breakfast, which was
just being ladled out to each from a huge caldron.

Now Rita entered, and with her came Katie, leaning feebly on her arm.

Lopez followed.

At the sight of these two women Russell and Harry stopped their
conversation abruptly. For each one the sight was an overwhelming
sensation. To Russell it was as though his last hour had come. Here was
his persecutor, his tormentor, who was resolved to marry him whether he
would or not. He had confided his griefs to Harry, but had been unable to
obtain from him any satisfactory advice. What should he do? He could not
say; he could not even think. Could he dare to say "No," when Lopez and
Rita and the priest and all the soldiers expected "Yes?" Could he face the
awful result of disobedience to Lopez, of defiance to Rita? His whole
nature shrank back in terror from the thought, and prompted him, in this
dire emergency, of two evils to choose the least.

To Harry, also, the sight of Katie was equally overwhelming. He was struck
dumb. He stood rooted to the spot, while wonder, suspicion, and fear all
struggled together within him.

What was the meaning of all this? A marriage?--a marriage of this Spanish
captain? With whom? Who was the bride? What was Katie doing here? And why
was Katie coming here in such a manner, with downcast eyes, death-pale
face, and drooping, trembling figure, scarce able to walk, and leaning so
heavily upon the arm of this Spanish woman? Such were the questions which
Harry, in his bewilderment, asked himself and could not answer. To see
Katie thus was like the stroke of a thunder-bolt, and he was dumb with
wonder. She came with no word, no smile, no look for him; she came like a
helpless victim destined for the sacrifice.

Ashby also saw all of this! He had felt already the extremest bitterness
toward Katie, yet the sight of her now was powerful enough to awaken
within him the deepest pity. What was the meaning of this? Was Katie the
bride? Was she about to marry Lopez? Was this the revenge which Lopez had
planned? It was manifestly so; and yet why had Katie consented? He could
not understand it. It seemed like a fresh proof of her frivolity and
falsity; and at such an exhibition he felt bewildered. She had been false
to him for the sake of Rivers; was she also false to Rivers for the sake
of Lopez?

And yet, in spite of such thoughts as these, Ashby was full of pity for
her. He could not help it. And justly so; for hard indeed must