At this moment they both heard the sound of an approaching carriage.

'He is coming now,' said Concha. 'He is driving, so Estella is with
him.'

'Estella is of course jealous.'

The priest looked at her with a slow wise smile and said nothing.

'She--' began Julia, and then closed her lips--true to that esprit
de sexe which has ruled through all the ages. Then Julia Barenna
gave a sharp sigh as her mind reverted from Estella's affairs to her
own.

Sitting thus in silence, the two occupants of the quiet room heard
the approach of steps and the clink of spurs in the corridor.

'It is the reverendo who visits the senorita,' they heard the voice
of the sentinel explain deprecatingly.

The priest rose and went to the door, which he opened.

'Only as a friend,' he said. 'Come in, General.'

General Vincente entered the room followed by Estella. He nodded to
Concha and kissed his niece affectionately.

'Still obdurate?' he said, with a semi-playful tap on her shoulder.
'Still obdurate? My dear Julia, in peace and war the greatest
quality in the strong is mercy. You have proved yourself strong--