A pang shot through Clarence's breast.

He had never seen her look in that way at Mrs.Peyton.Yet here was this stranger, provincial, overdressed, and extravagant, whose vulgarity was only made tolerable through her good humor, who had awakened that interest which the refined Mrs.Peyton had never yet been able to touch.

As Mrs.McClosky swept out of the room with Susy he turned away with a sinking heart.
Yet it was necessary that the Spanish house servants should not suspect this treason to their mistress, and Clarence stopped their childish curiosity about the stranger with a careless and easy acceptance of Susy's sudden visit in the light of an ordinary occurrence, and with a familiarity towards Mrs.McClosky which became the more distasteful to him in proportion as he saw that it was evidently agreeable to her.

But, easily responsive, she became speedily confidential.

Without a single question from himself, or a contributing remark from Susy, in half an hour she had told him her whole history.