"You said there was something else--"

O'Reilly's hesitation became an embarrassed silence. He tried to
laugh it off.

"There is, otherwise I'd stay right here and tell my penurious
friends to whistle for their profits. It seems I'm cursed with a
fatal beauty. You may have noticed it? No? Well, perhaps it's a
magnificent business ability that I have. Anyhow, the president of
my company has a notion that I'd make him a good son-in-law."

"I--Oh!" cried Rosa.

And at her tone O'Reilly hurried on:

"These rich men have the most absurd ideas. I suppose I'll have
to--"

"Then you are in love, senor?"

The young man nodded vigorously. "Indeed I am--with the sweetest
girl in Cuba. That's the whole trouble. That's why I'm hurrying
home to resign before I'm fired." Not daring to look too long or
too deeply into Rosa Varona's eyes until she had taken in the
whole truth, he waited, staring at his feet. "I'm sort of glad it
has come to a show-down and I can speak out. I'm hoping she'll
miss me." After a moment he ventured, "Will she--er--will you,
Rosa?"