ich was causing him to hesitate; but something
very different, as the train of his thoughts will tell.

"Don Ignacio, at least, will expect me--wish me to come, whether she do
or not. I accepted his invitation, and cannot well--oh! had I known
what I do now--seen what I saw this morning--Bah! I shall return to the
hotel and never more go near her!"

But he did not return to his hotel; instead, still stood irresolute, as
if the thing were worth further considering.

What made the young man act thus? Simply a belief that Luisa Valverde
did not love him, and, therefore, would not care to have him as a
companion at supper; for it was to supper her father had asked him. On
the day before he had received the invitation, and signified acceptance
of it. But he had seen something since which had made him half repent
having done so; a man, Carlos Santander, standing beside the woman he
loved, bending over her till his lips almost touched her forehead,
whispering words that were heard, and, to all appearance, heeded. What
the words were Florence Kearney knew not, but could easily guess their
nature. They could only be of love; for he saw the carmine on her
cheeks as she listened to them.

He had no right to call the young lady to an account. During all his
intercourse with Don Ignacio, he had seen the daughter scarce half a
score times; then only while passing out and in--to or from his lessons.
Now and then a few snatches of conversation had occurred between them
upon any chance theme--the weather, the study he was prosecuting (how he
wished _she_ had been his teacher), and the peculiarities of the New
Orleans life, to which they were both strangers. And only once had she
appeared to take more than an ordinary interest in his speech. This,
when he talked of Mexico, and having come from his own far land,
"Irlandesa," with an enthusiastic desire to visit hers, telling her of
his intention to do so. On this occasion he had ventured to speak of
what he had heard about Mexican banditti; still more of the beauty of
the Mexican ladies--naively adding that he would no doubt be in less
danger of losing his life than his heart.

To this he thought she had listened, or seemed to listen, with more than
ordinary attention, looking pensive as she made reply.

"Yes, Don Florencio! you will see much in Mexico likely to give you
gratification. 'Tis true, indeed, that many of my countrywomen are
fair--some very fair. Among them