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the house； evasive but never obtrusive； he had become a daily necessity of
comfort and security to his benefactor。
Clarence was； however； astonished； when； one morning； Don Juan；
with the same embarrassed manner he had shown at their first meeting；
suddenly asked him； 〃what business he expected to follow。〃 It seemed the
more singular； as the speaker； like most abstracted men； had hitherto
always studiously ignored the future； in their daily intercourse。 Yet this
might have been either the habit of security or the caution of doubt。
Whatever it was； it was some sudden disturbance of Don Juan's
equanimity； as disconcerting to himself as it was to Clarence。 So
conscious was the boy of this that； without replying to his cousin's
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question； but striving in vain to recall some delinquency of his own； he
asked； with his usual boyish directness
〃Has anything happened？ Have I done anything wrong？〃
〃No； no；〃 returned Don Juan hurriedly。 〃But； you see； it's time that
you should think of your futureor at least prepare for it。 I mean you
ought to have some more regular education。 You will have to go to
school。 It's too bad；〃 he added fretfully； with a certain impatient
forgetfulness of Clarence's presence； and as if following his own thought。
〃Just as you are becoming of service to me； and justifying your ridiculous
position hereand all this dd nonsense that's gone beforeI mean； of
course； Clarence；〃 he interrupted himself； catching sight of the boy's
whitening cheek and darkening eye； 〃I mean； you knowthis
ridiculousness of my keeping you from school at your age； and trying to
teach you myselfdon't you see。〃
〃You think it isridiculous；〃 repeated Clarence； with dogged
persistency。
〃I mean I am ridiculous；〃 said Don Juan hastily。 〃There！ there！ let's
say no more about it。 To…morrow we'll ride over to San Jose and see the
Father Secretary at the Jesuits' College about your entering at once。 It's a
good school； and you'll always be near the rancho！〃 And so the interview
ended。
I am afraid that Clarence's first idea was to run away。 There are few
experiences more crushing to an ingenuous nature than the sudden
revelation of the aspect in which it is regarded by others。 The unfortunate
Clarence； conscious only of his loyalty to his cousin's interest and what he
believed were the duties of his position； awoke to find that position
〃ridiculous。〃 In an afternoon's gloomy ride through the lonely hills； and
later in the sleepless solitude of his room at night； he concluded that his
cousin was right。 He would go to school； he would study hardso hard
that in a little； a very little while； he could make a living for himself。 He
awoke contented。 It was the blessing of youth that this resolve and
execution seemed as one and the same thing。
The next day found him installed as a pupil and boarder in the college。
Don Juan's position and Spanish predilections naturally made his relation
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acceptable to the faculty； but Clarence could not help perceiving that
Father Sobriente； the Principal； regarded him at times with a thoughtful
curiosity that made him suspect that his cousin had especially bespoken
that attention； and that he occasionally questioned him on his antecedents
in a way that made him dread a renewal of the old questioning about his
progenitor。 For the rest； he was a polished； cultivated man； yet； in the
characteristic； material criticism of youth； I am afraid that Clarence chiefly
identified him as a priest with large hands； whose soft palms seemed to be
cushioned with kindness； and whose equally large feet； encased in
extraordinary shapeless shoes of undyed leather； seemed to tread down
noiselesslyrather than to ostentatiously crushthe obstacles that beset the
path of the young student。 In the cloistered galleries of the court…yard
Clarence sometimes felt himself borne down by the protecting weight of
this paternal hand； in the midnight silence of the dormitory he fancied he
was often conscious of the soft browsing tread and snuffly muffled
breathing of his elephantine…footed mentor。
His relations with his school…fellows were at first far from pleasant。
Whether they suspected favoritism； whether they resented that old and
unsympathetic manner which sprang from his habits of association with
his elders； or whether they rested their objections on the broader grounds
of his being a stranger； I do not know； but they presently passed from cruel
sneers to physical opposition。 It was then found that this gentle and
reserved youth had retained certain objectionable； rude； direct； rustic
qualities of fist and foot； and that； violating all rules and disdaining the
pomp and circumstance of school…boy warfare； of which he knew nothing；
he simply thrashed a few of his equals out of hand； with or without
ceremony； as the occasion or the insult happened。 In this emergency one
of the seniors was selected to teach this youthful savage his proper
position。 A challenge was given； and accepted by Clarence with a
feverish alacrity that surprised himself as much as his adversary。 This
was a youth of eighteen； his superior in size and skill。
The first blow bathed Clarence's face in his own blood。 But the
sanguinary chrism； to the alarm of the spectators； effected an
instantaneous and unhallowed change in the boy。 Instantly closing with
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his adversary； he sprang at his throat like an animal； and locking his arm
around his neck began to strangle him。 Blind to the blows that rained
upon him； he eventually bore his staggering enemy by sheer onset and
surprise to the earth。 Amidst the general alarm； the strength of half a
dozen hastily summoned teachers was necessary to unlock his hold。
Even then he struggled to renew the conflict。 But his adversary had
disappeared； and from that day forward Clarence was never again
molested。
Seated before Father Sobriente in the infirmary； with swollen and
bandaged face； and eyes that still seemed to see everything in the murky
light of his own blood； Clarence felt the soft weight of the father's hand
upon his knee。
〃My son；〃 said the priest gently； 〃you are not of our religion； or I
should claim as a right to ask a question of your own heart at this moment。
But as to a good friend； Claro； a good friend；〃 he continued； patting the
boy's knee； 〃you will tell me； old Father Sobriente； frankly and truthfully；
as is your habit； one little thing。 Were you not afraid？〃
〃No；〃 said Clarence doggedly。 〃I'll lick him again to…morrow。〃
〃Softly； my son！ It was not of HIM I speak； but of something more
terrible and awful。 Were you not afraid ofof〃 he paused； and suddenly
darting his clear eyes into the very depths of Clarence's soul； added〃of
YOURSELF？〃
The boy started； shuddered； and burst into tears。
〃So； so；〃 said the priest gently； 〃we have found our real enemy。 Good！
Now； by the grace of God； my little warrior； we shall fight HIM and
conquer。〃
Whether Clarence profited by this lesson； or whether this brief
exhibition of his quality prevented any repetition of the cause； the episode
w