tle something for one of them now and then! And the Rector's hand
felt at a lump in the end of his sash where he had knotted a few silver
coins along with a copper or two.

"Pascualo!" came the call. It was a soft, timid, hesitating voice. "Is
that you, Pascualo?"

"_Cristo!_ What a mistake! I took her for a beggar! And it's Rosario!
Well, well! Looking for Tonet, I suppose! Now that's too bad! You've
missed him! He's just gone home. He'll be there wanting his supper, and
wondering where you are!"

But the skipper, overflowing with good humor, was taken somewhat aback
when he learned that Rosario was not looking for Tonet at all. She had
come to see the Rector! What was up? He had never been on very good
terms with his sister-in-law. Queer she should be turning to him!
However, there was nothing to be done except hear her through. He stood
with folded arms, his eyes turned toward the boat where Pascualet and
the other "cat" were dancing back and forth around the soup-kettle.
Well, what could he do for her? He was listening! And resignedly he
waited for the tale of woe he was sure would come from that figure, so
vaguely outlined in the darkness, and afraid, it seemed, to begin to
speak.

But Rosario with sudden resolution, threw her head energetically back,
nailed two flaming mysterious eyes upon the Rector, and began to talk as
though in a hurry to get through with it. She had something to say to
him, something that concerned the reputation of the whole family. She
could not stand it any longer! She and Pascualo had become the
laughing-stock of the whole place.

"Ah! What's this you're saying? The laughing-stock of the whole place!
And what are they laughing at me for, silly? Just take a look at me and
the _Mayflower_! Do you see anything specially funny about us?"

"Poor Pascualo!" Rosario said, slowly this time, but in deadly earnest,
and with the tone of a person prepared to face the worst, "Pascualo,
Dolores is not being true to you."

Pascualo reared like a steer struck with an ax between the eyes. Then he
stood dazed for an instant, his great head sunk upon his chest. But it
was only for a second. That man had a deep faith in the goodness of
things and people. His balance could stand harder buffets from the world
than that.

"Hold your tongue, Rosario, your lying tongue, and get out of my sight.
You're a liar, a liar, that's what you are!"

Had there been light enough for Rosario to see the Rector's fac