“Don't write to George or Gabriel that I am sick. Wait until I get better, or worse,” said he.
Seeing, however, that there was no change in his condition, he wrote to Gabriel himself, telling him of his second attack. Willingly would Gabriel have taken his little family and started for home, but he did not have money enough to pay their fare, and he owed for their last month's board. So there was nothing to do but to wait and work as a day laborer yet for a while. He knew what he earned in a whole month would scarcely be enough to pay their board, and that to go home he must write his mother to send him money for their fare. But his pride revolted. He hated to do this. He could not bring his mind to it. He hesitated.
About the time that Victoriano was taken sick and Gabriel was trying to be a mason, George and family arrived in Paris on their return from Germany. They would only spend a week or ten days in that city, and then sail for New York.
The day before they were to start, a card was sent to Elvira from the office of the hotel. Elvira took it very indifferently and read the name, but the words she read seemed to be cabalistic, for she started, turned red and then pale.
She handed the card to George, who read aloud, “Clarence Darrell.”
“Ask the gentleman to please come up,” said George to the servant, and followed him, going to meet Clarence.
The two friends met and clasped each other in a tight embrace; to shake hands seemed to both too cold a way of greeting, when they felt so much pain and joy that to express their sentiments, words were inadequate.
When Clarence came in, he stretched both hands to Elvira, and she, on the impulse of the moment, threw her arms around his neck and sobbed. Mrs. Mechlin and Caroline were also affected to tears. Clarence brought back to them vividly the happy days at Alamar, when Mr. Mechlin and Don Mariano lived so contentedly in each other's society.
All were so anxious to learn how Clarence came to be in Paris, and where he had been in all these years, and Elvira showered so many questions upon him, that George told him he must remain with them and tell them everything.
The family of Mr. Lawrence Mechlin were also in the same hotel, on their way to New York.