Whether Rosita would have comprehended this without Mary's blushes
might be questioned, but she did say, 'Ah! yes! you were to have
married the Visconde, were you not? El Senor was so angry! Did his
father forbid when your father refused your portion?'

'Oh no, he would receive me if I brought nothing.'

'And you wish to marry?' said Rosita.

'If my father would only consent.'

'But why did you come here then?' said Rosita, opening her large
eyes.

'My father commanded me.'

'England is a long way off,' said Rosita, languidly, 'he could not
have reached you there. You would have been a great lady and noble!
How could you come away, if he would still have you?'

'Because it would have been wrong. We could not have been happy in
disobeying my father.'

'Ah! but you could have done penance. I had many penances to do for
quitting my convent; Padre Inigo was very severe, but they are over
at last, and I am free for giving alms twice a week, and the Sisters
have forgiven me, and send me so many silver flowers and dulces; I
will show them to you some day. Could you not have done penance?'

'I am afraid not.'