Ha! ha!" He laughed childishly, and stopped. "And why does
Senorita Amita now--look--complain that Pereo, old Pereo, comes
between her and this Senor Raymond---this maquinista? Eh, and why
does SHE, the lady mother, the Castellana, shut Pereo from her
councils?" he went on, with rising excitement. "What are these
secret meetings, eh?--what these appointments, alone with this
Judas--without the family--without ME!"

"Hearken, Pereo," said the young girl, again laying her hand on the
old man's shoulder; "you have spoken truly--but you forget--the
years pass. These are no longer strangers; old friends have gone--
these have taken their place. My father forgave the Doctor--why
can not you? For the rest, believe in me--me--Maruja"--she
dramatically touched her heart over the international complications
of the letters of Captain Carroll and Peralta. "I will see that
the family honor does not suffer. And now, good Pereo, calm
thyself. Not with aguardiente, but with a bottle of old wine from
the Mision refectory that I will send to thee. It was given to me
by thy friend, Padre Miguel, and is from the old vines that were
here. Courage, Pereo! And thou sayest that Amita complains that
thou comest between her and Raymond. So! What matter? Let it
cheer thy heart to know that I have summoned the Peraltas, the
Pachecos, the Estudillos, all thy old friends, to dine here to-day.
Thou wilt hear the old names, even if the faces are young to thee.
Courage! Do thy duty, old friend; let them see that the
hospitality of La Mision Perdida does not grow old, if its
mayordomo does. Faquita will bring thee the wine. No; not that
way; thou needest not pass the patio, nor meet that man again.
Here, give me thy hand. I will lead thee. It trembles, Pereo!
These are not the sinews that only two years ago pulled down the