After the midshipmen had ridden away Maria returned to the large living-room to bid her father good-night. A new pleasure had come into her life, and what was more natural than that she should wish to share it with him? These frank, young Americans had proved themselves to be of a quality which she had not thought existed outside of the story-books of her childhood. She believed that in their friendship her father’s difficulties would melt away. Juan Rodriguez, interested as he had always been in the political trials of his country together with the management of his vast estates, from which he had reaped great riches, like most Filipinos of the upper class, had treated his only daughter more as a heaven-sent treasure rather than as a daughter to confide in and in whom to seek womanly sympathy in his perplexities. Her principal care had been for her brother, Juan, the pride of the old man’s life. Upon this seven-year-old boy the greater part of his affection was centred. Maria was not at all sleepy, and, seeing a light in her father’s bedroom, she slipped in quietly to pour out her heart to the stern but kindly parent. On the threshold she stopped in startled amazement. Her slippered feet had made no sound and the door as she pushed it open caused him to glance up in annoyed surprise. She saw her father on his knees in the corner before several heavy iron-bound chests, and their opened covers displayed to her anxious eyes a great wealth of gold and silver coins. More money than her young imagination had ever dreamed of. As Rodriguez’s eyes encountered the startled look in his daughter’s face, an expression of stern annoyance came into his own as he snapped the huge lids shut and rose to his feet. “Why do you keep all that money here?” she asked anxiously. Her father looked worried at the question. “All the money I have is in those chests, daughter,” he answered in a low voice. “It has been buried, but when Garcia deserted me, Lopez and I dug it up and brought it in here. I fear these native banks, and if I should be robbed by the insurgents I would leave you and Juan penniless. My lands are valuable, but these,” pointing to the chests, “contain the most of my wealth. My ambition is to take my children abroad, away from this turmoil and strife where they can see the world and be educated in a way befitting the blood in their veins.” Maria put her arms about the old man’s neck and kissed him fondly. “Father,” she began, her eyes smiling with happiness, “I came in to speak to you of the two young men who have just left us. Tell them of your troubles and I know they will be able to solve the difficulty.” Rodriguez smiled sadly.