part I think young people are all the better for having to fight their

way; but whatever may take place in the future I can allow no intercourse till your father's consent is obtained. That will give a chance of testing their feelings on both sides. Gipsy is a mere child, she may not understand herself."

"I think," said Cheriton, "that if Jack writes to my father now, or speaks to him when he gets home, that no one will attend to him. But if it could wait till we all go back, I could explain the circumstances so much better. It is always difficult to take in what passes at a distance."

"Well," said Mr Stanforth, "all I have to say is that when Jack applies to me, with his father's consent, I will hear what he has to say, not before. Come, Cheriton," he added, "you know there is no other way of acting. This foolish boy has broken up our pleasant party, and upset all our plans."

"Perhaps I ought to have made more apologies for him," said Cherry, with a smile. "But I want things to go well with Jack. It would be so bad for him to have a disappointment of that kind just as he is making his start in life."

Mr Stanforth noticed the unconscious emphasis, "I want things to go well with _Jack_," and said kindly, "Jack couldn't have a better special pleader, and if he has as much stuff in him as I think, a few obstacles won't hurt him."

"Oh, Jack has plenty of good strong stuff in him, mental, moral--and physical, too," added Cherry hurriedly.

Mr Stanforth was touched by the allusion, which was evidently intended to combat a possible latent objection on his part.

"Jack is excellent--but inconvenient," he said, thinking it better not to make the subject too serious. "The thing is what to do next." As he spoke, Jack himself came up to them, and Mr Stanforth prevented his first words with, "My dear fellow, I have said my say to your brother, and I don't mean to listen to yours just yet."

"I believe, sir," said Jack, "that I--I have not observed sufficient formalities. I shall go straight home to my father, and I hope to obtain his full consent. But it is due to me to let me say that my mind is, and always will be, quite unalterable. And I'm not sorry I spoke, sir--I can't be!"

"No," said Mr Stanforth; "but I must desire that you make no further attempt at present."

"I hope, Mr Stanforth, that you don't imagine I would attempt anything underhand!" cried Jack impetuously.

"I shall have every confidence in you," said Mr Stanforth gravely; "but remember, I cannot regard you as pledged to my daughter by anything that has passed to-day." Jack made no answer, but he closed his lips with an expression of determination.

When Alvar came back, having succeeded in instituting an inquiry into the merits of Pedro's character, there was a discussion of plans, which ended in the three brothers agreeing to go by the shortest route to Seville, whence Jack could at once start for England; while the Stanforths followed them by a longer and more picturesque road, and after picking up their own property, would also go home _via_ Madrid some week or two later. Alvar was not nearly so much astonished as the others, nor so much concerned.

"It was natural," he said, "since Jack's heart was not preoccupied, and would doubtless pass away with absence."

Jack was so excessively indignant that he did not condescend to a reply, only asking Cherry if he was too tired to start at once.

This proposal, however, was negatived by Mr Stanforth, who remarked that he did not want to hear of any more adventures in the dusk; and it was agreed that both parties should start early on the following morning. In the meantime the only rational thing was to behave as usual. Jack was, however, speechless and surly with embarrassment, and stuck to Cheriton as if he was afraid to lose sight of him; while Gipsy bore herself with a transparent affectation of unconsciousness, and, though she blushed at every look, coined little remarks at intervals. Miss Weston kindly professed to be seized with a desire to inspect the Dominican Convent, and carried her and Alvar off for that purpose; while Jack held by Cherry, who was glad to rest, though this startling incident had one good effect, in driving away all the haunting memories of the late alarm.

The next morning all were up with the sun, Gipsy busily dispensing the chocolate and pressing it on Cheriton as he sat at the table. Suddenly she turned, and, with a very pretty gesture, half confident, half shy, she held up a cup to Jack, who stood behind.

"Won't you have some?" she said, with a hint of her own mischief in her eyes and voice. Jack seized the cup, and--upset it over the deft, quick hands that tendered it to him.

"Oh, I have burnt you!" he exclaimed, in so tragic a voice that all present burst out laughing.

"No," said Gipsy, "early morning chocolate is not dangerously hot; but you have spoiled my cuffs, and spilled it, and I don't think there's any more of it."

"Jack's first attention!" said Cherry, under his breath; but he jumped up and followed Alvar, who had gone to see about the mount provided for them. Miss Weston was tying various little bags on to her saddle.

"I say, Mr Stanforth," called Cherry, "there's such a picturesque mule here; do come and see it."

He looked up with eyes full of mischievous entreaty as Mr Stanforth obeyed his call. "Well," said the latter with a smile, "I may ask _you_ to come and see me at Kensington, for I must get the picture finished."

"That was a much prettier picture, just now," said Cheriton; "and I'm sure Jack would be happy to sit for it _any_ time."

When Gipsy, long afterwards, was pressed on the subject of that little parting interview, she declared that Jack had done nothing but say that he wouldn't make love to her on any account; but however that might be, she soon came running out, rosy and bashful; while Cheriton put her on her mule and gave her a friendly hand-squeeze and a look of all possible encouragement. Mr Stanforth went into the house and called Jack to bid him a kind farewell. After the party had set off, Gipsy looked back and saw the crowd of mule drivers and peasants, the host and hostess, with Mariquita kissing her hands, and the three brothers standing together in the morning sunshine, waving their farewells. As they passed out of sight, her father touched her hand and made her ride up close to his side.

"My little girl," he said, "this is a serious thing that has come to you; I do not know how it may end for you. I am sure that it will bring you anxiety and delay. Be honest with yourself, and do not exaggerate the romance and excitement of these last few days into a feeling which may demand from you much sacrifice."

Gipsy had never heard her father speak in this tone before--she was awed and silenced.

"Be honest," repeated her father, "for I think it is a very honest heart that you have won."

"Papa," said Gipsy, "I _am_ honest, and I think I know what you mean. But I don't mind waiting if I know he is waiting too. He said `begin at the beginning' with him."

"Well," said Mr Stanforth with a sigh, "_Che sara sara_;" but with a sudden turn, "_He_ is young, too, you know, and many things may happen to change his views."

"I cannot help it now, papa," said Gipsy, who felt that those days and nights of terror had developed her feelings more than weeks of common life. She gave her father's hand a little squeeze, and looked up in his face with the tears on her black eyelashes. She _meant_ to say, "I love _you_ all the better because of this new love which has made everything deeper and warmer for me," but all she managed to say was--"There! There are all the things tumbling out of your knapsack! I'm not going to have _that_ happen again even if--if--whatever should take place in the future."

"I hope, my dear, that nothing more will happen, at least till we are at home again," said Mr Stanforth meekly; but Gipsy put the things into the knapsack, and after a little silence they fell into a conversation on the scenery as naturally as possible.