That was wrong, too, he repeated, afterward. Her warmth and tender fragrance clung to him like the touch of flower petals. She turned away, standing at the front of the balcony, her arms, bare under elbow ruffles, resting on the railing. The flambeau trees in the Parque Isabel were like conflagrations. Her head drooped on her slender neck until it almost rested, despairingly, on the support before her. "I hate your northern way of living," her voice was suppressed, disturbingly mature; "I hate their bringing you into the house, only to break my heart. Charles," she laid an appealing hand on his sleeve, "could you do this--help me to run away? We have cousins in New York who would receive me. If you could just get me on a steamer!" "No," he said decidedly, "I could not; I wouldn't even if it were possible. What would Andres, my friend, think? It would ruin me here." "If you had," she admitted, after a little, "as soon as we reached the street, I would have locked myself about your neck like my crystal beads. Once when I was supposed to be going with a servant to the sea baths, I had the quitrin stop at the San Felipe, and I went up the stair, to the roof, to your room, but you were out. You see, I am a very evil girl." He agreed to the extent that she was a very foolish girl. In turn she studied him carefully. "You seem to have no heart," she announced finally; "not because you don't love me, but in affairs generally; but I can tell you a secret--you have! It's as plain as water. What you think you are--poof!" She blew across the open palm of her hand. "I hope not," he returned anxiously. "But you are too young, even if you are to be married, to know about or to discuss such things. As Andres' best friend I must caution you--" "Why did you kiss me?" she interrupted. He was, now, genuinely sorry that he had, but he replied that it had been no more than the salute of a brother. "You had better go in," he continued; "when they realize we are out here there will be a stir, perhaps you will be put to bed." "I might make a scandal," she deliberated, "throw myself on you and cry as loudly as possible." A smile appeared upon her fresh charming lips at his expression of dismay. "Then you would have to marry me." "I'd have to spank you," he retorted. "I shall never speak directly to you again," she concluded; "so you must remember what I say, that you are not what you'd like to be."