g hawk, and his heart beat as he found himself near to her. Since
the hour he had seen her he had thought only of how he might see
her again, of how he might find her. He had made one bold plan after
another, and had been forced to abandon each of them, and then mere
chance had thrown Jose in his path. And now the instant he approached
her she was about to elude him.

He spoke a few hurried words to Jose. It was too early to go away; the
pleasure of the day was scarcely at its height; he wished to entertain
them; they must not go.

"I will go and speak to Jovita," said Jose, and he went, leaving the
four together.

The two simpler ones were somewhat abashed by the splendor of the
dashing figure; they gazed at it with mingled curiosity and joy. To be
so near it was enough, without effort at conversation. Sebastiano moved
to Pepita's side. A Spanish lover loses little time.

"I saw you," he said, "at the bull-fight."

Pepita looked over his shoulder and smiled at a passing woman who had
greeted her. Her face dimpled, and she showed her small white teeth. It
was as if she did not see the matador at all.

"It was at the bull-fight," he persisted. "Two weeks ago. You had a red
flower in your hair, as you have to-day. Ever since--"

"It was not true," Pepita said gayly, to Isabella, "what I said of
Jovita. She is always cross, but she does not wish to go home. She met
an old woman she knew in her young days, and is enjoying herself very
much."

"Why did you say it?" asked Isabella, with simple wonder.

"Because I wished to go home myself."

"Truly!" said Isabella. "Why is that?"

"I am not entertained so much to-day," answered Pepita.

[Illustration: We will make it more amusing 075]

"We will make it more amusing," said Sebastiano, eagerly. "It shall be
more amusing--"

"There is Jovita with her old woman now," interrupted Pepita. "I will go
and speak to them."

She was gone the next instant--her movement was like the flight of
a bird. Sebastiano stood and stared after her in silence until Juan
addressed him respectfully.

"She is very wonderful," he said. "She changes her mind before one
knows. Just before you came she said she was amused, and wished to
remain."

"Perhaps," began Sebastiano, much discomforted--"perhaps it was I--"

"Ah, senor," said Juan, with great politeness, "never. It is said that
she always does what she chooses, and she chooses to do a thousand
things."

"That is because she