"That is rather vague. I would prefer to pay to you now so much per acre. With the understanding that my father (or any one else) is not to know I have made this purchase. I mean not for the present."

"Would your father object to it?"

"Perhaps not. And yet he might see in it a disclaimer from my part-a criticism. He is a settler-a '_Squatter_'-you know, and consequently very sensitive about (what they call) '_rights of settlers under the law_.' He knows my sentiments, but one thing is my expressing them to him, and another is to pay money for land he thinks he has lawfully appropriated. It might seem to him, I imply that his locating perhaps was not altogether as honorable a transaction in my eyes, as it may be lawful in the eyes of the lawmakers."

"You are certainly very honorable, and I am willing to abide by your wishes in the matter," said Don Mariano. "You view this question exactly as I do."

Clarence blushed with pleasure and bowed, saying:

"You are very kind, and that you, who are so generous, should be made to suffer as you have, it is, I assure you, so revolting to me (as an American and a civilized being) that I have felt great desire to go away rather than to live among these short-sighted and unappreciative people that have unfortunately fallen upon you."

Don Mariano laughed and said, "No don't go away. Let me have one friend at least, among so many opponents. Pay whatever you wish, and take as much land as you desire to have, but don't go."

"I thank you, indeed, but will you not name the price? I don't think it is right for me to put a price upon your property."

"My dear sir, that would be so if my property was not going into-smoke of sulphur-but as it is, and growing fast so 'beautifully less' that I suppose even the $1.25 of government price ought to be a handsome figure to my weary eyes. So name any price you wish."

It was agreed that Clarence would pay $10.00 per acre, and take up 640 acres where his father had already located. It was also understood that the purchase should not be mentioned to any one. Don Mariano excepted only his son Gabriel. Clarence said he would except his mother, inasmuch as she had told him to pay for the land or else she would not come to reside upon it.

Don Mariano said that he would like to mention it to his family and the Mechlins, but feared that if only some allusion was overheard by the servants, it would be repeated.

"I have no objection to Mr. Mechlin knowing it," Clarence said.

"No, but they have for servants Hogsden and his wife, and they are very dishonorable. They would repeat it if by accident they heard it."

"It is a pity that Mrs. Mechlin don't send those two thieves away,"

Victoriano said.

"Yes, I hear that the woman Hogsden repeats things she hears at the Mechlins," Clarence said.

"Of course she does, and steals too, and yet Mrs. Mechlin keeps them,"

Victoriano said, impatiently.

"Perhaps it would be best to say nothing, and I will watch my chance to tell my father myself, that I paid for the land," Clarence said. He then rose to go.

As he went down the veranda steps he met Milord returning, still dragging the skein of silk. But this was no longer of bright variegated hues, it was black with mud and sadly masticated by Milord's sharp teeth, which proudly held it as if challenging any one to take it.

"You wicked Milord. See what you have done with your poor mistress'

silk. She will be distressed," said Victoriano.

On hearing himself thus apostrophised, Milord ran off again with his plunder, and it was with difficulty that by the combined efforts of Victoriano and Clarence he was at last captured, but the bright colors of the silk had all disappeared, a blackened skein resembling a piece of wet rope was pulled from Milord's sharp teeth.

CHAPTER VII.-_From Alameda to San Diego._

The Darrell house was now finished, the furniture had arrived, been unpacked and distributed in the rooms, but the house seemed to old Darrell entirely too sumptuous for the plain folks, that his family ought to be. That was a truth.

"Look here, Clarence, haven't you been too extravagant in buying such expensive carpets, such fine furniture? For gracious sake, how big is the bill for all this grandeur?"

"I don't know yet the price of every item, but don't be alarmed, I am sure they would not go beyond the limit I gave Hubert (Hubert made the purchases), and I assure you, it will all be paid with our volunteer crop."

"Don't be sure of that."

"O, but I am sure-only not too much so-which is the right way of being sure," he replied.

Clarence was now a regular caller at the Alamar and the Mechlin houses.

He felt that in both places the welcome he received was sincere, for even the silent Gabriel was always ready to talk to him. As for Victoriano, his attachment to Clarence was now an acknowledged and accepted fact,-not rejected by Senor Alamar, to judge by appearances,-and certainly fully and sincerely reciprocated by Clarence.

Both found great pleasure in each other's society, and saw each other every day.

It was now time for Clarence to go to Alameda to bring down the family.

He and Victoriano talked about it walking towards the Alamar house from the Darrells, discussing the probable time of his return.

"Clarence has come to bid us good-by," said Victoriano, walking into the parlor, followed by Clarence.

"Why! Where is he going?" said Mercedes, rising, dropping the book she was reading.

"Don't be alarmed, he is only going to bring his mother and sisters down," added Victoriano, maliciously, causing the blood to rush to her forehead.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, sitting down, with a resentful look toward her brother, and a half appealing, half deprecating one to Clarence, who was contemplating her in ecstatic silence.

"I think the Holman girls will be coming about the same time. I was telling Clarence to look after them a little, if convenient, and if they are not sea-sick," said Victoriano.

"They will require my services more if they are sick," said Clarence, laughing.

"If you are a good nurse," Victoriano observed; adding, "Imagine Corina Holman nursed by a strange young gentleman; that would kill her sure."

"I would try and prevent that," said Clarence.

"Thank you, for my friends. I do not think they will be very ill; but I am sure it will be pleasant for them to have so good an escort," said Mercedes.

Clarence promised, therefore, to look after the Misses Holman, and let them know which steamer would be best to take coming to San Diego.

Mercedes said she would write notifying them of this arrangement.

There was a great _something_ in Clarence's mind that he wished to say to Mercedes before leaving, but he had neither courage nor opportunity to say it, so he left, carrying with him the burden of his thoughts untold.

His voyage was accomplished in safety, the steamer arriving at San Francisco at the regular time. Hubert Haverly came to meet him, and together they went to a restaurant for breakfast.

"Give us the most secluded room and the nicest breakfast your establishment can produce, for this gentleman is very particular, and I am very hungry," said Hubert.

The waiter smiled, showed them to the best room in the house, and retired.

"Now let us talk," said Hubert, "I am dying to tell you how rich you are, and scold you for not letting me keep your stock longer and making you richer. Why were you so anxious to sell? The stock kept rising steadily. I was a 'bull' all the time. There was a slight break once-only once. Some fellows wanted to pull the stock down, and got a few 'bears' to work with them. It lowered a little, but only a few of the heavy holders had any fear, and it soon recovered, shooting up higher than ever. I got your order to sell about that time, and did so, but I assure you my heart ached when I did it."

"I wrote you immediately after that, it was only the first hundred shares I wanted sold."