'Ah, then,' she said, 'I shall soon learn; English blood ran in my
father's veins; and I have had the advantage of some training in
your expressive tongue. If I speak already without accent, with my
thorough English appearance, there is nothing left to change except
my manners.'

'Oh no,' said Desborough. 'Oh pray not! I--madam--'

'I am,' interrupted the lady, 'the Senorita Teresa Valdevia. The
evening air grows chill. Adios, Senorito.' And before Harry could
stammer out a word, she had disappeared into her room.

He stood transfixed, the cigarette still unlighted in his hand.
His thoughts had soared above tobacco, and still recalled and
beautified the image of his new acquaintance. Her voice re-echoed
in his memory; her eyes, of which he could not tell the colour,
haunted his soul. The clouds had risen at her coming, and he
beheld a new-created world. What she was, he could not fancy, but
he adored her. Her age, he durst not estimate; fearing to find her
older than himself, and thinking sacrilege to couple that fair
favour with the thought of mortal changes. As for her character,
beauty to the young is always good. So the poor lad lingered late
upon the terrace, stealing timid glances at the curtained window,
sighing to the gold laburnums, rapt into the country of romance;
and when at length he entered and sat down to dine, on cold boiled
mutton and a pint of ale, he feasted on the food of gods.

Next day when he returned to the terrace, the window was a little
ajar, and he enjoyed a view of the lady's shoulder, as she sat