when she first left her house.

"Consita," I said hesitatingly, "you are not angry with me?"

"Angry?" she repeated haughtily, without looking at me. "Oh, no! Of a
possibility eet is Mees Essmith who is angry that I have interroopt her
tete-a-tete with you, and have send here my brother to make the same
with me."

"But," I said eagerly, "Miss Smith does not even know Enriquez!"

Consuelo turned on me a glance of unutterable significance. "Ah!" she
said darkly, "you TINK!"

Indeed I KNEW. But here I believed I understood Consuelo, and was
relieved. I even ventured to say gently, "And you are better?"

She drew herself up to her full height, which was not much. "Of my
health, what is it? A nothing. Yes! Of my soul let us not speak."

Nevertheless, when Enriquez appeared with Chu Chu she ran towards her
with outstretched arms. Chu Chu protruded about six inches of upper
lip in response--apparently under the impression, which I could quite
understand, that her mistress was edible. And, I may have been mistaken,
but their beautiful eyes met in an absolute and distinct glance of
intelligence!

During the home journey Consuelo recovered her spirits, and parted from
me with a magnanimous and forgiving pressure of the hand. I do not know
what explanation of Chu Chu's original escapade was given to Enriquez
and the rest of the family; the inscrutable forgiveness extended to me
by Consuelo precluded any further inquiry on my part. I was willing
to leave it a secret between her and Chu Chu. But, strange to say, it
seemed to complete our own understanding, and precipitated, not only our
lovemaking, but the final catastrophe which culminated that romance.
For we had resolved to elope. I do not know that this heroic remedy was
absolutely necessary from the attitude of either Consuelo's family or
my own; I am inclined to think we preferred it, because it involved no
previous explanation or advice. Need I say that our confidant and firm
ally was Consuelo's brother--the alert, the linguistic, the ever-happy,
ever-ready Enriquez! It was understood that his presence would not only
give a certain mature respectability to our performance--but I do not
think we would have contemplated this step without it. During one of our
riding excursions we were to secure the services of a Methodist minister
in the adjoining county, and, later, that of the Mission padre--when the
secret was out. "I will gif her away," said Enriquez confidently, "