ice people. If so, our
Atlantic voyage will be more enjoyable than this on the Pacific."

"But we've been very comfortable in the _Condor_; and _I'm_ sure Captain
Lantanas has done all he could to make things agreeable for us."

"He has indeed, the dear good creature; and I shall ever feel grateful
to him. Still you must admit that, however well meant, we've been at
times a little bored by his learned dissertations. O Inez, it's been
awfully lonely, and frightfully monotonous--at least, to me."

"Ah! I understand. What you want is a bevy of bachelors as
fellow-passengers, young ones at that. Well; I suppose there will be
some in the big steamer. Like enough, a half-score of our moustached
_militarios_, returning from Cuba and other colonies. Wouldn't that
make our Atlantic voyage enjoyable?"

"Not mine--nothing of the sort, as you ought to know. To speak truth,
it was neither the loneliness nor monotony of our Pacific voyage that
has made it so miserable. Something else."

"I think I can guess the something else."

"If so, you'll be clever. It's more than I can."

"Might it have anything to do with that informal leave-taking? Come,
Carmen--you promised me you'd think no more about it till we see them in
Cadiz, and have it all cleared up."

"You're wrong again, Inez. It is not anything of that."

"What then? It can't be the _mare amiento_? Of it I might complain.
I'm even suffering from it now--although the water is so smooth. But
you! why, you stand the sea as well as one of those rough sailors
themselves! You're just the woman to be a naval officer's wife; and
when your _novio_ gets command of a ship, I suppose you'll be for
circumnavigating the world with him."

"You're merry, _mora_."

"Well, who wouldn't be, with the prospect of soon setting foot on land.
For my part, I detest the sea; and when I marry my little
_guardia-marina_, I'll make him forsake it, and take to some pleasanter
profession. And if he prefer doing nothing, by good luck the rent of my
lands will keep us both comfortably, with something to spare for a town
house in Cadiz. But say, Carmen! What's troubling you? Surely you
must know?"

"Surely I don't, Inez."

"That's strange--a mystery. Might it be regret at leaving behind your
_preux chevaliers_ of California--that grand, gallant De Lara, whom, at
our last interview, we saw sprawling in the road dust? You ought to
feel relieved at getting rid of him, as I of m