o dense. "The lovely senorita is also
afraid of being captured by El Diablo Cojuelo, who would make her an
ideal husband."

"I say, that's hardly complimentary, old fellow!" Tony commented.
"Sort of _faux pas_, isn't it, to suggest that a brigand would be a
better husband for Myra than yours truly, and that Myra is a suitable
wife for a brigand?"

"That, of course, depends on the brigand," answered Don Carlos, with a
smile. "Of course, if Myra is really scared, and is genuinely afraid
to come to Spain lest she should lose her heart----"

"I am afraid of nothing!" interrupted Myra, exasperated beyond measure;
and immediately she regretted the impulsive words.

"So you will prove the fact by keeping your promise to come to Spain as
my guest?" queried Don Carlos quickly.

"That will depend on whether you know your duty to a guest and your
obligations as a host," retorted Myra curtly, and Tony raised his
eyebrows, surprised by her unusual rudeness.

"I flatter myself, dear lady, that I have a reputation as a host whose
hospitality is boundless," said Don Carlos gravely.

A footman entering with the tea-tray relieved the tension, and Tony
began to question Don Carlos about his trip, and to tell him what sport
he had been enjoying.

CHAPTER VII

Don Carlos took his leave a few minutes later, leaving Myra and Tony
alone together, and again Myra could not make up her mind whether or
not to tell her fiance what had happened. It happened that Tony, as
soon as they were alone, became particularly sentimental and wanted to
kiss her--a fact which somehow seemed to make the situation still more
difficult and complicated.

"I don't want to be kissed, Tony," Myra objected, when her lover tried
to embrace her. "I feel as if I never want to be kissed again, and I
don't want any love-making. Leave me alone!"

"You certainly are in a queer mood to-day, Myra," Tony commented.
"What has upset you, darling? You were quite rude to poor old Don
Carlos, and now you are snubbing me. What's the matter, old thing?"

"Oh, Tony, my dear, I--I don't know just what is the matter with me,
and I don't know what to do," exclaimed Myra, laughing tremulously and
feeling inclined to give way to tears. "I don't understand myself.
Oh, why are you so stupid? Why don't you make love to me and force me
to kiss you? Why don't you kiss and kiss me against my will?"

"Why, hang it all, Myra, I've just been trying to make love to you a