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tole a glance at her now and then； and was not abashed when he saw that she dropped her eyes when they met his； because he saw her silence and abstraction increase； and something like a blush steal into her cheeks。 So he pretended to be as much downcast and abstracted as she was； and went on with his glances； till he once found her； poor thing； looking at him to see if he was looking at her； and then he knew his prey was safe； and asked her； with his eyes； 〃Do you forgive me？〃 and saw her stop dead in her talk to her next neighbor； and falter； and drop her eyes； and raise them again after a minute in search of his； that he might repeat the pleasant question。 And then what could she do but answer with all her face and every bend of her pretty neck； 〃And do you forgive me in turn？〃
Whereon Don Guzman broke out jubilant； like nightingale on bough； with story； and jest； and repartee； and became forthwith the soul of the whole company； and the most charming of all cavaliers。 And poor Rose knew that she was the cause of his sudden change of mood； and blamed herself for what she had done； and shuddered and blushed at her own delight； and longed that the feast was over； that she might hurry home and hide herself alone with sweet fancies about a love the reality of which she felt she dared not face。
It was a beautiful sight； the great terrace at Annery that afternoon； with the smart dames in their gaudy dresses parading up and down in twos and threes before the stately house； or looking down upon the park； with the old oaks； and the deer； and the broad land…locked river spread out like a lake beneath； all bright in the glare of the midsummer sun； or listening obsequiously to the two great ladies who did the honors； Mrs。 St。 Leger the hostess； and her sister…in…law； fair Lady Grenville。 All chatted； and laughed； and eyed each other's dresses； and gossiped about each other's husbands and servants： only Rose Salterne kept apart； and longed to get into a corner and laugh or cry； she knew not which。
〃Our pretty Rose seems sad；〃 said Lady Grenville； coming up to her。 〃Cheer up； child！ we want you to come and sing to us。〃
Rose answered she knew not what； and obeyed mechanically。
She took the lute； and sat down on a bench beneath the house； while the rest grouped themselves round her。
〃What shall I sing？〃
〃Let us have your old song； 'Earl Haldan's Daughter。'〃
Rose shrank from it。 It was a loud and dashing ballad； which chimed in but little with her thoughts； and Frank had praised it too； in happier days long since gone by。 She thought of him； and of others； and of her pride and carelessness； and the song seemed ominous to her： and yet for that very reason she dared not refuse to sing it； for fear of suspicion where no one suspected； and so she began per force
I。
〃It was Earl Haldan's daughter； She look'd across the sea； She look'd across the water； And long and loud laugh'd she； 'The locks of six princesses Must be my marriage…fee； So hey bonny boat； and ho bonny boat！ Who comes a wooing me？'
II。
〃It was Earl Haldan's daughter； She walk'd along the sand； When she was aware of a knight so fair； Come sailing to the land。 His sails were all of velvet； His mast of beaten gold； And 'hey bonny boat； and ho bonny boat； Who saileth here so bold？'
III。
〃'The locks of five princesses I won beyond the sea； I shore their golden tresses； To fringe a cloak for thee。 One handful yet is wanting； But one of all the tale； So hey bonny boat； and ho bonny boat！ Furl up thy velvet sail！'
IV。
〃He leapt into the water； That rover young and bold； He gript Earl Haldan's daughter； He shore her locks of gold； 'Go weep； go weep； proud maiden； The tale is full to…day。 Now hey bonny boat； and ho bonny boat！ Sail Westward…ho； and away！'〃
As she ceased； a measured voice； with a foreign accent； thrilled through her。
〃In the East； they say the nightingale sings to the rose； Devon； more happy； has nightingale and rose in one。〃
〃We have no nightingales in Devon； Don Guzman；〃 said Lady Grenville； 〃but our little forest thrushes sing； as you hear； sweetly enough to content any ear。 But what brings you away from the gentlemen so early？〃
〃These letters；〃 said he； 〃which have just been put into my hand； and as they call me home to Spain； I was loath to lose a moment of that delightful company from which I must part so soon。〃
〃To Spain？〃 asked half…a…dozen voices： for the Don was a general favorite。
〃Yes； and thence to the Indies。 My ransom has arrived； and with it the promise of an office。 I am to be Governor of La Guayra in Caracas。 Congratulate me on my promotion。〃
A mist was over Rose's eyes。 The Spaniard's voice was hard and flippant。 Did he care for her； after all？ And if he did； was it nevertheless hopeless？ How her cheeks glowed！ Everybody must see it！ Anything to turn away their attention from her； and in that nervous haste which makes people speak； and speak foolishly too； just because they ought to be silent； she asked
〃And where is La Guayra？〃
〃Half round the world； on the coast of the Spanish Main。 The loveliest place on earth； and the loveliest governor's house； in a forest of palms at the foot of a mountain eight thousand feet high： I shall only want a wife there to be in paradise。〃
〃I don't doubt that you may persuade some fair lady of Seville to accompany you thither；〃 said Lady Grenville。
〃Thanks； gracious madam： but the truth is； that since I have had the bliss of knowing English ladies； I have begun to think that they are the only ones on earth worth wooing。〃
〃A thousand thanks for the compliment； but I fear none of our free English maidens would like to submit to the guardianship of a duenna。 Eh； Rose？ how should you like to be kept under lock and key all day by an ugly old woman with a horn on her forehead？〃
Poor Rose turned so scarlet that Lady Grenville knew her secret on the spot； and would have tried to turn the conversation： but before she could speak； some burgher's wife blundered out a commonplace about the jealousy of Spanish husbands； and another； to make matters better； giggled out something more true than delicate about West Indian masters and fair slaves。
〃Ladies；〃 said Don Guzman； reddening； 〃believe me that these are but the calumnies of ignorance。 If we be more jealous than other nations； it is because we love more passionately。 If some of us abroad are profligate； it is because they； poor men； have no helpmate； which； like the amethyst； keeps its wearer pure。 I could tell you stories； ladies； of the constancy and devotion of Spanish husbands； even in the Indies； as strange as ever romancer invented。〃
〃Can you？ Then we challenge you to give us one at least。〃
〃I fear it would be too long； madam。〃
〃The longer the more pleasant； senor。 How can we spend an hour better this afternoon； while the gentlemen within are finishing their wine？〃
Story…telling； in those old times； when books （and authors also； lucky for the public） were rarer than now； was a common amusement； and as the Spaniard's accomplishments in that line were well known； all the ladies crowded round him； the servants brought chairs and benches； and Don Guzman； taking