'Ah! I forgot you were a heretic, poor thing! How inconvenient! And
so you will not come with me to the bull-fight next Sunday?'

Such being Rosita's ideas on the point, Mary gave up much hope in her
influence, and tried what a good-humoured announcement of her re-
establishment of the English breakfast would effect towards bringing
her father to a tete-a-tete, but he never came near it. The waiting
in silence was miserable enough for herself, but she would have
continued to bear it except for the injustice to Louis, who must not
be kept in suspense. The departure of the next English mail should
be the limit of her endurance, and after a day of watching, she
finally went up to her father when he would have bidden her good
night, and said, in English, 'Papa, if you please, I must speak to
you.'

'So you shall, my dear, but we are all tired; we must have our
night's rest.'

'No, papa, it must be to-night, if you please. It is necessary for
me to know before to-morrow how I am to write to Lord Fitzjocelyn.'

'Pshaw! Mary, I've settled that young fellow!'

'Papa, I don't think you know--'

'I've written him a civil answer, if that's what you mean, much
civiller than he or his father deserve,' he said, speaking loud, and
trying to fling away from her, but she stood her ground, and spoke
calmly and. steadily, though her heart beat violently.