“Geoff has told me,” were his first words.  “I know from what he said that you, and he too, are afraid that I shall make myself disagreeable; so I’ve come in to say that I shall do nothing of the kind.”

“Dear Clarence, that wasn’t what Geoff meant, or I either,” said Clover, with a rush of relief, and holding out both her hands to him; “what we were afraid of was that you might be unhappy.”

“Well,” in a husky tone, and holding the little hands very tight, “it isn’t easy, of course, to give up a hope.  I’ve held on to mine all this time, though I’ve told myself a hundred times that I was a fool for doing so, and though I knew in my heart it was no use.  Now I’ve had two days to think it over and get past the first shock, and, Clover, I’ve decided.  You and Geoff are the best friends I’ve got in the world.  I never seemed to make friends, somehow.  Till you came to Hillsover that time nobody liked me much; I don’t know why.  I can’t get along without you two; so I give you up without any hard feeling, and I mean to be as jolly as I can about it.  After all, to have you at the High Valley will be a sort of happiness, even if you don’t come for my sake exactly,” with an attempt at a laugh.

“Clarence, you really are a dear boy!  I can’t tell you how I thank you, and how I admire you for being so nice about this.”

“Then that’s worth something, too.  I’d do a good deal to win your approval, Clover.  So it’s all settled.  Don’t worry about me, or be afraid that I shall spoil your comfort with sour looks.  If I find I can’t stand it, I’ll go away for a while; but I don’t think it’ll come to that.  You’ll make a real home out of the ranch house, and you’ll let me have my share of your life, and be a brother to you and Geoff; and I’ll try to be a good one.”

Clover was touched to the heart by these manful words so gently spoken.

“You shall be our dear special brother always,” she said.  “Only this was needed to make me quite happy.  I am so glad you don’t want to go away and leave us, or to have us leave you.  We’ll make the ranch over into the dearest little home in the world, and be so cosey there all together, and papa and the others shall come out for visits; and you’ll like them so much, I know, Elsie especially.”

“Does she look like you?”

“Not a bit; she’s ever so much prettier.”

“I don’t believe a word of that”

Clover’s heart being thus lightened of its only burden by this treaty of mutual amity, she proceeded joyously with her packing.  Mrs. Hope said she was not half sorry enough to go away, and Poppy upbraided her as a gay deceiver without any conscience or affections.  She laughed and protested and denied, but looked so radiantly satisfied the while as to give a fair color for her friends’ accusations, especially as she could not explain the reasons of her contentment or hint at her hopes of return.  Mrs. Hope probably had her suspicions, for she was rather urgent with Clover to leave this thing and that for safe keeping “in case you ever come back;” but Clover declined these offers, and resolutely packed up everything with a foolish little superstition that it was “better luck” to do so, and that papa would like it better.