Luis Cervantes was obliging enough; he jumped down
and joined her.

"You're proud, ain't you? Have I been so mean that
you don't even want to talk to me?"

"Why do you say that, Camilla? You've been extreme-
ly kind to me; why, you've been more than a friend,
you've taken care of me as if you were my sister. Now
I'm about to leave, I'm very grateful to you; I'll always
remember you."

"Liar!" Camilla said, her face transfigured with joy.
"Suppose I hadn't come after you?"

"I intended to say good-bye to you at the dance this
evening."

"What dance? If there's a dance, I'll not go to it."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't stand that horrible man . . . Deme-
trio!"

"Don't be silly, child," said Luis. "He's really very fond
of you. Don't go and throw away this opportunity. You'll
never have one like it again in your life. Don't you know
that Demetrio is on the point of becoming a general, you