Senhor, but our poor shrine is unused to such
princely donations."

"Confound the old hypocrite," muttered I to myself; "what is he at?--Fra
Miguel," said I, assuming the business-like manner of a man who could
not afford to lose time, "the Virgin may be, and doubtless is, all that
you say of her; but there must needs be many excellent and devout men
here, yourself doubtless among the number, who see numberless objects
of charity, for whom their hearts bleed in vain. Take this, and remember
that he who gave it, only asks as a return your prayers and good
wishes."

The Friar deposited the present in some inscrutable fold of his loose
garment, and then, drawing himself proudly up, said, "Well, now what is
it?"

"Am I too late?" asked I, with the same purpose-like tone.

"Of course you are; the ceremony is finished, the contracts are signed
and witnessed. In an hour they will be away on their road to the
Havannah."

"You have no consolation to offer me,--no hope?"

"None of an earthly character," said he, with a half-closed eye.

"Confound your hypocrisy!" cried I, in a rage.

"Don't be profane," said he, calmly. "What I have said is true. Heaven
will some day take Don Lopez,--he is too good for this wicked world; and
then, who knows what may happen?"

This was but sorry comfort, waiting for the bride to become a widow;
but, alas, I had no better! Besides it had cost me a heavy sum to
obtain, and accordingly I prized it the more highly.

If _my_ anxieties were acute, apparently Don Lopez's mind was not in
a state of perfect serenity. He stormed and raved at everybody and
everything. He saw, or, what was pretty much the same thing, he fancied
he saw, a plot in the whole business, and swore he would bring the
vengeance of the Holy Office upon everybody concerned in it. In this
blessed frame of mind the departure of the newly wedded pair took place
in spite of all my entreaties; Don Lopez drove away with his young
bride,--the last I beheld of her was a white hand waving a handkerchief
from the window of the carriage. I looked, and--she was gone!

If some were kind-hearted enough to pity me, the large majority of the
company felt very differently, and bore anything but friendly feelings
to one who had marred the festivities and cut short--Heaven could
only tell by what number of days--the eating, dancing, singing, and
merriment.

The old ladies were peculiarly severe in their comments, averring that
no well-br