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but seeing no one, she advanced slowly along the walk leading in the direction of the house. She had not far to go before she came upon the object of her quest, seated on a rough stone bench in the shade of a thick cluster of tamarisk bushes which grew close to the wall. The surprise Chiquita felt on seeing the Senora standing before her so unexpectedly, caused her to let fall the book which she was vainly endeavoring to read--an action which the Senora regarded as an admission of her guilt; and she exulted in her evident embarrassment. The episode of the rose had caused her to quite forget her mission for the moment. From her general air of excitement, flushed face and flashing eyes, Chiquita rightly conjectured that something unusual had happened and that an outburst of some sort or other was imminent. It came like an explosion. "Holy Virgin!" she cried, eyeing Chiquita critically. "What is the meaning of this; dressed in your very best? Is this the Sabbath, or one of the blessed Saints' days, or perhaps a Palm-Sunday that you should array yourself thus? Mother of God! when has it become the fashion for young ladies to disport themselves in their best clothes on common, ordinary week days? Why, 'tis not even a Fish-Friday! Merciful Heaven! to what are we coming?" she gasped between breaths, clasping her hands and glancing heavenward. "Do such dresses grow upon bushes that they are so easily obtained? Doubtless," she concluded with withering sarcasm, "when they are worn threadbare as they soon will be owing to such constant usage, you will purchase others with those golden _pesos_ which you earned so recently." Chiquita, accustomed to the Senora's outbursts, did not deign an immediate reply, but sat quietly fanning herself, a faint smile wreathing her lips; she was thoroughly enjoying the Senora's discomfort. What would not the latter give to know something concerning those _pesos_? Chiquita's composure under the fire of her words only tended to increase her irritation. "Oh, I know why you have thus suddenly turned the peacock! You do not deceive me! You have arrayed yourself thus for the grand Senor--_Capitan_ Forest." "Bah!" ejaculated Chiquita composedly, as though nothing unusual were taking place. "Is that all you have to say Dona Fernandez?" "All! Is that not enough? Holy God!" she cried with increasing vexation. "You are in love--in love, I say!" A ripple of laughter bubbled over the two rosy pe
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