Yettherewereleadendays，whenhalftheprospectseemedtobeseenthroughpalisadesofrain;whentheslightinclinebetweentheterracesbecameatumultuouscascade，andthesuresthoofsslippedontrailsofunctuousmud;whencattlewereboggedafewyardsfromthehighway，andthecrossingoftheturnpikeroadwasadangerousford。Thereweredaysofgaleandtempest，whentheshriveledstalksofgiantoatswerestrickenliketrees，andlayacrosseachotherinrigidangles，andaroarasoftheseacameupfromthewrithingtreetopsinthesunkenvalley。Therewerelongwearynightsofsteadydownpour，hammeringontheredtilesofthecasa，anddrummingontheshinglesofthenewveranda，whichwasmoreterribletobeborne。Alone，butfortheservants，andanoccasionalstorm—stayedtenantfromFairPlains，Clarencemighthave，atsuchtimes，questionedtheeffectofthisseclusionuponhisimpassionednature。ButhehadalreadybeenaccustomedtomonasticseclusioninhisboyishlifeatElRefugio，andhedidnotreflectthat，forthatveryreason，itsindulgencesmighthavebeendangerous。FromtimetotimelettersreachedhimfromtheouterworldofSanFrancisco，——afewpleasantlinesfromMrs。Peyton，inanswertohisownchronicleofhishalfstewardship，givingthenewsofthefamily，andbrieflyrecountingtheirmovements。ShewasafraidthatSusy’ssensitivenaturechafedundertherestrictionofmourninginthegaycity，butshetrustedtobringherbackforachangetoRobleswhentherainswereover。Thiswasapoorsubstituteforthosebrief，happyglimpsesofthehomecirclewhichhadsocharmedhim，butheaccepteditstoically。Hewanderedovertheoldhouse，fromwhichtheperfumeofdomesticityseemedtohaveevaporated，yet，notwithstandingMrs。Peyton’splayfulpermission，heneverintrudeduponthesanctityoftheboudoir，andkeptitjealouslylocked。
HewassittinginPeyton’sbusinessroomonemorning，whenIncarnacionentered。ClarencehadtakenafancytothisIndian，halfsteward，halfvacquero，whohadreciprocateditwithacertaindog—likefidelity，butalsoafelineindirectnessthatwaspartofhisnature。HehadbeenearlyprepossessedwithClarencethroughakinsmanatElRefugio，wheretheyoungAmerican’sgenerosityhadleftaromanticrecordamongthecommonpeople。Hehadbeenpleasedtoapproveofhisfolliesbeforetheknowledgeofhisprofitlessandlordlylandpurchasehadcommendeditselftohimascorroborativetestimony。\"Oftruehidalgoblood，markyou，\"hehadsaidoracularly。\"Whereforewashisfathersacrificedbymongrels！Astotheothers，believeme，——bah！\"
Hestoodthere，sombreroinhand，murkyandconfidential，steamingthroughhissoakedserapeandexhalingablendedodorofequineperspirationandcigarettesmoke。
\"Itwas，perhaps，asthemasterhadnoticed，abrigand’sownday！
Bullying，treacherous，andwicked！Itblewyouoffyourhorseifyousomuchasliftedyourarmsandletthewindgetinsideyourserape;andasforthemud，——caramba！infiftyvarasyourforelegswerelikebears，andyourhoofswereearthenplasters！\"