CHAPTER XXVII.--_Darrell Astonishes Himself._
Mercedes felt so comforted by what her father had said, that in lessthan ten minutes after he left she was sleeping like the good child thatshe was. Madam Halier watched her slumbers, coming to the door every fewminutes. And when she had slept and felt refreshed, she had a bath and aluncheon of tea, cold chicken, fresh peaches with cream, and freshgrapes just cut from the vines; then she was ready to dress herself andtake up her embroidery. She was afraid her eyes would yet be too swollenfor her to go into the parlor or veranda, and perhaps meet George or Mr.Mechlin. So she stayed in her room.
But she was missed, and George came to knock at her door, and beingasked to come in, he did so, making a profound bow. Then counting on hisfingers as he spoke, began:
"Dona Josefa, Dona Beatrice, Dona Carlota, Dona Rosario, Dona Elvira,Dona Carolina, Dona Elizabeth, all request the pleasure of your companyat a canning performance to take place this afternoon in the kitchen ofDona Beatrice."
Mercedes laughed, asking: "Are they really going to do the canning? Whoknows about it?"
"They all know, theoretically, but as to practice, that '_quien sabe_.'However, they are going to peal peaches by the bushel this evening, sothey will all dine there."
"Doesn't mamma expect papa to dinner?" asked she, alarmed; "I hope so."
"I'll go and inquire," George said, going; but she followed him,trembling--she did not know why. She took George's arm, and both went tothe piazza, where Carlota, Rosario and Dona Josefa were waiting forGeorge to go with them.
"Mamma, don't you expect papa to dinner?" asked she.
"Yes, but he might be late; so we will dine at Mrs. Mechlin's, and heand Gabriel will take supper here on their return."
"I will wait for them here."
"Will you not go to Mrs. Mechlin's?"
"No, please. I'll stay home."
"Take my advice, and don't see Clarence yet," Carlota said.
"Why not, pray?"
"Because, after what his father did and said, the least you have to dowith the Darrells the more it will be to your honor," Rosario said,sententiously.
"And must I give up Clarence because--because his father gets mad,and--and--"
"And insults your father, and insults you," Carlota said.
"But that would be awful," said she, looking at George, who full ofsympathy for his favorite sister-in-law, said:
"Do not worry about that now--you have suffered enough. No doubt,Clarence will make it all right, if we only give him time. All will beexplained."
"I doubt that," Carlota said.
"I don't think Mercedes knows all that Darrell said. I think Clarencehimself will see the impossibility of his marrying Mercedes as thingsare now," Dona Josefa said.
"What are we to do?" Mercedes exclaimed, in low, tremulous tones, thatrevealed all the desolation she felt.
"Try to be courageous, little sister," Carlota said.
"What to do? Clarence himself ought to know--to separate for thepresent. Will you marry the son of a man who said of you and your fathersuch horrible things?" Dona Josefa asked.
"But Clarence is innocent, and so am I," pleaded Mercedes, with whitelips.
"My daughter, do you not see that I _must_ withdraw my permission toyour marriage now?"
"Will you tell that to Clarence?" asked Mercedes, frightened.
"Certainly, as soon as I see him."
"And break our engagement?" she asked, with a voice scarcely audible.
"Certainly. What else, my daughter?"
"I want to go to my room," she said, slowly turning to go back, walkingas if in a dream.
George put his arm around her shoulder, and walked with her.
"Don't be discouraged, my dear _humanita_. Dona Josefa is justlyindignant now, but her anger will pass off, and she will see how absurdit will be to punish you and Clarence for the sins of his ill-tempered,foolish father. The only thing now is to drop the matter. 'Least said,sooner mended,' applies to this case exactly."
"I wish papa were here. He don't think as mamma does. If mamma seesClarence first, she will send him away. Oh! that will be awful to me."
"We will keep your mamma at our house until Don Mariano returns. Tanowill see Clarence first."
When George left, Mercedes hurried to her bedside to pray. In all thesad tribulations of her mind, her heart turned to her Redeemer and theBlessed Virgin Mary. To them she told all her grief, all her trials, andafter begging to be strengthened, she always arose from her bended kneescomforted.
This time, however, her convulsive sobs only became more uncontrollable,as she poured out her great sorrow and terrible fears before the pityingMother of suffering humanity.
When her sobs were almost a paroxysm, Madame Halier, who had come to thedoor to listen, went, and much excited, told Dona Josefa that Mercitawould certainly be ill if some one didn't show a little humanity to her.
Dona Josefa hurried to Mercedes' room, and found her still at herbedside sobbing and praying. Gently the mother lifted her child andpressed her to her heart.
"Mercedes, darling, have courage. Your father and Clarence will talkthis matter over, and determine what is best to do. Perhaps it might allbe arranged."
"You will not tell Clarence to--that--to go away?"
"Certainly not. But there must be some other arrangement about thewedding. It will be postponed, perhaps. Darrell could not be expected tobe present, or he might wish the engagement broken off."
Carlota and Rosario came in to see how Mercedes felt, as Madam Halierseemed to be so anxious and indignant with everybody for their crueltyto Mercedes.
"If old Darrell wants the engagement broken off, then my dear sister youmust break it--else he will have a good reason to say that papa wants tosell you, or to entrap Clarence, for his money, into marrying you,"Rosario said.
"Did Mr. Darrell say that?" Mercedes asked, blushing, so that her paleface became suffused to the roots of her hair.
"He said worse--but you had better hear no more."
"That is awful!" the poor child exclaimed, clasping her hands ineloquent protestation; then adding: "Mamma, I will try to have courage.I don't know what I am to do. But if my father has been so grosslyinsulted, I must feel for him. I must not be selfish. I don't know whatI'll do," and the unhappy girl pressed her hands to her forehead, as ifto keep together her distracted thoughts.
"I think the best thing for you to do is to go to bed. To-morrow yourfather will see Clarence. That is George's advice, and I think it isgood," said her mother, as she kissed and embraced her, adding: "thesweet, blued-eyed baby is too young to get married, any way, and canwell wait four years, and then be only twenty-two years old." But seeingthe blank despair in those expressive eyes, Dona Josefa hastened to add:"I don't say that you will wait that long, but that you are young enoughto do so."
When Mercedes was again alone, she tried to think it was her duty to herfather to break her engagement. Her mind utterly refused to see thematter in that light, but as her older sisters had said her engagementought to be broken off, and her mother spoke of the wedding beingpostponed, it was clear that she could not be married on the 16th. WouldClarence be willing to wait? and these thoughts revolved around her mindin a circle of coils, worse than the one which so enraged and hurtDarrell.
Madam Halier and Victoriano ate their dinner alone--with Milord for solecompany. Poor Tano, though he had laughed heartily at Darrell's plight,was scarcely less distressed than Mercedes, and anxiously looked forClarence's return.
In the meantime this young gentleman was traveling at the rate of twelvemiles per hour, and would have come faster had the road been better. Hehad been obliged to delay, because Hubert had telegraphed that if hewaited two hours he would give him a definite answer about Gabriel'sbusiness. The answer came, and it was all that could be desired. Gabrielcould go at any time, or wait until the first of October to take hisplace at the bank. Clarence was delighted to have this good news tocarry to Mercedes, with the addit
ion that Fred said that the minesdeveloped richer ores every day. He had an offer of two million dollarsfor his mines--but both Hubert and Fred advised him not to sell.
With these cheerful thoughts, he was getting into his phaeton, when thenotary, who had made the entry of Don Mariano's conveyance, came closeto him, and said in a low voice, and looking mysteriously around:
"Look here, it may be nothing, but those two fellows are so tricky andslippery that I always imagine they are up to something, and both havebeen twice to look in my books at the entry of the land conveyance whichSenor Alamar made to you. They might mean mischief, though I don't seehow."
"Of whom are you speaking?" Clarence asked.
"Of Roper and Gasbang. Why should they wish to know about thatconveyance?"
"I don't know; but I am sure it is for no good. When did they look atthe entry?"
"About two days ago, the last time. When they first looked at it I wasnot at home. My wife was at my office when Roper came and askedpermission to see the date of a conveyance which he himself had made.This was only a ruse. Two days after he came and told me that one of hisclients wanted to buy land from Darrell, and wished to see what sort ofa title he had. I, of course, let him see it. Gasbang came after, andthat made me suspicious."
Clarence thanked the notary, and drove home as fast as the uneven roadpermitted. He felt that he must at last disclose to his father all aboutthat land transaction, and feared that he would be angry. His fears, hesaw, were only too well founded as soon as he arrived home.
The family were at supper when he drove up to the door. On hearing thesound of wheels, Everett left the table and hastened to meet him. Allhis brothers and sisters would gladly have done the same, but a lookfrom their mother kept them in their chairs.
In a few words Everett condensed the unfortunate occurrences of theprevious day and evening, ending his hurried statement by saying thatthe entire family hoped that Clarence's influence might appease theirfather's irritation when nothing else would.
"No; I am sure that if mother has failed, I shall have no effect atall," Clarence said. "But are you sure that there is nothing else toanger him? The fact alone of my having paid for the land, and at mymother's request, would not so infuriate him while in his normal stateof mind. There must be some _other_ irritating circumstance."
"None that we know of."
"I am glad he did not strike the Don."
"So am I, though I have a big bump to testify that he struck _me_, and Isuppose Tano has another to speak for him."
Clarence told the servant who came to take the horses to the stable toleave them where they were, only throwing a blanket on, as he had driventhem very fast. He and Everett then walked into the hall, carrying somesmall parcels which he (as usual) had brought home--one of those parcelsbeing a beautiful pipe, for which he had paid forty dollars, and a lotof fine tobacco, for his father.
Placing them on the hall table, he said to Everett: "I suppose fatherwould rather throw this tobacco into my eyes than put it in his pipe andsmoke it."
Everett laughed at this, thinking it rather a witticism under thecircumstances, and was still laughing when both went into thedining-room.
Clarence said good evening to all, kissing his mother as he took hisseat beside her. Darrell never lifted his eyes, paying no attention tohis son.
"What made you laugh just now, Retty?" Willie asked.
"Something that Clary said," answered Everett.
"Was it anything funny?"
"It must have been; but you needn't hear it."
"But I want to hear it," he insisted.
"It must have been about your father, he is the funny man now--thelaughing stock," said Darrell to Willie; then to Clarence: "We have hadcircus performances. Your father distinguished himself by performing_in_ the tight rope, with Don Gabriel--a very tight rope," he said,making a semi-circular sign around his body with both hands, and noddinghis head at Clarence by way of emphasis, or as if he challenged him tocontradict his statement.
"Oh, father! I am very sorry," was all that Clarence could answer.
The entire family were almost choking with suppressed laughter, but nonedare give vent to it.
"Why don't you laugh--all of you?" asked he, looking around fiercely.
"Because you frighten their laughter away," Mrs. Darrell replied. "Theyfear to offend you."
"Offend me? _Me?_ And since when such consideration? Since when, I say?"
"Since they were old enough to know you as their father," calmly repliedMrs. Darrell.
"Ah! I am glad to hear it. Well, sir," he said, addressing Clarenceagain, to the terror of all the family, "I have at last learned that youhave been making clandestine bargains with your future father-in-law,placing me in a most ridiculous position, for which I don't thank you."
"I am sorry, father. My intention was most kind," Clarence answered,respectfully, but very calmly.
"You only thought that as I was a fool, you would be my sense-bearer,and act for me--you, the man of brains."
"No, sir. All I thought was, that as you seem to love my mother, youwould prefer to give her the kind of home that she desires. I thoughtthat when you came to know all, you would approve of my having obeyed mymother's wishes."
"If you were so sure of my approval, why didn't you tell me the wholething before?"
"Because I was pledged to my mother not to do so. I was bound to besilent."
"By George!" said Darrell, striking the table with his fist, making allthe glasses and cups dance; "and for all that nonsense I have been madea laughing stock, a ridiculous, trusting fool--an ass!"
"No one will think that but yourself," Mrs. Darrell said; "and you willchange your mind, I hope."
"And how do you know that?"
"I was supposing that people reason in the way that in all my life Ihave believed to be correct."
"Yes, what _you_ believe to be correct no one else has any right tothink differently."
"Whether they have or not, I shall not interfere."
"No, you only wanted to interfere with me."
"Certainly. As my life is united to yours, I am obliged to try andprevent such of your actions as will make me unhappy."
"An excellent doctrine for wives--for mothers to teach theirchildren--and we see the result now."
Mrs. Darrell was pleased that his attacks seemed directed to herselfinstead of Clarence, but she felt prematurely relieved, for now he camedown upon Clarence. He said:
"Well, sir, since yourself and your mother have bought this land, andsince I am an unreclaimed _squatter_, I suppose I had better leave thisplace, and go back to Alameda again. I suppose I can have that placeagain?"
"You will not have to lease it, father; you can have it rent free, aslong as you live, if you prefer to reside there," Clarence replied.
"How is that?"
"I bought the place, and if you wish you can live in it."
"You? _You_ bought the place! Then, by George! _you_ have managed tocoop me up," said Mr. Darrell, drawing down the corners of his mouth andelevating his shoulders deprecatingly, as if he thought Clarence was avoracious land-grabber, who wanted to appropriate to himself all thevacant land in the United States.