inted boat still lay, and
paid a visit to the lake.

After a while I asked Jose to have my horse saddled, saying, "Excuse
me, mother, for a short time, please. You know the colonel may send
for me at any moment, and I should like to see Rosa once more."

This was only partly the truth, but I could not speak of my principal
motive, for as yet, acting under Jose's advice, I had made no mention
of Santiago's queer story. It would have been cruel to raise hopes
that might have no actual foundation.

CHAPTER XIV

FRIEND OR FOE!

I have before said that Don Felipe was our nearest neighbour; the
grounds of his house, indeed, joined our own, and I might easily have
gone there on foot. Perhaps it was a touch of pride which induced me
to go on horseback, as I was a good rider, and young enough to feel a
certain satisfaction in my appearance.

I had grown beyond the recollection of the gatekeeper, who admitted me
to the courtyard with a show of deference, saying that both his master
and young mistress were at home. Rosa's mother had been dead for some
years.

Don Felipe had numerous servants, and to one of them I threw the reins,
telling him to mind my horse. Then going to the door, I inquired for
Don Felipe.

The major-domo was showing me to a small room, when a girl, merrily
humming a popular Royalist song, came tripping along the corridor.
Suddenly she stopped, looked hard at me, and then came forward again,
saying, "Juan! Surely you are Juan Crawford?"

I have sometimes laughed since at my stupidity, yet there might be
found some excuse for it. During my absence from Lima I had often
thought of my little playmate, but it had never occurred to me that
time would change her as well as myself. And now, instead of the merry
child with whom I had romped and played, there appeared a beautiful
girl at whom I gazed in wonder.

"Are you not Juan Crawford?" she asked again, speaking softly.

"Yes," said I, "I am Juan; but you, senorita?"

Her face rippled with merry laughter; but pouting her lips, she said,--

"What a poor compliment to your old friend, Juan! Surely you have not
forgotten Rosa!"

"Nay, that have I not; I have forgotten nothing. But you are so
changed, Rosa--so different!"

"So are you; but I knew you at once. When did you come home? Have you
come to see me?"

"Yes, and your father as well. I have some business with him."

"Oh!" cried she, tossing her head and frowning, "of cours