susy, a story of the plains-第38章

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in　the　convent　at　Santa　Inez；　and　the　monastery　of　Santa　Barbara；

and　had　been　brought　hither　in　Governor　Micheltorrenas'　time　to　keep

the　daughters　of　Robles　from　the　insidious　contact　of　the　outer

world；　when　they　took　the　air　in　their　cloistered　pleasance。

Guitars　had　tinkled　against　them　in　vain；　and　they　had　withstood　the

stress　and　storm　of　love　tokens。　　But；　like　many　other　things　which

have　had　their　day　and　time；　they　had　retained　their　semblance　of

power；　even　while　rattling　loosely　in　their　sockets；　only　because　no

one　had　ever　thought　of　putting　them　to　the　test；　and；　in　the　strong

hand　of　Clarence；　assisted；　perhaps；　by　the　leaning　figure　of　Mrs。

Peyton；　I　grieve　to　say　that　the　whole　grille　suddenly　collapsed；

became　a　frame　of　tinkling　iron；　and　then　clanked；　bar　by　bar；　into

the　road。　　Mrs。　Peyton　uttered　a　little　cry　and　drew　back；　and

Clarence；　leaping　the　ruins；　caught　her　in　his　arms。



For　a　moment　only；　for　she　quickly　withdrew　from　them；　and　although

the　morning　sunlight　was　quite　rosy　on　her　cheeks；　she　said　gravely；

pointing　to　the　dismantled　opening：



〃I　suppose　you　MUST　stay　now；　for　you　never　could　leave　me　here

alone　and　defenseless。〃



He　stayed。　　And　with　this　fulfillment　of　his　youthful　dreams　the

romance　of　his　young　manhood　seemed　to　be　completed；　and　so　closed

the　second　volume　of　this　trilogy。　　But　what　effect　that　fulfillment

of　youth　had　upon　his　maturer　years；　or　the　fortunes　of　those　who

were　nearly　concerned　in　it；　may　be　told　in　a　later　and　final

chronicle。









End