It's worse than school, for there, at least, when you went out, you could see something besides cattle and horses and yellow-faced half-breeds! But here--Lord! it's only a wonder I haven't run away before!" Startled and shocked as Clarence was at this revelation, accompanied as it was by a hardness of manner that was new to him, the influence of the young girl was still so strong upon him that he tried to evade it as only an extravagance, and said with a faint smile, "But where would you run to ?" She looked at him cunningly, with her head on one side, and then said:-- "I have friends, and"-- She hesitated, pursing up her pretty lips.
"And what ?" "Relations." "Relations ?" "Yes,--an aunt by marriage.

She lives in Sacramento.

She'd be overjoyed to have me come to her.

Her second husband has a theatre there." "But, Susy, what does Mrs.Peyton know of this ?" "Nothing.

Do you think I'd tell her, and have her buy them up as she has my other relations?
Do you suppose I don't know that I've been bought up like a nigger ?" She looked indignant, compressing her delicate little nostrils, and yet, somehow, Clarence had the same singular impression that she was only acting.
The calling of a far-off voice came faintly through the wood.
"That's Mary, looking for me," said Susy composedly.