Before complying with her wish, I urged an answer; but she, artfully avoiding my question, insisted on our immediate return.  Being in a quandary as to what to say or do, I went after the horses, which was a simple proposition.  On my return, while we were adjusting the garlands about the necks of our mounts, I again urged her for an answer, but in vain.  We stood for a moment between the two horses, and as I lowered my hand on my knee to afford her a stepping-stone in mounting, I thought she did not offer to mount with the same alacrity as she had done before.  Something flashed through my addled mind, and, withdrawing the hand proffered as a mounting block, I clasped the demure maiden closely in my arms.  What transpired has no witnesses save two saddle horses, and as Wolf usually kept an eye on his rider in mounting, I dropped the reins and gave him his freedom rather than endure his scrutiny.  When we were finally aroused from this delicious trance, the horses had strayed away fully fifty yards, but I had received a favorable answer, breathed in a voice so low and tender that it haunts me yet.

As we rode along, returning to the grove, Esther requested that our betrothal be kept a profound secret.  No doubt she had good reasons, and it was quite possible that there then existed some complications which she wished to conceal, though I avoided all mention of any possible rival.  Since she was not due to return to her school before September, there seemed ample time to carry out our intentions of marrying.  But as we jogged along, she informed me that after spending a few weeks with her sister in Oakville, it was her intention to return to the San Miguel for the summer.  To allay her mother’s distrust, it would be better for me not to call at the ranch.  But this was easily compensated for when she suggested making several visits during the season with the Vaux girls, chums of hers, who lived on the Frio about thirty miles due north of Las Palomas.  This was fortunate, since the Vaux ranch and ours were on the most friendly terms.

We returned by the route by which we had left the grounds.  I repicketed the horses and we were soon mingling again with the revelers, having been absent little over an hour.  No one seemed to have taken any notice of our absence.  Mrs. Martin, I rejoiced to see, was still in tow of her sister and Miss Jean, and from the circle of Las Palomas courtiers who surrounded the ladies, I felt sure they had given her no opportunity even to miss her younger sister.  Uncle Lance was the only member of our company absent, but I gave myself no uneasiness about him, since the mail contractors were both likewise missing.  Rejoining our friends and assuming a nonchalant air, I flattered myself that my disguise was perfect.