o was so crazy about them will get the lot
after all, unless I go on myself.'

"'Oh, I wouldn't lose that Cano for the world,' cried Mrs. Harrington;
'I have set my heart on having it in my bed room at home.'

"'Precisely the reason I made up my mind to go, dear lady,' said the
General, lifting her pretty hand to his lips with exquisite gallantry.
'I am a foolish man, and I cannot bear to have you disappointed in
anything--be it of importance or the veriest trifle.'

"'Oh, how good you are,' said Mrs. Harrington, with the grateful tears
swimming in her eyes. 'Far--far, far too good to me.'

"'I could not equal your deserts, my best one,' he answered. 'Besides,
those three pictures are very valuable--worth double what I can get them
for, and as a man who likes to further the cause of art in our new
country, I should not feel justified in neglecting this opportunity. Am
I not right?'

"'Perfectly,' she said.

"'Miss Crawford thinks so too, I hope!' he asked politely.

"I bowed--I was too much shaken by a world of strange, inexplicable
emotions, to trust my voice just then.

"'I can attend to that business easily enough,' James added; 'and you
profess to hate travelling.'

"'I shall be upheld by a consciousness that I am performing my duty,'
replied the General, laughing. 'No, James, I am convinced that unless I
go myself, we shall lose those pictures. I really have, what
superstitious people call a premonition, in regard to the matter.'

"'It is useless to prolong the discussion,' exclaimed James, angrily,
rising from his chair.

"'Oh quite,' replied the General, 'I am an indolent man, but a perfect
Spartan in the cause of duty--pray give me some credit, ladies.'

"'I can only think how I shall miss you,' exclaimed his wife.

"'My dear friend, we shall both have one pleasant anticipation amid the
pain of separation--that of meeting soon again.'

"James was walking up and down the room, moody and preoccupied.

"'When shall you go?' Mrs. Harrington asked.

"'This very day--I must lose no time.'

"'And when will you be back?'

"'Within the week; I shall make all haste, you may be sure.'

"'But you will stay in Cadiz long enough to rest,' she said anxiously;
'you must not make yourself ill.'

"'Always thoughtful--always kind!' he half whispered. Then he added
aloud--'I shall send for Zillah to join me there, and will bring her on;
so you see everything arranges itself admirably.'

"James paused sudde