ated to know that you watched me. Yes, at a bull-fight the
primitive man in me has its way, although I have the grace to be
ashamed of myself afterward. In that I am at least one degree more
civilized than your race, which never repents."

The door of one of the smaller rooms stood open, and as they took
advantage of this oversight with a singular concert of motive, he
clasped both her hands in his. "Are you angry with me?" he asked
softly. He dared not close the door, but his back was square against
it, and the other guests were moving down to the refectory.

"For liking such horrid sport?"

"We have no time to waste in coquetry."

Her eyes melted, but she could not resist planting a dart. "Not now--I
quite understand: love could never be first with you. And two years
are not so long. They quickly pass when one is busy. I shall find
occupation, and you will have no time for longings and regrets."

They were not yet alone, women were talking in their light, high voices
not a yard away. The hindrance, and her new loveliness in the soft
mantilla, the pink of the roses reflected in her throat, the
provocative curl of her mouth, sent the blood to his head.

"You have only to say the word," he said hoarsely, "and the Juno will
sail to-night."

Never before had she seen his face so unmasked. Her voice shook in
triumph and response.

"Would you? Would you?"

"Say the word!"

"You would sacrifice all--the Company--your career--your Sitkans?"

"All--everything." His own voice shook with more than passion, for
even in that moment he counted the cost, but he did not care.

But Concha detected that second break in his voice, and turned her head
sadly.

"You would not say that to-morrow. I hate myself that I made you say
it now. I love you enough to wait forever, but I have not the courage
to hand you over to your enemies."

"You are strangely far-sighted for a young girl." And between
admiration and pique, his ardor suffered a chill.

"I am no longer a young girl. In these last days it has seemed to me
that secrets locked in my brain, secrets of women long dead, but of
whose essence I am, have come forth to the light. I have suffered in
anticipation. My mind has flown--flown--I have lived those two years
until they are twenty, thirty, and I have lived on into old age here by
the sea, watching, watching--"

She had dropped all pretence of coquetry and was speaking with a
passionate forlornness. B