termined, indignant, distressingly reproachful! Ah, well!
if Don Pancho (an ingenious diminutive of my Christian name) valued
his horse so highly--if he were jealous of the evident devotion of the
animal to herself, he would--but here I succumbed! And then I had the
felicity of holding that little foot for one brief moment in the hollow
of my hand, of readjusting the skirt as she threw her knee over
the saddle-horn, of clasping her tightly--only half in fear--as I
surrendered the reins to her grasp. And to tell the truth, as Enriquez
and I fell back, although I had insisted upon still keeping hold of the
end of the riata, it was a picture to admire. The petite figure of the
young girl, and the graceful folds of her skirt, admirably harmonized
with Chu Chu's lithe contour, and as the mare arched her slim neck and
raised her slender head under the pressure of the reins, it was so like
the lifted velvet-capped toreador crest of Consuelo herself, that they
seemed of one race.

"I would not that you should hold the riata," said Consuelo petulantly.

I hesitated--Chu Chu looked certainly very amiable--I let go. She began
to amble towards the gate, not mincingly as before, but with a freer and
fuller stride. In spite of the incongruous saddle the young girl's seat
was admirable. As they neared the gate she cast a single mischievous
glance at me, jerked at the rein, and Chu Chu sprang into the road at
a rapid canter. I watched them fearfully and breathlessly, until at the
end of the lane I saw Consuelo rein in slightly, wheel easily, and come
flying back. There was no doubt about it; the horse was under perfect
control. Her second subjugation was complete and final!

Overjoyed and bewildered, I overwhelmed them with congratulations;
Enriquez alone retaining the usual brotherly attitude of criticism, and
a superior toleration of a lover's enthusiasm. I ventured to hint to
Consuelo (in what I believed was a safe whisper) that Chu Chu only
showed my own feelings towards her. "Without doubt," responded Enriquez
gravely. "She have of herself assist you to climb to the tree to pull
to yourself the berry for my sister." But I felt Consuelo's little hand
return my pressure, and I forgave and even pitied him.

From that day forward, Chu Chu and Consuelo were not only firm friends
but daily companions. In my devotion I would have presented the horse
to the young girl, but with flattering delicacy she preferred to call it
mine. "I shal