olish and
ungrateful to make ourselves unhappy because we are exposed to some remote
danger against which we cannot guard, as to repine because we cannot live
forever."

"You discourse most excellent philosophy, Mademoiselle Angela."

"Without knowing it, then, as Monsieur Jourdan talked prose."

"So! You have read Moliere?"

"Over and over again."

"Then you must have a library at San Cristobal."

"A very small one, as you may suppose; but a small library is not
altogether a disadvantage, as the abbe says. The fewer books you have the
oftener you read them; and it is better to read a few books well than many
superficially."

"The abbe has been your sole teacher, I suppose?"

"Has been! He is still. He has even written books for me, and he is the
author of some of the best I possess--But don't you think, monsieur, we
had better descend to the valley? The abbe will have finished his business
by this time, and though he is the best man in the world he has the fault
of kings; he does not like to wait."

CHAPTER XXVIII.

I BID YOU STAY.

"You have been here a month, Monsieur Nigel, living in close intimacy with
Angela and myself," said the abbe, as we sat on the veranda sipping our
morning coffee. "You have mixed with our people, seen our country, and
inspected the great _azequia_ in its entire length. Tell me, now, frankly,
what do you think of us?"

"I never passed so happy a month in my life, and--"

"I am glad to hear you say so, very glad. My question, however, referred
not to your feelings but your opinion. I will repeat it: What think you of
Quipai and its institutions?"

"I know of but one institution in Quipai, and I admire it more than I can
tell."

"And that is?"

"Yourself, Monsieur l'Abbe."

The abbe smiled as if the compliment pleased him, but the next moment his
face took the "pale cast of thought," and he remained silent for several
minutes.

"I know what you mean," he said at length, speaking slowly and rather
sadly. "You mean that I am Quipai, and that without me Quipai would be
nowhere."

"Exactly, Monsieur l'Abbe. Quipai is a miracle; you are its creator, yet I
doubt whether, as it now exists, it could long survive you. But that is a
contingency which we need not discuss; you have still many years of life
before you."

"I like a well-turned compliment, Monsieur Nigel, because in order to be
acceptable it must possess both a modicum of truth and a _soupcon_ of wit.
But