"Oh, much better. I am very glad you heard of it at once. I do not
look at it quite in the same light that you do; but nevertheless--"

"What do you mean? But I know you are angry with me. And yet you
cannot think that I intended those words for you. Of course I know
now that there was nothing rude in what passed."

"Oh, but there was."

"No, I am sure there was not. You could not be rude though you are
so free hearted. I see it all now, and so does the marquis. You
will like him so much when you come to know him. Tell me that you
won't be cross with me for what I have said. Sometimes I think that
I have displeased you, and yet my whole wish has been to welcome you
to Seville, and to make you comfortable as an old friend. Promise me
that you will not be cross with me."

Cross with her! I certainly had no intention of being cross, but I
had begun to think that she would not care what my humour might be.
"Maria," I said, taking hold of her hand.

"No, John, do not do that. It is in the church, you know."

"Maria, will you answer me a question?"

"Yes," she said, very slowly, looking dawn upon the stone slabs
beneath our feet.

"Do you love me?"