base of her ears, and would be dressed in black muslin, and wear a straw
hat with a black ribbon tied under her chin. But here was a different
Paula. She was large for her age and appeared quite strong. Her frank open
face, bronzed with the sun and air, showed health and intelligence. A black
silk cap with a wide ribbon of the same color, failed to entirely hide a
magnificent head of brown hair, gathered beneath her cap after the manner
of the Waldensians. Her simple dress of black and gray stripes reached
almost to her ankles, while an apron of fine cretonne came to her knees. A
black shawl whose points passed under her arms and were knotted behind,
protected her shoulders, while a pair of great thick shoes completed her
attire. In spite of what to our mind was a certain quaint oddness in her
dress, it could not hide Paula's beauty. Her forehead was broad and
intelligent, her large brown eyes were full of a certain sweetness, and a
lovely smile played on her half-opened lips.

"Come," said our father in an almost kindly voice for him; "Embrace your
young cousin, and give her a hearty welcome."

Rosa came forward, and I timidly did the same; but Paula dropping father's
hand, rushed toward Rosa and then to me, kissing us both and laughing and
crying at the same time. She seemed to forget her long voyage and her
weariness as she repeated to each one of us in her melodious voice, "I know
I shall love you all, and my Uncle Charles here. I already love him, and he
has told me all your names. Let me see, this is Rosa," and then turning to
me, "You are Lisita. Oh, if you only knew how much I love you all!"

"Now go and greet your cousin Catalina," said my father. "She is the sick
one," he added softly.

Paula drew near the big chair where the sick girl re-clined. Catalina was