pe! Let her think av all that we could do for her. She
should be the sharer av our heart an' throne. Her lovely brow should
be graced by the crown av Spain an' the Injies. She should be
surrounded by the homage av the chivalry av Spain. She should fill
the most dazzlin' position in all the worruld. She should be the
cynosure av r'y'l majistic beauty. She should have wealth, an'
honors, an' titles, an' dignities, an' jools, an' gims, all powered
pell-mell into her lap; an' all the power, glory, moight, majisty,
an' dominion av the impayrial Spanish monarchy should be widin the
grasp av her little hand. What say ye, me fair one?"

All this florid harangue was uttered for the benefit of Katie, and,
as he spoke, "His Majesty" kept his eyes fixed on her, hoping that
she would respond by some glance or sign. Yet all the time that he
was speaking he was unfortunately holding the hand of Mrs. Russell,
who very naturally took all this proposal to herself. "His Majesty's"
language had already seemed to convey the information that her
husband had passed away from earth, and was now the "late" John
Russell; and much as she might mourn over the fate of one so dear,
still it could not be but that the devotion of one like "His Majesty"
should touch her sensitive heart. So when these last words came, and
brought what seemed to her like a direct appeal, she was deeply
moved.

"What say ye, me fair one?" repeated "His Majesty" with greater
earnestness, trying to catch Katie's eye.

Mrs. Russell's eyes were modestly bent downward on the floor. She
clung to the royal hand.

"Oh, sire!" she murmured. "Oh, Your Royal Majesty! I am thine--yours
forever--I cannot refuse!"

And flinging her arms about him, her head sank upon his shoulder.

CHAPTER XXI.

IN WHICH BROOKE AND TALBOT BEGIN TO GROW VERY WELL ACQUAINTED.

Brooke's heart sank within him as, followed by Talbot, he once more
entered the old mill. He knew perfectly well that his position was
one of peril, and doubly so from the part which he had been playing.
The jeering laugh of these merciless soldiers kept ringing in his
ears; the sneers of Lopez and his bitter taunts could not be
forgotten. His disguise was no longer of any value either to himself
or to Talbot; his true character, when declared, seemed even worse in
the eyes of these men than his assumed one had been. To them a
Carlist was far from being so bad as a newspaper correspondent; for
while the one was