the young lady will have nothing to complain of, either. Between Pedro
and Pedro the difference is not very great."

"And Senor Don Cayetano?"

"Buried in his books as usual. He has a library bigger than the
cathedral; and he roots up the earth, besides, searching for stones
covered with fantastical scrawls, that were written, they say, by the
Moors."

"How soon shall we reach Orbajosa?"

"By nine o'clock, God willing. How delighted the senora will be when she
sees her nephew! And yesterday, Senorita Rosario was putting the room
you are to have in order. As they have never seen you, both mother and
daughter think of nothing else but what Senor Don Jose is like, or is
not like. The time has now come for letters to be silent and tongues
to talk. The young lady will see her cousin and all will be joy and
merry-making. If God wills, all will end happily, as the saying is."

"As neither my aunt nor my cousin has yet seen me," said the traveller
smiling, "it is not wise to make plans."

"That's true; for that reason it was said that the bay horse is of one
mind and he who saddles him of another," answered the peasant. "But
the face does not lie. What a jewel you are getting! and she, what a
handsome man!"

The young man did not hear Uncle Licurgo's last words, for he was
preoccupied with his own thoughts. Arrived at a bend in the road, the