CHAPTER X.-_But Clarence Must Not be Encouraged._

The wharf was over-crowded. The steamer was about to leave. The last car-load of baggage had been quickly shipped, and Clarence had not been able to say a word to Mercedes which might not have been heard by the persons surrounding her. He was pale and desperate. He had gone on board the steamer just to ask her one question, but she had never been alone for an instant. And thus they must part,-for the embodied "_Fuerza del destino_" now came in the shape of a boy clanging in deafening clatter a most discordant bell, saying that those who were not going on the steamer must go ashore. A hurried hand-shaking, and the troop of friends marched down the gang-plank to turn round and look many more tender adieus from the wharf.

Don Mariano had observed Clarence's deathly pallor, and how faithfully it was reflected on Mercedes' face; he saw the unhappy young man standing aloof from the crowd on the extreme edge of the wharf. He went to him, and laying his hand gently on his shoulder, said:

"That position is dangerous-you might lose your balance," and he pulled him gently away. "You are very pale. I fear, my dear boy, that you are more troubled than you have admitted to any one. What is it? Tell me."

Clarence shook his head, but suppressing his emotion, said:

"I cannot express my misery. She is sent away that I may not even have the pleasure of seeing her. No one can love her as I do, impossible!"

"Why have you not spoken to me of this before?" asked Don Mariano, kindly.

"Because I did not dare. I thought of doing so a thousand times, but did not dare. I did not fear unkindness or rejection from _you_, but from Dona Josefa and the young ladies I did, and I have never had an opportunity to speak alone to Miss Mercedes."

"That was an additional reason for speaking to me. Cheer up. '_Faint heart never won fair lady._'"

"Tell me that again. Say you do not reject me, and I'll jump aboard and follow her."

"I do not reject you, and I repeat what I said, follow her if you wish, and try your luck. I want to see you both happy, and both of you are very unhappy."

Clarence looked toward the boat. The gang-plank had been removed.

"What a happy girl you are, Mercedes, to visit New York. How I wish I, too, could go," he heard Corina Holman say.

"Come on, it is not too late yet," George replied.

Clarence looked up, and met Mercedes' eyes. It seemed as if George's words were intended for him.

He clasped Don Mariano's hand, saying hurriedly:

"If I understand you, I have your permission to go. May I? Tell me 'yes.'"

"'_Faint heart never won fair lady_,'" he repeated, smiling, and returning the warm pressure of his hand, added: "Yes, go and try your luck."

Clarence turned, and without another word quickly made his way through the crowd.

The steamer's wheels began to move; the captain was already on the bridge, over the starboard wheel, and had given the order to let go the hawsers. In another instant the steamer would leave the wharf.

Clarence felt himself pulled by the arm, he turned impatiently, and met Everett, who handed him two telegrams, saying:

"I have looked for you everywhere. These telegrams followed each other quickly."

"Yes, I know," Clarence said, taking them; adding, without stopping his hurried walking, "Retty, I am going. Tell them at home I got three telegrams calling me to San Francisco."

"But you haven't read them," urged Everett, trying to follow him.

"But I know what they are; I have another in my pocket."

Lifting his arm with the telegrams in his hand, he said to the captain:

"Captain, one moment. I must go north. Please take me."

The captain did not hear him, and at the same time called out:

"Let go that hawser! Do you want it to snap?"

The crowd ran off, giving a wide berth to the heavy rope, which now, by its own tension, made it impossible to be slipped off the pile, although many pairs of hands were tugging at it manfully.

The stern expression of the captain's face softened as he saw Clarence standing on the brink of the wharf.

"Step back, Mr. Darrell, quickly, the rope might part," said he; but noticing that Clarence desired to speak to him, motioned to the first officer to take his place, and ran down to hear what Clarence said.

A minute after the steamer stood still for an instant, then the wheels began to revolve in reversed motion.

"There she is, Mr. Darrell; she'll be alongside in a minute," the captain said, pleased with the opportunity to oblige Clarence.

And the steamer, propelled by one wheel, began to back as if with the side-long motion of a highly intelligent crab who understood the situation.

"Read your telegrams," Everett repeated.

"All right-to please you," said Clarence, tearing them open. Adding, after reading a few words, "It is as I expected. I am wanted by Hubert.

Send him a dispatch to-night saying I left, and to accept M.'s offer, and pay the money at once."

"Now, Mr. Darrell, come on," the captain said.

Hurriedly Clarence shook hands with Don Mariano, Gabriel, Everett and Victoriano.

"Take care, jump in on the downward swing, when about on a level with the wharf," said Gabriel.

Clarence nodded, gave him his hand, and planting his foot firmly on the wharf, gave one spring, and wiry as a cat, alighted on the steamer beside the captain, who hugged him, saying:

"Bravo, my boy, I could have done that twenty years ago."

Don Mariano and Gabriel lifted their hats in congratulatory salutation; Victoriano and Everett twirled theirs in the air hurrahing; the ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and the steamer giving a dip and a plunge-by way of a very low courtesy-bounded up and started onwards, as if satisfied she had been good natured long enough, and now must attend to business. In a few minutes she had made up for lost time, and was heading for Ballast Point, leaving San Diego's shore to be merged into the blue hills of Mexico beyond, as if obeying the immutable law which says that all things must revert to their original source.

Elvira's beautiful eyes were so filled with tears that she could see nothing. Still, she kept her gaze riveted upon that fast receding wharf.

George stood a few feet apart, prudently thinking that the two sisters would perhaps prefer to be by themselves while taking their last look at the dear ones standing on the wharf. He, too, felt much moved; he would have preferred to remain with his family at Alamar. He would come next year-he thought-and perhaps remain in California permanently. With this thought in his mind, almost shaped into resolve, he came to Elvira's side, and quietly slipping his arm round her waist, said:

"Don't cry, sweetest, I will bring you back next year, and we will make our home near our parents. No matter if I make less money, we will have more happiness."

Elvira looked unutterable thanks.

"Do you hear him, Mercedes?" she said, and Mercedes nodded, but moved a little further off, not yet trusting her voice to make any reply.