But he was glad to remind her that it did not alter her status or security; he had only given her the possession, and she would revert to her original and now uncontested title.  But as there was now no reason for his continuing the stewardship, and as he must adopt some profession and seek his fortune elsewhere, he begged her to relieve him of his duty.  Albeit written with a throbbing heart and suffused eyes, it was a plain, business-like, and practical letter.  Her reply was equally cool and matter of fact.  She was sorry to hear of his losses, although she could not agree with him that they could logically sever his present connection with the rancho, or that, placed upon another and distinctly business footing, the occupation would not be as remunerative to him as any other.  But, of course, if he had a preference for some more independent position, that was another question, although he would forgive her for using the privilege of her years to remind him that his financial and business success had not yet justified his independence.  She would also advise him not to decide hastily, or, at least, to wait until she had again thoroughly gone over her husband’s papers with her lawyer, in reference to the old purchase of the Sisters’ title, and the conditions under which it was bought.  She knew that Mr. Brant would not refuse this as a matter of business, nor would that friendship, which she valued so highly, allow him to imperil the possession of the rancho by leaving it at such a moment.  As soon as she had finished the examination of the papers, she would write again.  Her letter seemed to leave him no hope, if, indeed, he had ever indulged in any.  It was the practical kindliness of a woman of business, nothing more.  As to the examination of her husband’s papers, that was a natural precaution.  He alone knew that they would give no record of a transaction which had never occurred.  He briefly replied that his intention to seek another situation was unchanged, but that he would cheerfully await the arrival of his successor.  Two weeks passed.  Then Mr. Sanderson, Mrs. Peyton’s lawyer, arrived, bringing an apologetic note from Mrs. Peyton.  She was so sorry her business was still delayed, but as she had felt that she had no right to detain him entirely at Robles, she had sent to Mr. Sanderson to temporarily relieve him, that he might be free to look around him or visit San Francisco in reference to his own business, only extracting a promise from him that he would return to Robles to meet her at the end of the week, before settling upon anything.

The bitter smile with which Clarence had read thus far suddenly changed.  Some mysterious touch of unbusiness-like but womanly hesitation, that he had never noticed in her previous letters, gave him a faint sense of pleasure, as if her note had been perfumed.  He had availed himself of the offer.  It was on this visit to Sacramento that he had accidentally discovered the marriage of Susy and Hooker.