"You wait until you see him," said Mr. Mechlin, going into his room to get ready for dinner.

If Mercedes' hands had not trembled so much she would have been ready to come down stairs much sooner.

"If you had accepted aunt's offer to get you a maid you would not labor under so many difficulties," said Elvira, coming into Mercedes' room as she was going down stairs. "You have never dressed yourself without some one to help you at home, whether it was my squaw, your squaw, or mamma's, or the other girls, or whether it was your own Madame Halier-you always had an attendant."

"That is so," Mercedes said, ready to cry. "I am so utterly useless when-when-sometimes-but how could I accept a maid? It would have been an extravagance after the many dresses and other things bought for me. I couldn't."

"I wish I had thought of sending my maid to help you," said Elvira, coming to Mercedes' assistance.

"I wish so, too, now; but I didn't think I wanted her, as Mrs. Mechlin's maid had dressed my hair. What I dread is that your aunt will be present when I meet him, and-and as she don't like him-"

"Nonsense. She likes Bob Gunther, that's all. But she will not go down before we do if she knows Clarence is here. She will give you time to meet him first."

With Elvira's assistance Mercedes at last was ready, and with trembling knees, which scarcely supported her light weight, she managed to walk down stairs.

"Don't run so fast, dear. I want you by me," said she.

"Take my arm, old lady," said Elvira, laughing.

The rustle of silk approaching put Clarence in a tremor-making him forget what he was saying.

Elvira entered, and he rose to meet her.

"I must salute you Spanish fashion," she said, embracing him.

"Where is pussy?" said George, going towards the door, but as the train of Elvira's dress lay in his way, he looked down and pushed it aside.

Mercedes, who had remained behind the door, saw him do so, and burst out laughing, for it seemed to her as if George was expecting to find pussy entangled in Elvira's train.

"Here she is, laughing at me," said George, taking her arm.

She looked so lovely, that Clarence stood looking at her in silence, not even taking a step to meet her.

"Mr. Darrell, I am very glad to see you," she said, still laughing, all her fear and trembling having left her. She extended her hand to him with perfect composure.

Elvira looked at her surprised. She herself was surprised at her sudden and perfect calmness. Because George made her laugh looking for _pussy_ in Elvira's train, she lost all her fear.

"This is a step from the sublime to the ridiculous," she said to herself, as she became of a sudden philosophically calm.

When she explained what had made her laugh, all joined her, remembering that it had indeed seemed as if George was looking for some small object hidden in the ruffles of Elvira's train.

Those rosy lips and pearly teeth looked so sweet, and the little dimples so charming when she laughed, that Clarence would have been satisfied to remain there looking at them for an indefinite length of time without saying anything, only holding her hand in his, and looking into her eyes. But other people were not so entranced, and as now Mr. and Mrs.

Mechlin came in, all proceeded to the dining-room, after George had presented him to his aunt.

Mrs. Mechlin was a little cold in her manner at first, thinking that surely Bob must give up all hopes. But being a very courteous hostess, her manner soon became affable, she engaged Clarence in conversation, asking him about fruit-raising in California, and about those wonderfully rich mines, which had given so many millions to the world.

Mr. Mechlin also became much interested in what Clarence had to say.

Before dinner was over, Mercedes had the pleasure of seeing that Mr. and Mrs. Mechlin were more than favorably impressed with her intended.

After dinner many callers began to arrive. Clarence had not spoken a word yet to Mercedes alone. He followed her with his eyes and watched-without seeming too watchful-for an opportunity of speaking to her without being overheard.

At last the desired moment came, and he was able to whisper a few words.

She blushed as she replied: "Perhaps not this evening-there are so many here."

"I brought you the ring which you told me I was not to send but _bring_ in person."

"Bring it to-morrow," she said, with deeper blush.

"At what time?"

"Perhaps between ten and eleven."

Clarence returned to Elvira's side, and had to console himself with studying how Mercedes could have become more beautiful when it had seemed that it would be impossible for any human being to be more perfect.

He was deliciously occupied in pondering upon this problem when ices and cakes, tea and coffee were served by two waiters, in white gloves, and very irreproachable manners, and now Clarence could have the happiness of taking his ice cream beside Mercedes.

Next day, at half-past ten exactly, Clarence ran up the steps of the Mechlin mansion. He gave his card to the servant for Miss Alamar, and asked for no one else, but Elvira came from the library as she heard his voice.

"Aunt and myself are going to attend to some shopping. You will stay to luncheon, won't you? Aunt requests it. I am glad she likes you."

"I am truly grateful to her, and much pleased, indeed. But I shall be making a very long call if I wait. I shall go and return at one-hadn't I better?"

"If you have anything else to do this morning, of course, go and return.

We lunch at one."

"I have nothing on earth to do but to see you people and wait on you. I hope you won't get tired of me. I was in hopes you two would go with me to see some very pretty things at Tiffany's."

"We are going there now. I promised aunt to go with her. Mercedes and I, you mean, I suppose, can go with you to-morrow?"

Mrs. Mechlin now came down stairs, and Clarence waited on them to their carriage.

As he closed the carriage door Mrs. Mechlin said: "Elvira has told you we shall expect you to luncheon."

"Yes, madam; thank you," said he, bowing.

The carriage drove off, and Mrs. Mechlin said: "He is certainly very handsome. I am sorry for Bob."

When Clarence returned he met Mercedes in the hall. She was evidently frightened, and so was he, but soon rallied as he followed her into the library.

"Tell me more about home, now that we are alone," said she, pushing a chair for him, and occupying another on the opposite side of the fire-place, with a graceful affability, which reminded him of his interview with Dona Josefa on the veranda at the rancho.

He understood by her manner and the position of the chairs, which had high backs and high arms, that the interview was to be very formal, and so he took his seat accordingly-far off and demurely.

"Where shall I begin?" said he, with mock gravity.

"Anywhere-at the top with papa, or at the bottom with Tisha. It will all be interesting."

"Can't I begin at the middle, for instance, with myself?"