"Certainly, querida, certainly. The story will keep. I also have another story of love to tell you. We shall be quite sentimental." The girl stepped into the corridor and gave some orders to a servant. The young peona wondered that her mistress's face was stern and her tone sharp. "Now, señorita mia, time is going, and we will pass over my own little romance, and I will begin with the other tale of love." This from the señora when Carmelita had returned. "Are you ready to listen?" The girl so signified. "From speaking of our--our youthful flirtation--the good Captain came to tell me of the grand passion of his heart." "Señora Valentino, I mean no discourtesy to a guest, but why do you tell me this?" "Because, my dear, it concerns you most especially. The other day, in Monterey, Captain Morando and I were speaking most intimately, as becomes old friends. What harm? The Captain confided in me; nay more. He gave me a message to bring to you. 'I now love the Señorita Carmelita Mendoza,' he said. 'I pressed my suit the night of the baile. At first she listened to me. I had heart. I had courage. Then she changed. She flouted me. Something had offended her, I know not what. Will you not see her, the beautiful Carmelita, and explain to her I meant no harm. I--'" The señorita sprang to her feet, her breast heaving. "Señora Valentino, I cannot listen to you. Even though you are a guest of this house, I cannot--" "Nay, nay, little child. Don't be so hasty. I am commissioned to set matters right between you two. Be seated now, my señorita, and hear me to the end. Please be seated. I am bungling in my mode of expression, I know. Pray be seated." Carmelita took her chair once more. The señora leaned toward her confidingly, her brown eyes looking straight at the girl, and her voice low and sweet. "Now, I'll try again, little one. The Captain said to me, in effect, that at first the señorita listened to him the night of the baile; she allowed him to hold her hand; her eyes dropped. She--" "Señora Valentino, I request that this conversation cease, and that you do not again mention to me the name of Captain Morando." "But, my dear señorita--" "I request that you do as I ask, señora." "I can, of course, but do as you wish. I assure you, it is not a pleasant task for me to speak of these matters. It is only from an urgent desire to serve my friend who asked this of me. The other day some one, in speaking of Captain Morando, said that it is easy for young men to fall in love; and, indeed, to fall out of it--but, away! those threadbare sayings! The heart of Don Alfredo is loving and warm. Do I not know it? Had it not been for the dashing Colonel Valentino--" Then suddenly, "O, señorita, a man cannot forgive everything even in a woman he loves. If you do not listen to his suit it may be too late, and you will live to regret, even as I--" She stopped, apparently absorbed in thought of the past.