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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
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。
〃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。
〃Whywhen 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；〃 continued Susy； 〃Mary Rogers； that was
walking with me； thought you were ever so oldand a distinguished
Spaniard！ And I；〃 she said abruptly〃haven't I grown？ Tell me；
Clarence；〃 with her old appealing impatience； 〃haven't I grown？ Do
tell me！〃
〃Very much；〃 said Clarence。
〃And isn't this frock prettyit's only my second bestbut I've a
prettier one with lace all down in front； but isn't this one
pretty； Clarence； tell me？〃
Clarence thought the frock and its fair owner perfection； and said
so。 Whereat Susy； as if suddenly aware of the presence of passers…
by； assumed an air of severe propriety； dropped her hands by her
side； and with an affected conscientiousness walked on； a little
further from Clarence's side； until they reached the ice…cream
saloon。
〃Get a table near the back； Clarence；〃 she said； in a confidential
whisper； 〃where they can't see usand strawberry； you know； for
the lemon and vanilla here are just horrid！〃
They took their seats in a kind of rustic arbor in the rear of the
shop； which gave them the appearance of two youthful but somewhat
over…dressed and over…conscious shepherds。 There was an interval
of slight awkwardness； which Susy endeavored to displace。 〃There
has been；〃 she remarked； with easy conversational lightness； 〃quite
an excitement about our French teacher being changed。 The girls in
our class think it most disgraceful。〃
And this was all she could say after a separation of four years！
Clarence was desperate； but as yet idealess and voiceless。 At
last； with an effort over his spoon； he gasped a floating
recollection： 〃Do you still like flapjacks； Susy？〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 with a laugh； 〃but we don't have them now。〃
〃And Mose〃 （a black pointer； who used to yelp when Susy sang）；
〃does he still sing with you？〃
〃Oh； HE'S been lost ever so long；〃 said Susy composedly； 〃but I've
got a Newfoundland and a spaniel and a black pony；〃 and here； with
a rapid inventory of her other personal effects； she drifted into
some desultory details of the devotion of her adopted parents； whom
she now readily spoke of as 〃papa〃 and 〃mamma；〃 with evidently no
disturbing recollection of the dead。 From which it appeared that
the Peytons were very rich； and； in addition to their possessions
in the lower country； owned a rancho in Santa Clara and a house in
San Francisco。 Like all children； her strongest impressions were
the most recent。 In the vain hope to lead her back to this
material yesterday； he said
〃You remember Jim Hooker？〃
〃Oh； HE ran away； when you left。 But just think of it！ The other
day； when papa and I went into a big restaurant in San Francisco；
who should be there WAITING on the tableyes； Clarence； a real
waiterbut Jim Hooker！ Papa spoke to him； but of course；〃 with a
slight elevation of her pretty chin； 〃I couldn't； you know； fancy
a waiter！〃
The story of how Jim Hooker had personated him stopped short upon
Clarence's lips。 He could not bring himself now to add that
revelation to the contempt of his small companion； which； in spite
of its naivete； somewhat grated on his sensibilities。
〃Clarence；〃 she said； suddenly turning towards him mysteriously；
and indicating the shopman and his assistants； 〃I really believe
these people suspect us。〃
〃Of what？〃 said the practical Clarence。
〃Don't be silly！ Don't you see how they are staring？〃
Clarence was really unable to detect the least curiosity on the
part of the shopman； or that any one exhibited the slightest
concern in him or his companion。 But he felt a return of the
embarrassed pleasure he was conscious of a moment before。
〃Then you're living with your father？〃 said Susy； changing the
subject。