steadily, moreover, as if he
might have business rather than pleasure on his hands, and he did not
pull in his pony until he had reached the front of the Paez mansion.
There was no one on the piazza but a short, fat old woman, in a blazing
red cotton gown, who sprang to her feet almost as if he had frightened
her, exclaiming:

"Senor Carfora!"

"Dola!" he responded, sharply. "Don't say another loud word! Are either
of the senoras at home? I must see them right away."

"Oh, yes!" she said, turning to run into the house. "I will tell them.
They are in the parlor, and the senorita."

Down sprang Ned and hitched his pony to a post, but then he hurried
through the front door as quickly as Dola herself had done. Perhaps it
was well that he should get in without being recognized by too many
eyes. He did not have to actually get into the parlor before he was
welcomed, for a light form sprang out into the hall, and Felicia herself
shouted, eagerly:

"Oh, Senor Carfora! Are you here? This is wonderful!"

"Senorita," he interrupted her, "I have letters for your mother and
Senora Paez. Where are they?"

"They are right here," she said, "but we have letters, too. All the
flags in the city are out and they are firing salutes of rejoicing."

"I saw the flags," he said, "and I heard some firing, but what on earth
are they rejoicing over? Is there any news?"

The two grown-up women were standing behind her, with faces in which
there was no joy whatever when Felicia exultingly told him:

"Why, have not you heard? General Santa Anna has beaten your gringo army
all to pieces. The United States fleet is coming to Vera Cruz with
another army, and the American soldiers will not dare to come on shore.
All they can do will be to sit there in their ships and look at the
city."

"Come in, Senor Carfora," said Senora Paez. "I cannot tell you how glad
we are to see you. Yes, we have very important letters. I may suppose
that yours are from the general. Please let me have them."

"Do, Senor Carfora!" said Senora Tassara. "I cannot wait a moment. We
will retire to read them, and, while we are gone, Felicia may tell you
all the news from the great battle at the north."

"Yes, so I will," she exclaimed. "And I want him to tell me all about
the places he has been in, and what he has been doing."

In a moment more they two were alone in the parlor, and she was
repeating to him the substance of Santa Anna's report of the manner in
which,