"Then if you think heroes ought to have sunburnt faces and brown hands, you must look for another one. What say you to Don Carlos for a hero?" "He would make a very good hero, mamita; but he has never done anything yet but gallop about." "And gallop in to Buenos Aires and back whenever a certain young lady that I know, has fancied that she wanted anything that was to be found in the city." "He has been very kind to us all the summer; so strange of him, who never seemed to care for anything except his books. But every one seems to be quite changed now, except you, mamma?" "Yes, Lola, as time goes on every one changes; I see a great change in you." "In me, mamma?" "Yes, in you, Lola. Last year you used to be as merry as the day was long; now I often see you sitting with your hands before you quite quiet, thinking to yourself. What do you think about, Lola?" "Thousands of things, mamma, at times, but generally about nothing," replied Dolores, as a bright flush spread over her cheeks. "Do you ever think of any one in particular, Lola?" Then as Dolores did not answer this question, but bowed her head while the long dark lashes fell over her eyes like a veil, Doña Constancia added another: "Do you think much of Don Carlos Evaña, Lola? He has paid you great attention for months. I never before knew him pay attention to any one." "To me, mamma?" exclaimed Dolores, looking up with a merry smile. "Yes, to you Lola." "Oh! mamita, what ideas you do get into that pretty head of yours! Why Don Carlos talks three times as much to you as he does to me. Next you will tell me that he is in love with me! Fancy the wisest of men being in love with a foolish, ignorant girl like me!" So saying, Dolores jumped up from her seat with a ringing laugh. "Lola!" said Doña Constancia, "come and sit down again, I want to talk to you, and do not like you to laugh at what I say." "No, no, no, mamita!" said Dolores, running off along one of the walks, and still laughing. "I hear horses on the road, some one is coming." Dolores went up the quinta fence and looked over, then presently she came back and reseated herself very quietly beside her mother, saying: "They come, mamita, they have gone in by the other gate." "Who come, Lola?" "Don Carlos and Mr Gordon."