that he has rated my two parents for making a
martyr of me unnecessarily, and told them it was
a duty to enliven my life as much as possible before
I enter upon this long period of probation. The grat-
ing of my room at Elena's is above a little strip of
Garden, and faces the blank wall of the next house.
Sometimes--who knows?" She shrugged her
shoulders and gave a gay little laugh, then stood
very erect and moved past him to the door. She
had recognized the shuffling step of Father Abella.

"Is supper ready, padre mio?" she asked sweetly.
"His excellency and I have talked so much that we
are very hungry."

"There is no need to deceive me," said Father
Abella dryly. "You are not the first lovers I have
known, although I will admit you are by far the
most interesting, and for that reason I have had the
wickedness to abet you. But I fancy the good God
will forgive me. Come quickly. They are scat-
tered now, but will go to the refectory in a moment
and miss you. Excellency, will you give your arm
to Dona Ignacia and take the seat at the head of the
table? Concha, my child, I am afraid you must
console our good Don Weeliam. He is having a
wretched quarter of an hour, but has loyally diverted
the attention of your mother."

"That is the vocation of certain men," said Con-