The Holmans would remain in town for a couple of days at a friend's house, after that they would go to the Alamar rancho to make their visit there. Elvira and Gabriel would remain with them to be their escort.

Such was Elvira's message home sent with Clarence.

Mr. Darrell came on board to meet his family, but Mr. Peter Roper was too intently occupied with his baggage to renew his acquaintance; in fact, he rather hurried off the boat to avoid him.

The Darrells arrived at the hotel about the same time, but Peter was then particularly engaged making important inquiries from one of the hotel clerks.

He was saying: "So, you think there is no lawyer of any prominence; not one that might be called a leading lawyer?"

"I didn't say that; I only said I don't know of any."

"Exactly. You hear, though, who has the largest practice?"

"If you call a large practice to get people into trouble by spying about people's business and getting commercial agencies (I believe that is what he calls to spy and pry into people's affairs), then old Hornblower is the leading lawyer, for he leads people into long law suits always, and bleeds them and makes money."

"That's the man for me," said Roper, showing his purple gums in a broad grin, and the orange and green of his eyes expanding with feline instincts.

Romeo Hancock had been engaged by Clarence before leaving, to take charge of hauling their effects to the rancho. Romeo, therefore, was there with three large wagons, and two vaqueros to convey Mrs. Darrell's pretty Jersey cows. But Clarence had to see that everything started in good order before he joined his family at the hotel.

"I brought the Concord wagon for the women folks and the light spring wagon for the boys and Tisha," said Mr. Darrell. "The Concord holds six people well, and at a pinch, eight. The light wagon the same; so you don't have to have any extra conveyances."

"No, father, I have not hired any," Clarence replied, and exchanging a look with his brothers, said that everything was ready to start, and all walked down stairs.

In front of the ladies' entrance was a very handsome carriage which Mrs.

Darrell and her daughters had admired very much on board the steamer; next to it was a pretty phaeton which they also had admired, and behind the phaeton was Mr. Darrell's Concord. He frowned and said:

"There was no use in hiring those carriages, Clarence."

"Count noses, father," said Clarence, going about busily carrying parcels to the carriages assisted by his brothers, allowing no time for discussion-"Let us see. Mother and father in the back seat; Jane and Lucy in the front, Clementina with Everett, the driver. In the phaeton I will take Alice, her lap dog and our two satchels, and last but not least, Webster will take 'the Concord' with Willie in the front seat and Tisha in the back in state, with the cockatoos and canaries and parcels," said Clarence, patting Tisha on the back.

All laughed, approving the disposition of forces.

"Are these carriages ours, Clary?" asked Clementine.

"It looks like it," said Clarence, lifting her to her place, "and you shall see how soon the phaeton distances the big carriage."

CHAPTER VIII.-_Victoriano and His Sister._

The golden rays of a setting sun were vanishing in the west, and a silvered moon was rising serenely over the eastern hills, when the phaeton, having distanced the other carriages by a full half hour, reached the foot of the low hill where the Alamar house stood. The French windows opening upon the front veranda, sent broad streams of light across the garden and far over the hill. Sounds of music greeted Alice and Clarence on their arrival. He checked his horses saying:

"You see there are two roads here; one goes directly to our house, while the upper one passes close to the gate of the Alamares. I can take the upper road if you would like to hear the music."

"I would, indeed, unless it might seem intrusive."

"They are too kind hearted to think that, besides, I have a message of Dona Elvira to deliver," he said, guiding his horses to the left, slowly climbing the hill to approach the gate silently. The phaeton stood in the penumbra between the lights of two windows, and it had not been heard.

The singing had ceased, the prelude of a Spanish song was begun and interrupted. The lady at the piano arose and selected another piece of music, and began the accompaniment of the old and well known "Don't you Remember Sweet Alice, Ben Bolt?"

"Who is that lady?" asked Alice in a whisper.

"She is Miss Mercedes," whispered Clarence, glad of the excuse to whisper, and with a preparatory checking of breath and swallowing of something that seemed to fill his throat always, when her name was mentioned.

"I hope she will sing," said Alice.

"Perhaps," was the laconic reply, and both waited in silence. Clarence could distinctly hear his heart throbs.

A man's voice, a fine tenor, began the song. He sang the first stanza so correctly and with so much feeling that it seemed to Clarence that he could not have listened to the simple melody before now attentively enough to appreciate its pathos, for it sounded most sweetly touching to him. Only one verse was sung.

"I never thought that song capable of so much expression, or Tano capable of giving it so well."

The reason why Victoriano interrupted this song was because Mercedes had said, "Sing something else, Tano, that song is too sad. It will give me the blues."

"Me too. Those American songs always speak of death or dying. Ugh! You sing something lively." Then he added, "I wonder why the Darrells haven't come? I suppose they are going to remain in town until to-morrow." So saying he walked to the window. His eyes were too well trained to distinguish objects in the darkness not to have quickly perceived the phaeton, though it could not be seen very distinctly. He saw it, but thought it must be Gabriel and Elvira returning unexpectedly. He ran to the gate, exclaiming:

"Hallo! What made you return? Didn't the Holmans come? What has happened?"

"Nothing," Clarence answered. "The Holmans came all safe and sound, and I delivered them into the hands of Don Gabriel, who, accompanied by Dona Elvira, came to meet them. Dona Elvira requested me to say that they will remain in town a couple of days and then come home."

"And where is your family?" asked Tano, coming to the phaeton.

"They are coming, and here is a small part and parcel of the same-called our sister Alice. Don Victoriano permit me to present Miss Alice Darrell."

"Miss Alice, your humble servant," said Victoriano, bowing. "Allow me to go to the other side of the phaeton to try a more graceful bow a little nearer, and the honor of shaking hands, _a la Americana_".

Mercedes came now, tripping down in the path, also thinking that their carriage had returned, because some accident had happened to somebody.

"Is that you, Gabriel?" said she.

"You come and see," said Victoriano.

She came close to the phaeton, right between the wheels, but still thinking she saw Gabriel, said: "What has happened? Ah! it is Mr.

Darrell," she added, with a tremor in her voice, that made Clarence think she was alarmed.

He hastened to reply: "Nothing has happened. Your friends are all safe and well."

"This is Miss Alice Darrell. Can you bow to her in the dark, and shake hands?" asked Victoriano.

"I think I can, but she might not see my bow," said Mercedes, laughing, and extended her hand, saying: "I am glad to make your acquaintance, Miss Darrell."

Clarence took her hand, as Alice had not seen it.

"See here, that hand was for me," Alice said, laughing.

"Certainly," said Clarence, putting Mercedes' hand in hers.

"Will you not shake hands with Clarence?" said Victoriano. "I declare, solemnly, girls are very ungrateful. Here Clarence has been so sorry, because you hurt your foot, and you have never thanked him for his kind sympathy."