“And may I not accompany you on your walk? Surely you will not go far alone.” “I shall go a little further,” said Patty evasively. “On an errand of mercy? Ah, yes, you are always like that, so tender-hearted. Then I shall go with you. I cannot permit a lady to be alone upon the _carretera_.” But Patty did not budge, she simply looked at the donkey which the beggar was preparing to mount. “If I could only buy him,” she murmured. “Are donkeys expensive?” she asked. “Very cheap,” Don Felipe told her. “But this is laughable. What would you do with a scrubby beast like that? Fancy your sister and brother when you should appear with your purchase.” Patty made no reply. She had not a penny with her and was helpless in the face of such superior scorn. Don Felipe waited with ill-concealed impatience. It was not the correct thing for a young lady to do such wayward things. It was strictly unconventional to start off unaccompanied, in the first place, and he would see that she went home properly escorted, even though it meant an exercise of his legs to which he was not accustomed. But this necessity was obviated by the approach of another actor in the drama, for who but Robert Lisle should suddenly alight from Victor’s cart which was on its way to Ribadesella. “Oh, Mr. Lisle!” Patty ran toward him. “I am so glad it is you. I know you will try to make this man promise not to beat his poor little donkey. Such cruel blows and it is so thin, the poor patient little creature. If I could only buy him I would do it in a minute, but I have no money with me.” “It is the glad lady!” exclaimed the young man. “My dear Miss Patty, I have money with me. Would you like me to buy the _burro_?” “Oh!” The lovely eyes, half filled with tears, cast him a grateful look. “Please, please. I know Tina and Juan will let me have him, and I have the money at home. I would be willing to go without anything if only I may have him.” “But there is no need to do that, you see. I should like nothing better than to be the means of allowing him to exchange a hard master for a tender mistress,” said the young man. He stepped up to the beggar who cunningly perceived that it was to his profit to remain near by. “_Cuanto?_” said Robert, laying his hand on the donkey. “One hundred pesetas,” answered the man, thinking to drive a fine trade. “Bah!” exclaimed Robert, expressively, as he took out his purse. “I will give you forty and not a penny more.” The man’s greedy eyes devoured the money, the sight of which was too much for his cupidity, and he held out the bridle of the donkey with one hand, extending the other for the cash. Robert counted it out gravely, took the donkey by the bridle and led it over to where Patty stood.