? I don't."

"But I do. If papa were at home, I mightn't so much mind it. But, just
now, I've no desire to see Senor De Lara alone--still less while being
visited by Eduardo. They're both _demonios_, though in a different
way."

"Look yonder!" exclaims Inez, pointing towards the British frigate,
where a boat is in the water under her beam. The sun, reflected from
dripping oar-blades, tells them to be in motion.

While the girls continue gazing, the boat is seen to separate from the
ship's side, and put shoreward, straight towards the sand-pit which
projects in front of Don Gregorio's dwelling. The rowers are all
dressed alike, the measured stroke of their oars betokening that the
boat belongs to the man-o'-war. But the young ladies do not conjecture
about this; nor have they any doubt as to the identity of two of the
figures seated in the stern-sheets. Those uniforms of dark blue, with
the gold buttons, and yellow cap-bands, are so well known as to be
recognisable at any distance to which love's glances could possibly
penetrate. They are the guests expected, for whom the spare horses
stand saddled in the _patio_. For Don Gregorio, by no means displeased
with certain delicate attentions which the young British officers have
been paying to the female members of his family, has invited them to
visit him--ride out along with the ladies, and, on return, stay to
dinner. He knows that a treat of this kind will be pleasing to those he
has asked; and, before leaving home, had given orders for the steeds to
be saddled.

It is not the first time Crozier and Cadwallader have been to the
Spaniard's house, nor the first to stretch their limbs under his
dining-table, nor the first for them to have held pleasant converse with
the _senoritas_, and strolled along solitary paths, opportune for the
exchange of those love-locks. But it may be the last--at least during
their sojourn in California. For in truth is it to be a farewell visit.

But with this understanding, another has been entered into. The
acquaintance commenced in California is to be renewed at Cadiz, when the
_Crusader_ goes thither, which she is ere long expected to do. But for
such anticipation Carmen Montijo and Inez Alvarez would not be so
high-hearted at the prospect of a leave-taking so near. Less painful on
this account, it might have been even pleasant, but for what they see on
the opposite side--the horsemen approaching from the town. An encount