"'Mine! oh yes, with pleasure, though I now recollect that I have omitted to state my sister's name--hers first, if you please; it is Donna Clara Garcia.' "'And yours is Pedro Garcia.' "'Exactly, with a _Don_ before it, which my poor father left me. You perceive, Mr. Stewart, by what means I knew you after your warning about the kicking, eh? I suspected it was yourself, when I saw an American gentleman with his arm in a sling, and so I made bold to accost you in the midst of your rhapsody about angels--' "'Ah! Don Pedro,' I stammered in confusion, when I recalled the ludicrous scene, 'how foolish I must appear to you.' "'For what, senor--for thinking my sister handsome? You do my taste injustice. I think so myself.' "We rode on in silence a few minutes. I recalled all that Captain Hopkins had told me about my new acquaintance, his sister, and her guardian. I took heart of grace, and determined to know more of the beautiful creature whom I had now identified; but when I turned toward my companion, his stern expression, so different from the one his features had hitherto borne, almost disheartened me. "'Don Pedro,' said I, with hesitation, 'may I ask if you are angry at the trifling manner with which I have spoken of your sister before I knew her to be such?' "'Is it necessary for me to assure you to the contrary?' he asked, with a smile again lighting up his face. "'But if,' I continued, 'I should say that the admiration I have manifested is sincere, that even in the short time I have seen her to-day, I have been deeply interested, and that I ardently desire her acquaintance.' "'Why, senor, in that case, I should reply, that my sister is very highly honored by your favorable notice, and that I should do my possible to make you know each other better. If,' he continued, 'the case you have supposed be the fact, I think I can manage this matter, her old janitor to the contrary notwithstanding.' "'I do say, then,' I replied, with enthusiasm, 'that the sight of Donna Clara has excited emotions in my bosom I have never felt before. I shall be the happiest man in the world to have the privilege of knowing her.' "'Attend, then. Don Carlos is absent at Havana, and will probably remain so for a few days, until his wrist gets well; in the meantime, his sister acts as duenna over Donna Clara. She is quite a nice old lady, however, and allows my sister far greater liberty in her brother's absence than ordinarily, as, for instance, to-day. I will get her to permit Clara to spend a few days at my villa down the bay--Alvarez himself would not dare to refuse this request, if--' my companion stopped short, and his brow clouded. 'But I forget the best of the matter,' he continued a moment after, in a lively tone. 'Senor, you will dine with me to-morrow, and spend a day or two with me. I keep bachelor's hall, but I have an excellent cook, and some of the oldest wine in Cuba. Beside, you will see my sister. Will you honor me, Mr. Stewart?'