Her heart seemed to stop beating as she gazed breathlessly at the girl. But Susys face, unchanged except for the alert, questioning eyes, remained fixed for a moment; then a childish smile of wonder opened her small red mouth, expanded it slightly as she said simply:
Lor, mar! He hasnt, really!
Inexpressibly, yet unreasonably reassured, Mrs. Peyton hurriedly recounted her husbands story of Clarences fortune, and was even joyfully surprised into some fairness of statement.
But you dont remember him much, do you, dear? It was so long ago, andyou are quite a young lady now, she added eagerly.
The open mouth was still fixed; the wondering smile would have been idiotic in any face less dimpled, rosy, and piquant than Susys. After a slight gasp, as if in still incredulous and partly reminiscent preoccupation, she said without replying:
How funny! When is he coming?
Day after to-morrow, returned Mrs. Peyton, with a contented smile.
And Mary Rogers will be here, too. It will be real fun for her.
Mrs. Peyton was more than reassured. Half ashamed of her jealous fears, she drew Susys golden head towards her and kissed it. And the young girl, still reminiscent, with smilingly abstracted toleration, returned the caress.
CHAPTER II
It was not thought inconsistent with Susys capriciousness that she should declare her intention the next morning of driving her pony buggy to Santa Inez to anticipate the stage-coach and fetch Mary Rogers from the station. Mrs. Peyton, as usual, supported the young ladys whim and opposed her husbands objections.
Because the stage-coach happens to pass our gate, John, it is no reason why Susy shouldnt drive her friend from Santa Inez if she prefers it. Its only seven miles, and you can send Pedro to follow her on horseback to see that she comes to no harm.
But that isnt Pedros business, said Peyton.
He ought to be proud of the privilege, returned the lady, with a toss of her head.
Peyton smiled grimly, but yielded; and when the stage-coach drew up the next afternoon at the Santa Inez Hotel, Susy was already waiting in her pony carriage before it. Although the susceptible driver, expressman, and passengers generally, charmed with this golden-haired vision, would have gladly protracted the meeting of the two young friends, the transfer of Mary Rogers from the coach to the carriage was effected with considerable hauteur and youthful dignity by Susy. Even Mary Rogers, two years Susys senior, a serious brunette, whose good-humor did not, however, impair her capacity for sentiment, was impressed and even embarrassed by her demeanor; but only for a moment. When they had driven from the hotel and were fairly hidden again in the dust of the outlying plain, with the discreet Pedro hovering in the distance, Susy dropped the reins, and, grasping her companions arm, gasped, in tones of dramatic intensity:
Hes been heard from, and is coming HERE!
Who?
A sickening sense that her old confidante had already lost touch with herthey had been separated for nearly two weeksmight have passed through Susys mind.
Who? she repeated, with a vicious shake of Marys arm, why, Clarence Brant, of course.
No! said Mary, vaguely.
Nevertheless, Susy went on rapidly, as if to neutralize the effect of her comrades vacuity.
You never could have imagined it! Never! Even I, when mother told me, I thought I should have fainted, and ALL would have been revealed!
But, hesitated the still wondering confidante, I thought that was all over long ago. You havent seen him nor heard from him since that day you met accidentally at Santa Clara, two years ago, have you?
Susys eyes shot a blue ray of dark but unutterable significance into Marys, and then were carefully averted. Mary Rogers, although perfectly satisfied that Susy had never seen Clarence since, nevertheless instantly accepted and was even thrilled with this artful suggestion of a clandestine correspondence. Such was the simple faith of youthful friendship.
Mother knows nothing of it, of course, and a word from you or him would ruin everything, continued the breathless Susy. Thats why I came to fetch you and warn you. You must see him first, and warn him at any cost. If I hadnt run every risk to come here to-day, Heaven knows what might have happened! What do you think of the ponies, dear? Theyre my own, and the sweetest! This ones Susy, that one Clarence,but privately, you know. Before the world and in the stables hes only Birdie.
But I thought you wrote to me that you called them Paul and Virginie, said Mary doubtfully.
I do, sometimes, said Susy calmly. But one has to learn to suppress ones feelings, dear! Then quickly, I do so hate deceit, dont you? Tell me, dont you think deceit perfectly hateful?
Without waiting for her friends loyal assent, she continued rapidly: And hes just rolling in wealth! and educated, papa says, to the highest degree!
Then, began Mary, if hes coming with your mothers consent, and if you havent quarreled, and it is not broken off, I should think youd be just delighted.
But another quick flash from Susys eyes dispersed these beatific visions of the future. Hush! she said, with suppressed dramatic intensity. You know not what you say! Theres an awful mystery hangs over him. Mary Rogers, continued the young girl, approaching her small mouth to her confidantes ear in an appalling whisper. His father wasa PIRATE! Yeslived a pirate and was killed a pirate!
The statement, however, seemed to be partly ineffective. Mary Rogers was startled but not alarmed, and even protested feebly. But, she said, if the fathers dead, whats that to do with Clarence? He was always with your papaso you told me, dearor other people, and couldnt catch anything from his own father. And Im sure, dearest, he always seemed nice and quiet.
Yes, SEEMED, returned Susy darkly, but thats all you know! It was in his BLOOD. You know it always is,you read it in the books,you could see it in his eye. There were times, my dear, when he was thwarted,when the slightest attention from another person to me revealed it! I have kept it to myself,but think, dearest, of the effects of jealousy on that passionate nature! Sometimes I tremble to look back upon it.
Nevertheless, she raised her hands and threw back her lovely golden mane from her childish shoulders with an easy, untroubled gesture. It was singular that Mary Rogers, leaning back comfortably in the buggy, also accepted these heart-rending revelations with comfortably knitted brows and luxuriously contented concern. If she found it difficult to recognize in the picture just drawn by Susy the quiet, gentle, and sadly reserved youth she had known, she said nothing. After a silence, lazily watching the distant wheeling vacquero, she said:
And your father always sends an outrider like that with you? How nice! So picturesqueand like the old Spanish days.
Hush! said Susy, with another unutterable glance.
But this time Mary was in full sympathetic communion with her friend, and equal to any incoherent hiatus of revelation.
No! she said promptly, you dont mean it!
Dont ask me, I darent say anything to papa, for hed be simply furious. But there are times when were alone, and Pedro wheels down so near with SUCH a look in his black eyes, that Im all in a tremble. Its dreadful! They say hes a real Briones,and he sometimes says something in Spanish, ending with senorita, but I pretend I dont understand.