ys:

"I can tell what you're thinking of, _tia_."

"Indeed, can you? Well, let me hear it."

"You're saying to yourself: `What a beautiful hill that is yonder; and
how I should like to be once more upon its top--not alone, but with
somebody beside me.' Now, tell the truth, isn't that it?"

"Those are your own thoughts, _sobrina_."

"I admit it, and also that they are pleasant. So are yours; are they
not?"

"Only in part. I have others, which I suppose you can share with me."

"What others?"

"Reflections not at all agreeable, but quite the contrary."

"Again distressing yourself about that! It don't give me the slightest
concern; and didn't from the first."

"No?"

"No!"

"Well; I must say you take things easily--which I don't. A lover--
engaged, too--to go away in that _sans facon_ way! Not so much as a
note, nor even a verbal message. _Santissima_! it was something more
than rude--it was cruel; and I can't help thinking so."

"But there was a message in the letter to grandpapa, for both of us.
What more would you wish?"

"Pff! who cares for parting compliments? A _lepero_ would send better
to his sweetheart in sleeveless _camisa_. That's not the message for
me."

"How can you tell there wasn't some other which has miscarried? I'm
almost sure there has been; else why should somebody have knocked at the
door an' said so. The Americano left in charge of the house has told
grandpa something about four men having come there the night after we
left it. One may have been this messenger we've missed--the others
going with him for company. And through his neglect we've not got
letters intended for us. Or, if they haven't written, it's because they
were pressed for time. However, we shall know when we meet them at
Cadiz."

"Ah! when we meet them there, I'll demand an explanation from Eduardo.
That shall I, and get it--or know the reason why."

"He will have a good one, I warrant. There's been a miscarriage,
somehow. For hasn't there been mystery all round? Luckily, no
fighting, as we feared, and have reason to rejoice. Neither anything
seen or heard of your California!! chivalry! That's the strangest thing
of all."

"It is indeed strange," rejoins Carmen, showing emotion; "I wonder what
became of them. Nobody that we know has met either after that day; nor
yet heard word of them."

"Carmen, I believe one _has_ heard of them."

"Who?"

"Your father."

"What makes you think so