"Look here, this won't do; this will spoil our blue eyes," said George, putting his other arm around Mercedes' pretty shoulders. "I insist upon you turning your thoughts toward New York, Long Branch, Newport and Washington; think of all the fun we will have visiting all those places.

Then we will come back gay and happy, and our dear ones will be so glad to see us again. Think of all that," and thus George exerted his eloquence to administer consolation. "I am sure all at home will be thinking of our return by to-morrow morning," he added, by way of climax to his consoling rhetoric.

But George was mistaken. The Alamar ladies found it very hard and difficult to reconcile themselves to be separated from Elvira and Mercedes.

The fact that Clarence had gone in the same steamer, added much bitterness to Dona Josefa's sorrow at separating from both daughters.

She did not even wish any one to mention Clarence's name in her presence. Don Mariano's arguments in favor of the bold young man were at first ineffectual, but after a while she began to think that she ought to trust more in Mercedes' pride and Elvira's vigilance.

In the meantime the travelers continued their voyage very happily.

Clarence rightly conjectured that Mercedes would suppose he had followed her to declare his love, and this supposition would redouble her shyness. Her manner at first, fully confirmed this surmise, so, to put her at her ease, he was very kind and attentive, but never betrayed by word or look, his heart's devotion. His manner was exactly all that she could wish, the behavior of a devoted brother, and in consequence she began to be less shy. He spoke of having received three telegrams, calling him north; this surely was a good reason for his unexpected journey.

They visited Los Angeles, went ashore at Port Harford and Santa Barbara, and as George was naturally devoted to his bride, there seemed no alternative for Mercedes but to accept Clarence's escort, and lean on his arm whenever that operation became necessary.

The nights were lovely, with a full moon in the azure sky, and the sea air, neither cold nor warm, but of that California temperature, which seems to invite people to be happy, giving to all an idea of the perfect well-being we expect to find in the hereafter.

There was a great deal of freight to be landed at Santa Barbara. The passengers going to San Francisco were already on board. Still the steamer tarried. Some lady friends of Elvira, who were going north had come aboard, and as they had much to say, took her away to their staterooms.

"Wait for me here, I'll return in half an hour," said she to George; but he thought he knew how ladies measure time when engaged in talking, so he slowly arose and said he would go to play cribbage with the captain.

The steamer now shivered and trembled, as if awakening from a nice nap.

The wheels revolved lazily and then she was off, dragging a luminous wake of myriads of evanescent diamonds.

"If you wish to go, Mr. Darrell, please do so; do not remain on my account," said Mercedes, when George rose to go.

"Not at all. I remain entirely on my own, as I do not particularly desire to play cut-throat cribbage, and as it is too early for you to retire, suppose you permit me to remain until your sister returns."

"Certainly, do so, else I'll stay," said George, going.

"Have I offended you in any way?" Clarence asked.

"No, of course not. What a question. What makes you ask that?"

"Because you must know it would be cruel punishment to send me off."

"I didn't think anything of the kind, only I didn't wish to be selfish and keep you from going if you wished it."

"How could I wish to go anywhere and leave you; I would not go to heaven, if to do so I would have to renounce you."

"Please do not talk like that, some one might hear you."

"There is not a soul within hearing. Our only witness is that lovely moon, and she will not betray."

"No matter, please do not speak like that."

"Like what? That I love you? I have never yet said it in words, but you know it."

"Oh! Mr. Darrell!"

"Yes, you know it, and to avoid me you are going away; going from me, no matter if it killed me."

"It is not my choice, I only obey," said she, clasping her trembling hands, now cold as ice.

"Is it so? Did you not wish to avoid me?"

"Please do not ask me, you'll make me very miserable."

"I would not cause you one single pang, if to avoid it I had to die.

Believe me, all I wish to know is, whether I have been so blind as not to see your dislike; whether it was your own choice to go, or you were compelled to do so by your mother?"

"Please don't blame mamma."

"I do not blame her in the least. She has a perfect right to object to me if she wishes, but I too, have at least, the sad privilege of asking whether you also object to me?"

"I have nothing against you; I like you very much, as-as a friend," she said, trembling, painfully agitated.

Clarence laughed a hoarse, discordant laugh that made her feel miserable.

"I have been told that young ladies say that always, when they mean to let down easily a poor devil whom they pity and perhaps despise. Thanks, Miss Mercedes, for liking me 'as a friend,' thank you. Perhaps I am a presumptuous fool to love you, but love you I must, for I can not help it."

He stood up and looked down at the dark ocean in silence. She looked up to his face and her beautiful features looked so pleadingly sad, that he forgot his own misery and thought only of the pain those superb eyes revealed.

He seated himself very near her, and took both of her hands in his own.

Surely there was something troubling her.

"How cold these dear little hands are. Have I caused you pain?" he asked. She nodded but did not speak.

"Yes, I have pained you, when I would give my heart's blood to make you happy. Oh! Mercedes, I cannot give you up, it is impossible while I live. Do you command me to do so? Do you wish it? You know that I have loved you from the first moment I saw you; when I lifted you in my arms.

The exquisite pleasure I felt then, and the yearning I have felt ever since, to hold you in my arms again, as my own sweet wife, that longing tells me incessantly that I can never love any one else; that I must win you or renounce love forever on earth. Tell me, will you cruelly repel me?"

She was silent, listening with averted face, as if afraid to meet his gaze, but she did not withdraw her hands, which he still held in both his own, as if he would never willingly release them again.

"Mercedes, say that you reject me only to obey your mother, and I will not despair, for I know that your father does not object to me; on the contrary, he sanctions my love, he would accept me as his son-in-law."

She turned quickly, gazed at him with an eager, inquiring look.

"Yes, he gave me permission to follow you and ask you to be my wife."

"What? He? My papa did that?"

"Yes. When he saw me looking so wretched with the pain of parting from you, he said to me, 'Cheer up; faint heart never won fair lady.' I said to him, if you tell me that in earnest, I'll jump aboard the steamer and follow her. He repeated the quotation, adding: 'Go and try your luck.'

Is not that sufficient?"

"Darling papa, he is so kind," she said, eluding Clarence's question, but her evident gratitude toward her father spoke volumes.

"Indeed he is. His heart is full of nobility. He does not permit unjust prejudices to influence him into dislikes."

"You must not blame my poor mamma. She thinks you did some wrong act, but she is not prejudiced against you, nor does she dislike you."

"I did some wrong act? What is it? When?"