ce was faithful to his promise to Colonel Marchbanks, he
was not less faithful to his promise to the daughter.

A year had barely elapsed when he found himself once again in Buenos
Ayres, with the faithful Quashy at his side, and presented himself
before the old colonel, not now as a beggar, but as part owner of one of
the richest silver-mines in Peru.

Colonel Marchbanks, although a prudent man, was by no means avaricious.

"The chief bar which prevented my listening to your proposal," he said
to Lawrence at their first interview, "is now removed, but I have yet to
learn from my daughter's own lips that she will have you. I have
carefully avoided the subject from the very first, because I have no
faith whatever in forcing, or even leading, the affections of a young
girl. And let me tell you flatly, young senhor, that your being the
richest man in Peru, and the greatest man as well, would not influence
me so much as the weight of a feather, if Manuela does not care for you.
So, you will prepare yourself to abide as well as you can by her final
decision."

"I am prepared to abide by Manuela's decision," replied Lawrence, with
what may be termed a modest smile.

"'Pon my word, young man, you seem to be unwarrantably sure of your
position," said the colonel, somewhat sternly. "However, you have heard
all I mean to say on the subject just now. Leave me, and return here in
the evening."

When Lawrence was gone, the old soldier found his daughter in a
tastefully arranged closet which she called her boudoir, the miniature
glass-door of which opened on a luxuriant garden, where wood, water,
sunshine, and herbage, wild and tame, seemed to revel for the mastery.

"That young fellow Armstrong has come back," said the old man, abruptly.

"I know it," was Manuela's brief reply. She did not look up, being too
busily engaged at the moment in the hideously commonplace act of darning
the smallest possible hole in one of her dear little stockings.

"You know it, child?"

"Yes, father."

"Do you also know that he has just been here, and formally asked your
hand in marriage?"

"Yes, father, I know it."

"Why, child, how could you know that? You surely have not been tempted
to--to condescend to eavesdropping?"

"No, father, I have not condescended to that, but I have heard it on the
best authority. Have you not yourself just told me?"

"Oh--ah--well," exclaimed the stern man, relaxing into a smile in spite
of himse