ch she held out to
me, and then we laughed into each other's eyes, in sheer happiness and
triumph over fate. "To think that you're here, after all."

"Wherever you are, I'm going to be, while you want me," said I, "and until
we know whether I shall have to take you away."

"I might have known you wouldn't fail me," she said. "But I was so unhappy
yesterday. When I saw that handkerchief I knew at once who you were,
though I should never have guessed, with those awful goggles, and I
couldn't help giving a jump, and getting red. But I shall never be so
stupid again. I'll be prepared for anything. Just a whisper from Senorita
O'Donnel was enough this time. While we shook hands she said, 'Something's
going to happen.' So I was ready. Only it does seem too good to be true."

"Here's the glove and the rose you threw me," I said, showing them inside
my coat.

"Here's the music you played to me," she answered, touching her heart; and
I would have given a year of my life to kiss her. "Oh, tell me, is Miss
O'Donnel any relation to you, really?"

"Only a very good and clever friend," said I, for there was not much time
to waste in explaining things more or less irrelevant. "All this was her
idea, to give me a chance of getting near you. And, as Cristobal's my name
too, as well as her brother's, the thing has been managed without a fib.
Brother Cristobal has leave. Friend Cristobal will spend it with the
family; that is, they're all going in that red car you saw
yesterday--wherever you go. It would save a lot of anxiety if you could
tell where that will be."

"I can't," said Monica. "I fancy mother's afraid I might find some way of
letting you know; anyway, the Duke is always talking about how pleasant it
is not to make plans beforehand, but to let each day arrange itself. I
don't know how or where we're to spend the time before we get to Seville;
but for Holy Week we're to be at the Duke's house. I'm not afraid of
anything, though, now you're near; and I think I shall let myself be
happy, in spite of the Duke, for your Spain is glorious, and I love it. I
wish it weren't the Duke's Spain too!"

"He thinks it's all his," said I. "Is he bothering you much?"

"No. He's being nice to me. You know, I refused him in Biarritz; but
mother came in while I was doing it, and told him that I was too young to
know my own mind; that he must be patient, and she could almost promise
I'd change it. I said I wouldn't, but that made no differe