“Oh, I was taking a walk. I met the beggar first. I was expostulating with him when Don Felipe came up. He is a mean old curmudgeon for he wouldn’t back me up about buying the donkey, and he hasn’t a drop of pity in his veins for he only laughed when I asked him to order the man not to beat his burro.” Her expressive face was very serious. “You were very good, Mr. Lisle. I haven’t thanked you for coming to the rescue. I might have known an American and a Kentuckian would do so. In fact, I was sure of it. Perhaps I have interrupted your morning’s excursion. Were you going far with Victor?” “I wasn’t going anywhere in particular. There was a vacant seat in the cart and I thought I would go on to Ribadesella, perhaps, and come back by train. This is much more of an adventure. Your praise is very sweet and mine is all the pleasure. One doesn’t have an opportunity every day, even in Spain, to come to the aid of a lady in distress. Do we turn off here?” “Yes, there is the chapel just ahead. I see someone there. Let us wait.” The tiny chapel boasted a portico under whose shelter wayfarers might pause for protection from sun or rain, and incidentally invoke the good offices of the Virgin who smiled from her little shrine beyond the iron grating. On the stone floor of the porch a girl was kneeling with arms widely outstretched and face upturned. “It is Perdita,” whispered Patty. “I wonder what she is asking for. Did you ever see such an earnestly beautiful face? I hope, oh, I do hope, she will get what she wants. She looks as if she wanted it so dreadfully. Now, she is going. Don’t let her see that we have noticed her.” But Perdita did not turn her eyes as she arose from her knees, and, after making her reverence and devoutly crossing herself, she went in an opposite direction down a leafy road and was presently lost to sight. “Now,” said Patty, “you can stay here and I will go and ask the Virgin to bless the donkey.” “Are you a Roman Catholic?” “No, but Guido is.” “Guido?” “Yes, that is the donkey’s name, I have decided. It is the Spanish for Guy and he does look such a guy, poor dear.”