Cards for Mrs. Mechlin's ball, on the 27th of December, had been out for two or three days, when, on the 20th of that same month and year—1873—Clarence arrived at the American metropolis. He was in a high state of excitement. He could scarcely repress his impatience to see Mercedes, and yet he exerted sufficient self-control to go first to Tiffany and purchase the finest diamond ring in the establishment. He even was patient enough to wait until the diamond which he selected was reset in a ring from which an emerald was removed. When the exchange was made and the jewel paid for, he told the driver to hasten to Mr. Mechlin's house.

George and his uncle had just come from their office when Clarence arrived, so he met them in the hall as he entered. George presented him to his uncle, and the three walked into the library. The cordial manner in which Clarence was received by Mr. Mechlin, demonstrated clearly how favorably this gentleman was impressed.

After conversing with him, while George went to carry the news of his arrival up-stairs, Mr. Mechlin, when George returned, invited him to dine with them, saying:

“I feel as if you were not quite a stranger to us, having heard George speak of you so often, and always most kindly.”

Clarence hesitated, but George insisted, and he remained. Then the two friends sat down to chat while the ladies came down. In a few minutes Clarence had given a synopsis of home news.

“And what about mining news?” George asked.

“Splendid,” was the reply.

And Clarence quickly told him how rich his mines had turned out, and how he had already sold six hundred thousand dollars' worth of ore, and had an offer of one million dollars for the mines, but the Haverly brothers advised him not to sell. That he thought of putting up crushing mills in the spring.

Mr. Mechlin went into his wife's room without knocking—an omission indicative of great pre-occupation of mind—and his words proved that to be the case.

“But that young fellow is splendid, wife.”

“What young fellow?”

“That young Darrell, from California.”

“Ah! where did you see him?”

“Down stairs. He is talking with George in the library, and I asked him to take dinner with us.”

“He might be splendid—but never superior to Bob Gunther—never!” said Mrs. Mechlin, with firmness.

“Perhaps not superior, mentally or morally, but he is certainly much handsomer.”

“Handsomer than Bob? The idea!”

“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 DoÑa 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?”

“Yes; but you are here—I see you.”

“Do you? At this distance? Don't you want a telescope?”

“You are near enough,” she said, laughing.

“I can't talk of anybody but you. What is the use of putting me in this chair like a bad child that must be punished by being roasted alive!”

“Are you too near the fire?”

“And too far from you,” said he, rising, and going to sit on a sofa, at the other end of the room. She kept her seat by the fire-place. “Please come here. I have so much to say to you. It will give me a headache to sit so near the fire.”

She arose, walked over to where he was, and sat on another arm-chair nearest to the sofa.

“Let us freeze at this end of the room,” she said.

“Are you cold? If you are, let us go back to the fire.”

She did look a little cold, with her pretty little hands calmly folded on her lap, but she smiled.

He drew a low seat close to hers, and took the soft hands into his, saying in beseeching accents:

“Let me sit by you, please. After so many weary months of absence grant me this happiness. You told me not to send but bring our engagement ring. Here it is. Let me put it on the dear little finger myself.”

So saying he put the ring on, and covered the hand with kisses. Mercedes' face was suffused with blushes, and she did not dare look at the ring.

“I have been longing for this moment of bliss, Mercedes, my own, my precious. You are pledged to me now. Look at me, my sweet wife!”

“What a foolish boy!” she said, covering her face.

“Now you must set the day of our marriage. Let it be the day after we arrive. Let us be married at San Francisco. Why not?”

“You must ask mamma and papa. Talk to Elvira about it.”

“I will. She will not object. Particularly as Mechlin intends going to reside in California, and engaging in business there. So you see, it will be just the thing for our marriage to take place as soon as we arrive. I think it would be so nice for all your family, and my mother and Alice and Everett to come to meet us at San Francisco, and we be married there, and I then take you to your house, which will be ready for you.”

“I don't know whether mamma would approve—”

“Oh, my precious! Why not? She will, if you say you wish it so. I will write to-day to Hubert. I shall telegraph him to buy the handsome house he told me was for sale. Shall I telegraph?”

She looked down reflectingly. Suddenly she uttered an exclamation of surprise. She had seen the ring for the first time.

“I had not seen this diamond. Is it not too magnificent for an engagement ring?”

“Nothing is too magnificent for you.”

“But, really, will it not attract too much attention?”

“I think not. You are not ashamed of it, are you?”

“No, indeed. Only it might be considered too large for an engagement ring,” she said. But observing that he looked pained, she added: “It is very beautiful. It is like a big drop of sunlight.”

“I am glad you like it. But perhaps it might not be considered in good taste for an engagement ring. Let us go to Tiffany's now and ask your sister. I'll give you all home news as we drive down. But don't you remove the ring. I am superstitious about that.”

Mercedes laughed and arose, saying: “I will not touch it. I'll go now to put on my bonnet. Elvira told me I may drive down with you to Tiffany's, if I wished. I won't be gone but two minutes.”

“When am I going to have one sweet kiss?” said he, in pleading tones. “Only one.”

“I don't know—I can't tell,” she said, running off, eluding him.

The gentle motion of Mrs. Mechlin's luxuriantly cushioned carriage invited conversation, and Elvira soon perceived that her aunt desired to know all about Clarence's family and history and wished to obtain all necessary information in that respect as they drove down Broadway to Tiffany's, Elvira therefore proceeded to enlighten the good lady, remembering, however, that George had cautioned her never to mention that old Darrell had taken land on the rancho in the sincere conviction that by wise enactments of Congress, to rob people of their lands, was and had been made a most honest transaction.

“My aunt will not understand,” George had said, “and never realize the effect that our legislation has upon us, as a nation, particularly upon the untraveled, the stay-at-home Americans, and more specially yet, the farmers. She will not believe old Darrell honest in his error, and no matter whether Clarence might be the prince of good fellows, to her he will always be the son of a squatter, of one who steals land. No matter under whose sanction—theft is theft to her—and she would snap her fingers at the entire Senate and House of Representatives, if those honorable bodies undertook to prove to her that by getting together and saying that they can authorize American citizens to go and take the property of other citizens (without paying for it) and keep it—and fight for it to keep it—that the proceeding is made honorable and lawful.”

Remembering these words of George, Elvira spoke highly of Mrs. Darrell and the other members of the family, but said very little of the head thereof. Still, as there was much to say about Clarence himself, very favorable to that young gentleman, the time was agreeably occupied with his biography, while the two ladies drove through Broadway.

“I noticed last evening that his manners are very good,” said Mrs. Lawrence Mechlin, speaking of Clarence. “You know, my dear, that I have a confirmed dread of bad-mannered people. They spread discord and discomfort wherever they are. And apropos of manners, I must not omit saying that Mercedes' behavior last evening was all that could be desired in a well-bred young lady. A great many quite nice young ladies on such an occasion would have gone into the library, or the little boudoir, or the other parlors, or would have sat on the stairs, anywhere, to have a whispered tÊte-À-tÊte with her fiancÉ. Your sister remained in the drawing-room, like a lady, though I know well enough her heart was longing to express how glad she was to see him. And he, too, behaved very well. Did not hang about her, but was courteous to all the ladies. I noticed last summer that Mercedes was not fond of running off to have a tÊte-À-tÊte with this one, and then with another, as many of our girls do, but I thought she avoided it on account of being engaged. Now, however, I see that her reason is even a better one. That it is inbred self-respect, a lady's sense of decorum.”

“I am glad you think so well of my sister, dear aunt; and I think she is naturally refined and lady-like. But as for running off to have tÊte-À-tÊtes with gentlemen is a thing never seen among our Spanish girls. I know that we, Spanish people, are criticised and much ridiculed for keeping girls too strictly guarded, and in some instances this may be so, but as a general thing, the girls themselves like to be guarded. We have all the freedom that is good for us. Now, for instance, I told Mercedes she may receive Clarence alone, and after they had their talk together, that she might drive down and join us here. I know I can trust her.”

“That is right. I am glad you told her to come, for I want to give her a Christmas present, and would like to have some idea of her taste in jewelry.”

In due time the two ladies arrived at the jeweler's, and very soon after Mercedes and Clarence joined them. The ring was submitted to Mrs. Mechlin's dictum, and she pronounced it superb, not at all inappropriate for an engagement ring. Meantime, however, Clarence had seen another which he liked best, and he bought it at once. It was made of large diamonds, set in a circle, close together, so that the ring looked like a band of light, very beautiful, “and,” he said, “just the thing; in fact, symbolical,” considering that he wished to surround Mercedes with never-ending brightness and joy.

On Christmas night our Californians attended a musicale at Mrs. Gunther's. On the 27th, Mrs. Mechlin's grand ball came off (and a grand affair it was). On New Year's Day George took Clarence on an extensive tour of visiting.

“We will have a regular ‘rodeo,’” said George, laughing, as they were about to start; “and wind up our drive by coming home to make a long visit here, at our corral.”

“We don't want you, if you call your round of visits a ‘rodeo.’ Aren't you ashamed to laugh at us Californians like that?” said Elvira, affecting great resentment, which took several kisses from George to pacify.

Clarence was so pleased with the number and character of the acquaintances he made on New Year's, and he was so warmly invited to call again, that he became convinced that New York was just the nicest city on the continent, and even thought he would like it for a residence, provided Mercedes was of the same opinion.

The Mechlins received in grand style on New Year's, and finished the day with a dance and collation.

Next night Mrs. Gunther's ball took place, which was followed by an equally grand affair at the Seldens, on the 6th.

And now it was time to talk about the trip to Washington. George wanted his uncle and aunt to go with him.

“I have no fears that the Solicitor General will give us any trouble,” said Mr. L. Mechlin; “I think his action in the Alamar case was a feeler only for some ulterior purpose, which he has abandoned. But if I could see how I might help Scott with his Texas Pacific Railroad, I should be most happy to go and try—for his sake, for the sake of the southern people, and for the sake of you people at San Diego. But I don't see what I can do now. The failure of Jay Cook has hurt Scott at the very time when Huntington is getting stronger and his influence in Congress evidently increasing.”

“Several persons have told me that a certain railroad man is bribing Congressmen right and left to defeat the Texas Pacific Railroad,” said George, “and I believe it.”

“Bribery is an ugly word,” Mr. Mechlin replied; “and if that is the way railroad men are going to work, it will be a difficult matter for an honest man to compete with them and keep his hands clean. However, I might be able to help Scott in some way. I guess we might go for a week or two. Lizzie, what do you think? Would you like to go to Washington for a week or two?”

“I would like it very well. I shall miss these two young ladies very much, and as the best way to cure ennui is to avoid it, I think a visit to Washington would be just the thing for me now.”

Mercedes clapped her hands in such genuine delight at hearing this, and Elvira and Clarence were evidently so pleased, that Mrs. Mechlin added:

“These dear children seem so pleased that now I would feel great satisfaction in going, even if I did not expect any pleasure in my visit. But I do. I have not been in Washington for years, and I have many warm friends there whom I would like to see.”

Thus it was fixed that all the family would go to Washington on the 9th or 10th, and remain for two or three weeks at the gay capital.

Mrs. Mechlin now remembered that the Gunthers and the Seldens had mentioned that perhaps they would accept some invitations to several parties and a wedding, to come off in Washington about the middle of January, and would be going down about the same time.

“I'll tell you what I'll do,” Mr. Mechlin said, “I'll get a special car, and you invite the Gunthers and Seldens to go with us, and we will make a pleasant party all together.”

“That is a good idea. I'll see Mrs. Gunther to-day, and we will appoint the day to start.”

And thus it came to pass that on the 9th of January our Californians were traveling in a palace car on their way to Washington, in company with the most elite of New York.

Messrs. Bob Gunther and Arthur Selden were of the party. They derived no pleasure in being so, but they followed Mercedes because they preferred the bitter sweet of being near her, in her presence, rather than to accept at once the bitter alone of a hopeless separation. They knew they must not hope, but still they hoped, for the reason alone that hope goes with man to the foot of the gallows.