ead of impending
disaster which she could not shake off, and which she naturally
connected with Don Felipe. But why go to the _Posada_ that evening if
Padre Antonio was not feeling well--there would be other days.

Again she protested and urged him to remain at home, but in vain--he
would not hear of it.

"It will do me good to go," he said, helping her on with her long white
silk Spanish mantle, embroidered with gold and lace to match her dress.
Then, drawing on his black silk gloves, he picked up his hat and stick,
and they passed out into the garden and through the tall iron gate,
turning their steps in the direction of the _Posada_.

XXX

The garden and _patio_ of the _Posada_ were hung with many lanterns
whose light, in addition to that of the stars and the full moon, made
them appear as bright as day.

Mrs. Forest maintained a frigid attitude toward the world throughout the
evening. Inwardly she longed to be gay like the others, but prudery and
short-sightedness, the fruits of her training, prevailed, effectually
debarring her from all enjoyment and leaving her cold and isolated like
one afflicted with the plague. Could she have followed the dictates of
her wishes, she would have remained within the seclusion of her room
during the entire evening, but not being able to reconcile such a course
with the duties of a chaperon, she was obliged to appear. If _noblesse
oblige_ demanded that she should sacrifice herself, suffer the martyred
isolation of patience on a monument, then be it so!

As for Colonel Van Ashton, he had suffered long enough. He secretly
despised his sister's prudery though he dared not acknowledge it.
Anything to break the infernal monotony! He welcomed this occasion of
mild revelry with sensations akin to those of a boy's during the advent
of a circus in his town. Of all the State and grand social functions in
which he had participated, not one, so far as he could remember, had
ever inspired him with such anticipations. An indescribable joy and
spirit of recklessness, born of desperation, filled him, and he silently
vowed that he would drink to the moon that night even though there might
perchance be blood upon it.

Owing to the attack of dizziness which had occasioned a slight delay,
Padre Antonio and his ward were the last of the guests to arrive. Low
murmurs and suppressed exclamations escaped the Spanish element of the
assembly as Chiquita entered the _patio_ on the padre's arm.