And now Elvira and Mercedes, surrounded by their beloved family, were relating this episode and many other occurrences of their eastern visit, all sitting in their favorite front veranda.
The Holman girls were there, too. They had made several visits to Carlota and Rosario within the last ten months, but this time they came to see Elvira and Mercedes. Mr. Holman himself had accompanied them, that being a good pretext to question George closely regarding Texas Pacific matters. Mr. Holman had invested all his ready money in San Diego, placing implicit faith in the fact that the building of the Texas Pacific was a measure of national importance so manifest that Congress would never have the hardihood to deny it assistance, nor would be so lacking in sense of honor, sense of justice, as to deprive millions of American people of a railway so much needed. These had been the reasons, he alleged, for plunging headlong into real estate speculations, followed closely by his friends, Don Mariano and Mr. James Mechlin.
These three gentlemen now sat at the eastern end of the veranda, listening to what George said that he and his uncle had learned in Washington regarding the prospect of that unlucky railroad; while the ladies were equally entertained, listening to Elvira and Mercedes, on the western end of the same veranda.
“But what has become of the handsome Clarence? Why is he not here?” Corina inquired, seeing Everett and Victoriano riding up with Gabriel towards the house.
Elvira informed her that on their arrival at San Francisco, Clarence found it necessary to visit his farm, and thence to go to Arizona on business, but would return about the first of July.
“We heard that his mine is in bonanza,” Amelia said.
“That it has been in bonanza ever since he bought it—hasn't he told you that?” Corina added.
“No; he only said that the ore was very rich,” Elvira replied.
Victoriano and Everett now came in and took seats near the ladies. Gabriel joined the gentlemen, and soon was deeply interested in their conversation, it of course being upon that subject—the railroad—which filled the minds and hearts of all the San Diego people, absorbing all their faculties and all their money.
“How are all the ladies of your family? Well?” Amelia asked of Everett.