ned that day by sad experience that the time for sorrow and sighing
to flee away lay still in the far-off future.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE CANON'S HOSPITALITY.

El Pilar by day--In the old cathedral--The canon reproachful--Equal
to the occasion--No pressure needed--_Un diner maigre_--Dream of
forty years--True to time--Juanita--Fruits of long
service--Exploring Juanita's domains--House of magic--"Surely not a
fast-day"--Artistic dreams--Who can legislate after death?--Canon's
abstinence--Juanita withdraws--Our opportunity--Canon earnest and
sympathetic--Eugenie de Colmar--Canon's surprise--An old
friend--Truth stranger than fiction--"You will forget the old
priest"--Ingratitude not one of our sins--A _rivederci_--Canon's
letter--End of Eugenie's story--En route for Tarragona--Landlord
turns up at Lerida--Missing keys--Skeletons floated out to
Panama--Domestic drama--Dragon again to the
front--Tarragona--Matchless coast scene--Civilised inn--Military
element--Haunted house--Mystery unsolved--Distinct elements--Roman
and other remains--Dream of the past--Green pastures and sunny
vineyards.

It was the next day. We had again been standing on the farther bank of
the river watching the flowing waters. They were dark and deep, a mighty
stream that swept through the seven arches of the wonderful bridge
reflecting its outlines. We had contemplated for the twentieth time the
marvellous effect of the domes and towers of El Pilar rising like an
eastern vision against the clear sky, had asked ourselves over and over
again where we should find a fairer and a more striking view, and found
the question difficult to answer. We had strolled over that same bridge
back into the town, where the charm of outline and ancient atmosphere so
strangely disappeared; had passed the fine old Exchange, crossed the
square with its plashing fountain and ever-changing group of chattering
women filling their artistic pitchers.

Finally we had found ourselves within the cathedral, also, for the
twentieth time, lost in this architectural splendour; this wonder of a
bygone age, where all the fret of every-day life had no room for
existence.

As we looked, we noticed a portly figure hurriedly crossing the aisles
in our direction. At the first moment he did not see us. An expression
of intense amiability and benevolence "was upon the large round face,
that would otherw