It seemed such a slow way of coming one's self." Mary Rogers's black eyes intimated that the way he had taken was the right one, but she gallantly recovered herself and remembered her position as confidante.

And here was the opportunity of delivering Susy's warning unobserved.

She withdrew her hand from Clarence's frank grasp, and passing it through the grating, patted the sleek, shining flanks of his horse, with a discreet division of admiration.
"And such a lovely creature, too! And Susy will be so delighted! and oh, Mr.Brant, please, you're to say nothing of having met her at Santa Clara.

It's just as well not to begin with THAT here, for, you see" (with a large, maternal manner), "you were both SO young then." Clarence drew a quick breath.

It was the first check to his vision of independence and equal footing! Then his invitation was NOT the outcome of a continuous friendship revived by Susy, as he had hoped; the Peytons had known nothing of his meeting with her, or perhaps they would not have invited him.