ardent heart
was wholly impracticable.

Jim Montfort was silent for a time, looking at Rita from under his heavy
eyebrows. Presently--"You mean it?" he said.

"I mean it with all my heart!" said Rita.

"Well," said Jim, "my opinion is--considering my sister Peggy and her
views, to say nothing of Jean and Flora--my opinion is, Rita--hurrah for
you!"

A month ago, Rita would have gone into violent heroics at such a moment
as this. As it was, she smiled, though her eyes filled with tears, and
said, quietly, "Thank you, cousin! It is what I expected from Peggy's
brother."

"May I speak?" said another voice. They turned, and saw Jack Delmonte,
his blue eyes alight with eager gladness.

"If--if Miss Montfort has this noble desire to help in the good cause,"
he said, "it is easy for her to do it. My mother has turned her
_residencia_, just outside the city, into a hospital. I am going there
to-day. She needs more help, I know. You--you would like my mother, Miss
Montfort; everybody likes my mother. She would do all she could to make
it easy for you, and she would be so glad--oh, I can't tell you how glad
she would be. And I think you are quite certain to like her."

"Ah!" said Rita. "Have I not heard of the Saint of Las Rosas? There is
no need to tell me how good and how noble the Senora Delmonte is.
But--but will she like me, Captain--Captain Jack?"

"Will she?" said Jack. "Will the sun shine?"

CHAPTER XV.

A FOREGONE CONCLUSION.

LAS ROSAS, June --, 1898.

DEAR UNCLE JOHN:--Since I last wrote you, telling of our finding Rita,
and of her safe delivery to Senora Delmonte, things have been happening.
In the first place, I got a shot in my leg, in a skirmish, and, as the
bone was broken, and it didn't seem to come round as it ought, I came
here to be coddled, and am having a great time of it. Senora Delmonte is
a fine woman, sir. You don't see many such women in a lifetime. She has
a little hospital here, as complete as if she had New York City in her
back dooryard; all her own place, you understand. Kind of Florence
Nightingale woman. What's more, little Rita promises to become her
right hand; if she's given a chance, that is--I'll come to that by and
by, though. The way that little girl takes hold, sir, is a caution.
She's quick, and she's quiet, and she's cheerful; and she has brains in
her head, which is a mighty good thing in a woman when you do find it.