eady described were growing in
profusion, besides vegetables of all sorts. In one direction spread out
fields of Indian corn of luxuriant growth. In the meadows were cattle
and sheep with beautiful white fleeces and long tails, while numbers of
horses were seen galloping about at liberty.

"I sincerely hope the Spaniards will not pay a visit to this place,"
observed Mr Laffan to me, as Uncle Richard and Juan were walking on
ahead; "they would soon make a clean sweep of these cattle and the
corn-fields."

This estate was only one of many others of a similar character scattered
over the country, but probably Egido benefited by the energy and
perseverance of its owner. My father used to remark, that Dona Maria
was twice as rich as she would have been had she married a countryman
with an estate double the size of her own. The people also were well
looked after, having nice cottages, well thatched, and kept clean and
tidy. Uncle Richard's plan was to go about giving prizes to those who
had the best-kept huts. He had a school for the children, too, where
they were taught to read the Bible, notwithstanding the objection at
first raised by the parish priest--who was, however, at length induced
to read it himself. He one day came to Uncle Richard and acknowledged
it to be the best book for all who could read. Although the honest
padre at first sided with the oppressors of his country, he now became
an earnest Liberal, but avoided taking any open part in politics, and
confined himself to instructing the people. Uncle Richard was no
theologian, and had never had an argument in his life with Padre
Vincente. His custom was simply to open the Bible and point to certain
parts, and say, "Read that; if this book was written by God's command--
and I am sure it was--that's what he says, not I." Padre Vincente might
not have called himself a Protestant, but he certainly preached the
gospel, and the people under his charge were the best conducted and
happiest in the neighbourhood.

On our return to the house, we found dinner ready. Dona Maria, during
our absence, had been busy superintending its preparation; and if the
table did not groan with delicacies, the feast was as good a one as we
could have desired to eat. Mr Laffan, Hugh, and I showed, at all
events, that we enjoyed it, though Juan was unusually silent, and ate
but little. There was something on his mind, which came out after
dinner.

"Duncan," he said, "I want