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exhibition of his quality prevented any repetition of the cause； the episode
was soon forgotten。 As his school…fellows had never been his associates
or confidants； it mattered little to him whether they feared or respected
him； or were hypocritically obsequious； after the fashion of the weaker。
His studies； at all events； profited by this lack of distraction。 Already his
two years of desultory and omnivorous reading had given him a facile
familiarity with many things； which left him utterly free of the timidity；
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awkwardness； or non…interest of a beginner。 His usually reserved manner；
which had been lack of expression rather than of conviction； had deceived
his tutors。 The audacity of a mind that had never been dominated by
others； and owed no allegiance to precedent； made his merely superficial
progress something marvelous。
At the end of the first year he was a phenomenal scholar； who seemed
capable of anything。 Nevertheless； Father Sobriente had an interview
with Don Juan； and as a result Clarence was slightly kept back in his
studies； a little more freedom from the rules was conceded to him； and he
was even encouraged to take some diversion。 Of such was the privilege to
visit the neighboring town of Santa Clara unrestricted and unattended。
He had always been liberally furnished with pocket…money； for which； in
his companionless state and Spartan habits； he had a singular and unboyish
contempt。 Nevertheless； he always appeared dressed with scrupulous
neatness； and was rather distinguished…looking in his older reserve and
melancholy self…reliance。
Lounging one afternoon along the Alameda； a leafy avenue set out by
the early Mission Fathers between the village of San Jose and the convent
of Santa Clara； he saw a double file of young girls from the convent
approaching； on their usual promenade。 A view of this procession being
the fondest ambition of the San Jose collegian； and especially interdicted
and circumvented by the good Fathers attending the college excursions；
Clarence felt for it the profound indifference of a boy who； in the
intermediate temperate zone of fifteen years； thinks that he is no longer
young and romantic！ He was passing them with a careless glance； when
a pair of deep violet eyes caught his own under the broad shade of a
coquettishly beribboned hat； even as it had once looked at him from the
depths of a calico sunbonnet。 Susy！ He started； and would have spoken；
but with a quick little gesture of caution and a meaning glance at the two
nuns who walked at the head and foot of the file； she indicated him to
follow。 He did so at a respectful distance； albeit wondering。 A little
further on Susy dropped her handkerchief； and was obliged to dart out and
run back to the end of the file to recover it。 But she gave another swift
glance of her blue eyes as she snatched it up and demurely ran back to her
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place。 The procession passed on； but when Clarence reached the spot
where she had paused he saw a three…cornered bit of paper lying in the
grass。 He was too discreet to pick it up while the girls were still in sight；
but continued on； returning to it later。 It contained a few words in a
schoolgirl's hand； hastily scrawled in pencil： 〃Come to the south wall near
the big pear…tree at six。〃
Delighted as Clarence felt； he was at the same time embarrassed。 He
could not understand the necessity of this mysterious rendezvous。 He
knew that if she was a scholar she was under certain conventual restraints；
but with the privileges of his position and friendship with his teachers； he
believed that Father Sobriente would easily procure him an interview with
this old play… fellow； of whom he had often spoken； and who was； with
himself； the sole survivor of his tragical past。 And trusted as he was by
Sobriente； there was something in this clandestine though innocent
rendezvous that went against his loyalty。 Nevertheless； he kept the
appointment； and at the stated time was at the south wall of the convent；
over which the gnarled boughs of the distinguishing pear…tree hung。
Hard by in the wall was a grated wicket door that seemed unused。
Would she appear among the boughs or on the edge of the wall？ Either
would be like the old Susy。 But to his surprise he heard the sound of the
key turning in the lock。 The grated door suddenly swung on its hinges；
and Susy slipped out。 Grasping his hand； she said； 〃Let's run； Clarence；〃
and before he could reply she started off with him at a rapid pace。 Down
the lane they flewvery much； as it seemed to Clarence's fancy； as they
had flown from the old emigrant wagon on the prairie； four years before。
He glanced at the fluttering； fairy…like figure beside him。 She had grown
taller and more graceful； she was dressed in exquisite taste； with a
minuteness of luxurious detail that bespoke the spoilt child； but there was
the same prodigal outburst of rippling； golden hair down her back and
shoulders； violet eyes； capricious little mouth； and the same delicate hands
and feet he had remembered。 He would have preferred a more deliberate
survey； but with a shake of her head and an hysteric little laugh she only
said； 〃Run； Clarence； run；〃 and again darted forward。 Arriving at the
cross…street； they turned the corner； and halted breathlessly。
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〃But you're not running away from school； Susy； are you？〃 said
Clarence anxiously。
〃Only a little bit。 Just enough to get ahead of the other girls；〃 she
said； rearranging her brown curls and tilted hat。 〃You see； Clarence；〃 she
condescended to explain； with a sudden assumption of older superiority；
〃mother's here at the hotel all this week； and I'm allowed to go home every
night； like a day scholar。 Only there's three or four other girls that go out
at the same time with me； and one of the Sisters； and to…day I got ahead of
'em just to see YOU。〃
〃But〃 began Clarence。
〃Oh； it's all right； the other girls knew it； and helped me。 They don't
start out for half an hour yet； and they'll say I've just run ahead； and when
they and the Sister get to the hotel I'll be there alreadydon't you see？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Clarence dubiously。
〃And we'll go to an ice…cream saloon now； shan't we？ There's a nice
one near the hotel。 I've got some money；〃 she added quickly； as Clarence
looked embarrassed。
〃So have I；〃 said Clarence； with a faint accession of color。 〃Let's go！〃
She had relinquished his hand to smooth out her frock； and they were
walking side by side at a more moderate pace。 〃But；〃 he continued；
clinging to his first idea with masculine persistence； and anxious to assure
his companion of his power； of his position； 〃I'm in the college； and Father
Sobriente； who knows your lady superior； is a good friend of mine and
gives me privileges； andandwhen he knows that you and I used to play
togetherwhy； he'll fix it that we may see each other whenever we want。〃
〃Oh； you silly！〃 said Susy。 〃WHAT！when you're〃
〃When I'm WHAT？〃
The young girl shot a violet blue ray from under her broad hat。 〃Why
when we're grown up now？〃 Then with a certain precision； 〃Why；
they're VERY particular about young gentlemen！ Why； Clarence； if they
suspected that you and I were〃 Another violet ray from under the hat
completed this unfinished sentence。
Pleased and yet confused； Clarence looked straight ahead with
deepening color。 〃Why；〃 contin