ou, as well as needless,"
returned Manuela, in a slightly hurt tone. "Over and over again I have
been on the point of betraying myself. Why did you require me to
maintain such secrecy, and afflict myself with such constant care and
watchfulness?"

"Because I knew full well," replied Pedro, with a twinkle in his eye,
"that if poor Senhor Armstrong knew your true character, he would
infallibly fall in love with you in spite of your brown skin."

"And pray, senhor, why should you object to Senhor Armstrong, or any one
else, falling in love with me in spite of my brown skin?"

"You know very well, Manuela, that, your father being my friend, it is
my duty in all circumstances to be faithful to him. You are also aware
that your father entertains a strong objection to very young men, who
have no money or prospects, presuming to think of marriage with his
daughter, and that he would never consent to your being engaged to
Senhor Armstrong in present circumstances. It was my simple duty,
therefore, when I saw the danger, to warn and protect you. Indeed I
saw, almost the first day after we met the youth, that I had made a
great mistake in asking him to join us; but it was too late then to
change, so I imposed secrecy on you, and admit that you have acted your
part well; but my well-meant efforts have been utterly in vain."

"How so!"

"Why, because the poor wretch has fallen hopelessly in love with you in
spite of your disguise--ay, and in spite of his own efforts to the
contrary, for I have watched him carefully, and regard him as an
uncommonly fine specimen of an amiable, self-denying, and honourable
man. And now, as I had feared, your father is furious at his presuming
even to think of you, though I have done my best to show him that he has
acted nobly all through our journey; that, after all, he may not really
care for you at all, and that at all events you have given him no
encouragement whatever, and do not care a straw for _him_."

Manuela flushed deeply at the last words, and there was the slightest
possible contraction of her fine eyebrows as she replied, somewhat
loftily--

"Senhor Pedro, you are a kind friend and a faithful guide, but you
pretend to a greater knowledge of these matters than you possess. You
do not understand my beloved father as well as I do, and you are totally
ignorant of the state of my feelings. However, I believe you have done
all for the best, and my earnest request now is that, ha