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