Gabriel replied, thanking him, and saying that he would adhere to the original plan of going to San Francisco by the first of October, when he hoped Mercita would be out of danger. If Clarence could only have read these letters!
George answered him that he did not intend returning to New York until Mercita got better (Elvira not wishing to leave home while her sister was yet in danger), but that he would be ready to return to California and establish their projected bank at any time that the business outlook justified it; that the chances seemed much in favor of the Texas Pacific, and all were hopeful. If Clarence could only have read this!
Don Mariano wrote a cheerful letter, telling him to return at once. The fact of the matter was that he confidently expected to see Clarence's bright face very soon; to see those eyes of his, with their brilliant glow of kindness, emanating from a generous, manly heart. How could it be otherwise when all that was necessary would be to recall him, and recalled he had been?
But days and days passed, and Clarence did not come, nor any letters from him either, and the month of September, which was to have brought so much happiness, had been passed in sadness, and was now ending in gloom.
Mercedes and Alice were no longer delirious, but their condition was still precarious, and the anxious parents could not lay aside their fears.
Thus the month of October passed, and November came, bringing the United States Surveyors to measure the Alamar rancho in accordance with the decree of the United States District Court. This advent, though fully expected, did not fail to agitate the settlers of Alamar. It brought before their minds the fact that the law, though much disregarded and sadly dilatory, did sometimes, as if unawares, uphold the right.
Gasbang and Mathews, inspired by Roper, were very active in trying to urge the settlers to some open demonstration. Roper wanted lawsuits, and he saw a chance now to originate several; but the settlers were rather disposed to be quiet, and disposed to wait until the survey was finished and approved, for, after all, what had they to do? The Don took no steps to eject them. What pretext had they to complain?
“I expect we will have to kick him out of his own house,” said Peter Roper, and laughed, thinking it would be such a good joke to do that; “and by ——, if you only show me the ghost of a chance, we'll do it!”
“Why are you the Don's enemy, Roper? Did he ever do you any injury?” Romeo asked.
“Oh, my! No; why should he? I am nobody's enemy; but if I can make any money by kicking him out of his house, don't you suppose I'd do it? You don't know me if you think I wouldn't,” was Roper's characteristic reply.