apart. "I want that veil very much," said I; "so much that I'll give you a
hundred pesetas if you'll part with it."

She opened her tobacco-brown eyes. "But the senor is only a man, and
cannot know that the bit of embroidered net is worth no more, in money,
than fifteen pesetas at most."

"It wasn't its money-worth I was thinking about."

"A--ah, I see! The senorito--yes, of course, it would be strange if he did
not! I love my new veil, not only because it is pretty, but more because
it came to me from the most beautiful senorita I have ever seen. Still,
since the senorito will value it even more than I can, I will give it to
him, though not for the hundred pesetas. I will give it for nothing except
his thanks."

I told the girl she was too good; that I could not rob her of the gift
just made; but she insisted, and I saw that her pride would be hurt if I
refused. So I accepted, while a way of benefitting myself and rewarding
her occurred to my mind.

"You see how it is with me." I said, with a confidential air. "You have
been very generous. Will you be helpful too?"

"You may trust me," she answered. "I love a love affair, especially if
there is difficulty. I shall have an acknowledged _novio_ myself soon, I
hope. He is a bull-fighter--only a beginner, but he will be great one day,
and though my father made a long face at first, now he shrugs his
shoulders; and when that is done, there is always hope. Her Majesty the
mother makes the long face, does she not?"

I nodded.

"She will shrug the shoulders by and by."

"I doubt it. But meanwhile, I've written a letter. Will you try to give it
to the young lady?"

"Yes," said Mariquita. "I will try my best. I think I can do it. Not
to-night, for she has gone to bed, and there would be no excuse to get
back to her room, since I must pass through Her Majesty's. But to-morrow
morning I will take the ladies' hot water, with oh, such an innocent face!
And I will take the letter too."

"Thank you many times," said I.

"The thing isn't done yet."

"It's for your goodwill I thank you in advance. And this is for your
bull-fighter, as a present from his _novia_."

I took out my scarf-pin. Her face flushed with pleasure, as it would have
flushed for no sum of money. She might have waived away a present for
herself, but she could not resist one for the _novio_, and I was thanked
far beyond the gift's merit.

If she went to bed happy, so did I, for I believed that Monica