"When I was at Chascomus with my Morenos I read the Bible every day." "And when you read the Bible what did you learn from it?" "Once Gordon told me that the great lesson of the Bible was faith, faith in God. I love my father, till now he has always been to me the best of friends, now we are separated for ever. Think you that I can have faith in God when my father becomes my worst enemy?" "You have not read the Bible well or you would know that that is impossible. If you have faith in God you will do your duty now as you did before. You will help your father if he is in danger." "I have to choose between my father and my country. Tell me, what is my duty?" Magdalen was silent, and a troubled expression came over her face. She had admired the eager patriotism she had seen in Marcelino and in others, but of this sentiment she herself knew nothing, she had but one duty that she knew of in her life, her duty to her father, and she could not understand how any other duty could clash with that. "Tell me, what is my duty?" said Marcelino again, looking earnestly at her. "Where your father is, you will learn your duty," replied she. Then there was silence between them for several minutes, and when they spoke again it was on other subjects, about Doña Josefina, about Lola, about Don Alfonso, but of whatever they talked both thought of Don Roderigo, though of him they spoke no more. As the shadows deepened on the garden walks there came another footstep through the quinta towards the porch, a footstep very different from the one that had come before, a heavy, plodding footstep, as of one out of whose life the light and strength had departed, but Magdalen started up as she heard it, a smile beaming out from her eyes. That step, though so heavy, was lighter than she had heard it for many a long day, it was her father's step, and he was bringing her the good news of which he had spoken to her. She ran out to meet him with a flush of pleasure on her face. "Ah! Chica," said he gaily; "how has the long day passed with you?" And when he saw Marcelino, who stood on the step of the porch waiting for him, he stretched out his hand to him with greater cordiality than was his wont. "Felicidades!" he said. "In the city every one is asking for you. The general idea is that you are with your mother at the quinta." "I went there last night," replied Marcelino. "But what has happened? I hardly know anything." "Then you had better return to the quinta, there you will learn all. A large party has gone out there this evening in search of you. Don't be frightened, Chica," he added, as Magdalen started while she clung to his arm, "all are now friends, and Don Martin Alzaga is in prison." "And my father, what of him?" asked Marcelino. At this question Don Alfonso frowned, but he answered gravely: "Your father is more astute than I thought him; he has managed in some way to keep well with all parties."