en the foe are to be
encountered. Your approval, and the reward I look for, will spur me on
to acts of valour."

As he spoke I looked round. Dona Dolores had given him her hand, which
he was pressing to his lips; and I heard her say,--"I will trust you,
Juan; and you may rest assured that I will not depart from my promise."

As my companion had no longer any excuse for remaining where we were,
she returned to the side of her friend. Dona Dolores had taken up her
guitar, and running her fingers over the strings, sang a few verses of a
patriotic song, which greatly affected Juan, and at the same time roused
in my heart a desire to take a part in the struggle for freedom in which
all classes throughout the country were eager to engage. It was
well-known that, when once it began, it would be to the knife, as the
Spanish generals showed no mercy to those who fell into their power--
neither sex, rank, nor age were spared. As we spoke of the atrocities
which had been committed, the eyes of Dona Dolores flashed fire. She
pressed her lips together, and looked towards the wall on which the
weapons hung.

"Every man and youth--ay, every woman who has a spark of patriotism--
must take a part in the glorious work!" she exclaimed. Rising from her
seat, she took a sword from the wall. "Here, my Juan, let me gird you
with this weapon; and when once you draw it, swear that it shall never
again be sheathed until the standard of Liberty waves throughout the
length and breadth of the land, and every Spaniard is hurled into the
ocean which bore him to our shores."

Don Juan, kissing the jewelled hilt of the weapon, swore as Dolores
wished, and with a triumphant smile she buckled it to his waist.

My enthusiasm being aroused, I dare say I too looked as if I wished to
be presented with a sword.

"You must wait a while," observed Dona Dolores, divining my thoughts;
"you are not yet your own master, and I would not compromise your
excellent father."

The remark showed that the speaker possessed good sense and judgment as
well as patriotism.

At last I reminded Juan that Don Ricardo would be expecting us, and we
took our leave of the two ladies--my admiration for Dona Dolores greatly
increased by the visit we had paid her.

I expected that Juan would break out enthusiastically in her praise, but
he did not utter a word during our walk home; his thoughts were
evidently occupied by the new duties he had undertaken. He had hithe