbreast，untiltheboyslowlysankuponhiskneesathisfeet。

Then，liftinghiseyestowardstheceiling，hesaidsoftlyinanoldertongue，"AndTHOU，too，unhappyandperturbedspirit，rest!"……

ItwasnearlydawnwhenthegoodPadrewipedthelasttearsfromClarence\'sclearereyes。"Andnow，myson，"hesaid，withagentlesmile，asherosetohisfeet，"letusnotforgettheliving。

Althoughyourstep-motherhas，throughherownact，nolegalclaimuponyou，farbeitfrommetoindicateyourattitudetowardsher。

EnoughthatYOUareindependent。"Heturned，and，openingadrawerinhissecretaire，tookoutabank-book，andplaceditinthehandsofthewonderingboy。

"ItwasHISwish，Clarence，thatevenafterhisdeathyoushouldneverhavetoproveyourkinshiptoclaimyourrights。TakingadvantageoftheboyishdeposityouhadleftwithMr。Cardenatthebank，withhisconnivanceandinyournameheaddedtoit，monthbymonthandyearbyyear；Mr。Cardencheerfullyacceptingthetrustandmanagementofthefund。Theseedthussownhasproducedathousandfold，Clarence，beyondallexpectations。Youarenotonlyfree，myson，butofyourselfandinwhatevernameyouchoose——yourownmaster。"

"Ishallkeepmyfather\'sname，"saidtheboysimply。

"Amen!"saidFatherSobriente。

HereclosesthechronicleofClarenceBrant\'sboyhood。Howhesustainedhisnameandindependenceinafteryears，andwho，ofthosealreadymentionedinthesepages，helpedhimtomakeormarit，maybeamatterforfuturerecord。