continuously on the
foot-walks, now on one side now the other, his face towards the Plaza
Grande--as though he expected to see some one coming that way. Kearney
himself was regarding the people who came along--but only from
curiosity--when his attention was more particularly drawn to one who had
come to a stop on the sidewalk nearly opposite. This was a girl of
rather diminutive stature, dressed in the ordinary fashion of the common
people, short-skirted petticoat, sleeveless _camisa_, arms, ankles, and
feet bare; but the head, breast, and shoulders all under one covering--
the _reboso_. Even her face was hidden by this, for she was wearing it
"tapado," one eye only visible, through a little loop in the folded
scarf, which was kept open by the hand that held it. The girl had drawn
up in front of a jeweller's window, as though to feast that eye on the
pretty things therein displayed. And thus Kearney would not have
noticed her, any more than the others, many of them in like garb passing
to and fro. But, just as his eye happened to light upon her, he saw
that hers--literally a single one--was fixed upon him, regarding him in
a way altogether different from that which might be expected on the part
of a chance stranger. Her attitude, too, was odd. Though facing nearly
square to the shop window, and pretending to look into it, her head was
slightly turned, and the eye surely on him.

At first he was puzzled to make out what it could mean, and why the girl
should be taking such an interest in him. Possibly, had she been
wearing shoes and stockings, he might have come easier to the
comprehension of it. But a little brown-skinned, barefooted _muchacha_,
in a petticoat of common stuff, and cheap scarf over her shoulders, he
could think of no reason why she should have aught to do with him.

Only for a few seconds, however, was he thus in the dark. Then all
became clear, the _eclaircissement_ giving him a start, and sending the
blood in quick rush through his veins--pleasant withal. For the girl,
seeing she had caught his attention, relaxed her clasp upon the scarf,
partially exposing her face, and the other eye.

Kearney needed not seeing the whole of it for recognition now. Well
remembered he those features--pretty in spite of the dark skin--he had
often seen wreathed with pleasant smiles, as their owner used to open
the door for him in the Casa de Calvo.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

A LETTER DEXTEROUSLY DELIVE