r mind, sir," he said,
"and am sorry. I can hardly remain as an unwelcome third in a journey.
It would be a satisfaction to me if the senora would assure me that I
am wrong." Manuela now turned her head with an effort and looked down
upon the grinning youth.

"Why should I care whether you stay or go?" she said. Her eyelids
flickered over her eyes as though he were dust in their light.
He showed his teeth.

"Why indeed, senora? God knows I have no reputation to bring you,
though the company of a gentleman, the son of a gentleman, never comes
amiss, they say. But two is company, and three is a fair. I have
found it so, and so doubtless has your ladyship."

She made him no answer, and had turned away her face long before he had
finished. After that the conversation was mainly of his making; for
Manuela would say nothing, and Manvers had nothing to say. The cork
wood was plain in front of him now; he thanked God for the prospect of
food and rest. In fifteen minutes, thought he, he should be swimming
in the Pisuerga.

The forest began tentatively, with heath, sparse trees and mounds of
cistus and bramble. Manvers followed the road, which ran through a
portion of it, until he saw the welcome thickets on either hand, deep
tunnels of dark and shadowy places where the sun could not stab; then
he turned aside over the broken ground, and Esteban's donkey picked a
dainty way behind him. When he had reached what seemed to him
perfection, he pulled up.

"Now, young lady," he said; "I will give you food and drink, and then
you shall go to sleep, and so will I. Afterwards we will consider what
had best be done with you."

"Yes, sir," she replied in a whisper. Manvers dismounted and held out
his hand to her. There was no more coquetting with the saddle. She
scarcely touched his hand, and did not once lift her eyes to him--but
he was busy with his haversack and had no thoughts for her.

Esteban meantime sat the donkey, looking gravely at his company,
blinking his eyes, smiling quietly, recurring now and then to the
winding minor air which had been in his head all day. He was perfectly
unhampered by any doubts of his welcome, and watched with serious
attention the preparations for a meal in the open which Manvers was
making with the ease and despatch of one versed in camps.

Ham and sausage, rolls of bread, a lettuce, oranges, cheese, dates, a
bottle of wine, another of water, salt, olives, a knife and for