shoulder, while the latter wound her arm fondly about her, and gently
stroked back the raven hair from her aching brow.

"Since we broke up our school, I have been warned that we are in
danger, and advised to leave San Antonio as speedily as possible; for
strife is evidently at hand, and a battleground is no place for those
so unprotected as you and I."

"Dr. Bryant has promised to watch over us: and surely you have
implicit confidence in both his judgment and honor. What do you fear,
Mary?"

"Everything. We may remain here too long--till escape will be
impossible; and then who may predict with any degree of certainty the
chances of war? That Dr. Bryant will do all that a friend or brother
would, I doubt not; but he may be powerless to help when danger
assails; and even if he should not, to travel from here in stormy
times would not be so easy as you imagine."

"Who has been filling your head with such ideas? It could be none
other than that dark-browed Inez."

"If she has, could aught but disinterested friendship actuate her to
such a course?"

"Really, Mary, I should not have given you credit for so much
credulity. Do you place any confidence in what that girl may tell
you?"

"I do rely on what she confides to me. Has she ever given you cause