Mr. Selden could not escape now the raillery of his friends. Each one had something to say on the subject of Mr. Selden's ideas of the wonders of California, until the bell rung for the curtain to rise for the second act.
They all arose to go. George said: "Will not some of you remain? there is room for two or three more."
"If I am not going to crowd you, I shall accept your kind invitation and hide about here," said Robert Gunther, taking a chair behind Elvira.
"Bob Gunther is always such a good boy that I always like to follow his example; so, with your kind permission, Mr. Darrell, I shall sit here behind you. Keep your chair," said Mr. Selden, refusing to change seats with Clarence.
But Mercedes saw that this arrangement was not as satisfactory as might be, so she moved her chair, and making room for Clarence on her left, told Mr. Selden to push his chair further to the front, on her right. This was a more desirable distribution, and it pleased Clarence better, for she would turn her face to him on looking at the stage. Still, there was that odious little fellow with his red mutton chops sitting so near her, that he wanted to pitch him out of the box. Mercedes watched for an opportunity to say to him:
"You look unhappy; have I done anything to displease you?"
"No, never!" he quickly answered, but did not dare to look at her. Presently he added: "It is too painful to think that only for one day more I can see you, then we must part, and--and others will be with you."
"Could you not go with us as far as the Yosemite?"
Clarence turned quickly to look at her, and her eyes had that sweet, loving expression which, to him, was always irresistible, entrancing. He had never seen it in any other eyes, and in hers only very seldom.
"Let you! Your pleasure is the only thing to consult."
Neither Mr. Selden nor Mr. Gunther could sleep that night. Those little golden curls over the blue eyes floated in a hazy mist and music in tantalizing recurrence until dawn.
"Did you make a satisfactory bargain?" George asked Clarence next morning, when the ladies had gone to church.
"Yes, as far as we can see at present. I am to send an expert to look at the mines to-morrow, and on his report will decide what to do. But I am in a quandary now about one thing. Have you positively decided to leave to-morrow at seven A.M.?"