across the room, and in a few words
presented me to the fair widow, who courtesied, and accepted my arm, and
away we marched in that solemn procession by which people endeavor to
thaw the ice of first acquaintance.

"Your first visit to Ireland, I believe, Senhora?" said I, in Spanish,
wishing to say something as we walked along.

"Yes, Senhor, and yours also, I understand?" replied she.

"Not exactly," muttered I, taken too suddenly to recover myself; "when
I was a boy, a mere child--"I here by accident employed a Mexican
word almost synonymous with the French "gamin." She started, and said
eagerly, "How! you have been in Mexico?"

"Yes, Senhora, I have passed some years in that country."

"I am a Mexican," cried she, delightedly. "Tell me, where have you
traveiled, and whom did you know there?"

"T have travelled a good deal, but scarcely knew any one," replied I.
"At Guajuaqualla--"

"Oh, were you there? My own neighborhood,-my home," exclaimed she,
fervidly.

"Then probably you know Don Estaban Olares," said I.

"My own father!"

I turned round; our eyes met; it was just at the very entrance of the
dinner-room, where a blaze of light was shed on everything, and there
upon my arm--her hand trembling, her cheek colorless, and her eyes
swimming in tears--was Donna Maria! Neither of us spoke, neither of us
could speak!--and while her eyes wandered from my face to the several
decorations I wore upon my breast, and I watched with agonizing
intensity the look of terror she threw down the table towards the place
where her uncle was seated, I saw plainly that some painful mystery was
struggling within her mind.

"Do not let my uncle recognize you," said she, in a low whisper; "he is
not likely to do so, for both his sight and hearing are much impaired."

"But why should I not claim him as an old acquaintance, if not a friend,
Senhora, if he be the same Fra Miguel?"

"Hush! be cautious," cried she; "I will tell you all
tomorrow,--to-night, if there be a fitting opportunity. Let us talk of
something else, or we shall be remarked."

I tried my best to obey her, but I fear my attempt was a poor one; I was
able, however, to listen to her with a certain amount of composure, and,
while doing so, to remark how much she had improved in grace and beauty
since we met. Years had developed the charms which girlhood then but
shadowed forth, and in the full and liquid softness of her dark and
long-lashed eyes, and the pla